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Though Doom 3 was ported to Xbox, Quake 4 has received the next-generation treatment. The Doom 3 engine was widely regarded as a technological marvel. Although opinions on the game Doom 3 were scattered with some critics loving it, others finding it alright and others finding it lacking, the engine and graphics were almost universally acclaimed. Quake 4 takes the engine and creates a very solid single-player mode, with an adequate though underwhelming multiplayer mode.
Quake 4 continues the plot established by Quake II, which had very little to do with the first Quake and nothing to do with the multiplayer-oriented Quake III: Arena. At the end of Quake II, the leader of the Strogg was killed. In Quake 4, the Rhino Squad is assigned the task of destroying the rest of the Strogg. You play as Matthew Kane, the new member of the squad who some don’t think has what it takes to survive. Unfortunately for the team, the ship gets hit, killing a number of your squadmates at the beginning of the game. The game’s story isn’t going to win any industry awards but does manage to keep you interested throughout its duration.
Like any good first person shooter, Quake 4 has an extensive list of weapons. The game begins with a chargeable blaster, similar to the one found in Quake II. You’ll later find a machine gun with a mounted flashlight with will probably be your best friend. Other weapons include the hyperblaster, railgun, rocket launcher, nailgun, lighting gun and the dark matter gun. Of course, the game also includes the fan-favorite shotgun. The weapons can be upgraded during the game. For instance, the rocket launcher will be upgraded to hold three rockets instead of one and the nailgun will gain the ability to lock onto targets. Some of the upgrades are very beneficial like the improved shotgun that allows for much quicker reloads, the downfall of the original shotgun.
The game’s gameplay doesn’t deviate far from the typical formula. You’ll move through numerous locations shooting enemies until they are dead before moving on. The game’s levels have much more variety than Doom 3’s levels, and you’ll notice that there are a lot more enemies onscreen at the same time. At certain times, you’ll be joined by some squadmates. They aren’t the smartest characters in the world but do assist you. Some of them are engineers or medics and can repair your arm or heal you. More variety is added due to the vehicles in the game, namely a hovertank and a mech. The control system is pretty simple, but the mixture is still appreciated.
The game includes online multiplayer for up to 8 players, down from 16 in the PC version of the game. The typical modes are found in multiplayer including Deathmatch, Team Deathmatch, One-on-One and Capture the Flag. The multiplayer is very fast paced, with plenty of jump pads found to make the game even more hectic. Unfortunately, the multiplayer doesn’t try anything new. It is a prettier version of Quake III, which is disappointing given the number of years that have passed since that game launched.
The game’s visuals are amazing. As I mentioned above, the graphics in Doom 3 really helped the game since it set up the atmosphere so perfectly. The atmosphere in Quake 4 isn’t quite the same but still makes great use of the engine. The different areas look very varied and awesome, considerably more varied than the dark hallways of Doom 3. The character models are great, particularly for the marines but many of the enemies are a wonder to look at, as well. The game manages to throw up much more enemies on screen than Doom 3 was able to, though it isn’t going to approach Serious Sam numbers at any time. The game looks good even in 480i providing a game that is noticeably better than what could be done in current consoles. Upgrading to 480p, 720p or 1080i provides successive improvements. At its best, Quake 4 easily matches the PC version of the game even when compared to a high-end system. Unfortunately, this visual detail comes at the expense of the framerate. Though the framerate is undisturbed in the first half of the game, there are occasional drops in the second half.
The game’s audio is equally impressive. The game’s soundtrack blends into the background well, never calling too much attention to itself. The voice acting is decent and you’ll definitely hear a lot of it as your squad mates chat with each other all the time. The different weapons sound very believable, something that is simply a must for shooting games.
Quake 4 is definitely recommended. The game’s single-player mode is fantastic, effectively using the Doom 3 to make a game of its own. It really showcases the engine well and shows its versatility. The multiplayer isn’t quite as exciting since it doesn’t do much new, but that doesn’t change the fact that it is still fun. Though it isn’t a perfect port, Quake 4 is aptly satisfying on the Xbox 360. -- Michael Taylor, PGNx Media
---- Nov 25, 2005
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