Quake

Most people have played or at least seen Quake. The game by today's standards has poor graphics and netplay. The graphics, at the time, were a breakthrough. Working with a very small 256-color pallet (as composed to the 65k of later and games and the new standard, 4billion colors) idSoftware relied heavilly on dark colors to create Quake's definitive dark look and feel, which many people find beautiful. All graphics (accept explosions) were 3D and dynamically lit. Quake was also one of the first games to support OpenGL 3D acceleration, which has since become a standard.

Quake's gameplay was very simple; just shoot the bad guys. Yet the levels were designed exceedingly well, and challenged the mind as well as the trigger finger. An admittedly thin plot diminished the game for some people. The gameplay, however, can be quite difficult in the hardest setting, even to experienced gamers. Another breakthrough in Quake was the netplay. Doom, despite numerous patches, still lagged awfully even in a modem-to-modem game. Quake added support for 4 players on modems, and up to 16 over the internet (it was the first 3D shooter to do this). QuakeWorld (a free followup from id) sped up netplay dramatically. The sound was one part of quake that has not been duplicated, even by quake sequels. A soundtrack by Nine Inch Nails is the highlight, fitting the mood of the game perfectly. The ambient background noises, such as the wind and your own breathing, can make this game downright scary at times.

This game, while surpassed in graphical quality and gameplay by today's titles, is still a must-own for serious gamers, and has already established itself as a modern classic.

I bought this game back in the summer of 1998, and there are no regrets here. When I started playing multi-player, I was hooked. Best memories are from the Finnish server iNET Small(was taken over by eDome, then EUNet if memory serves me correctly). The graphics improved with the releases of FuhQuake and most recently eQuake. Instant gibbing on maps from DM4, DEATH32C to AEROWALK and who can forget NAKED3. New 24 bit textures adds a lot more atmosphere to the maps as well.

Special thanks goes to the gang at the now closed SH9 Server in Härnosand, Sweden! The server had an amazing group of people playing there, immortalized through the screen shots!

Quake was the first proper FPS to have a fully 3D polygon rendering engine and 16 bit color for dynamic lighting. The theme of the game was also very dark and that could range from moody to strange. While the level design is advanced technically, the themes are just repetitive although the action is frantic. This game also featured a title song by Trent Reznor. On higher difficulty levels, Quake was always fun to play and along with the loads of user maps and addons released for it, had a pretty long life. Quake also offered a 16 player deathmatch capability and quickly became the most popular multiplayer game in the world, during its time.

The game that evolved Doom into a true 3-D experience and paved the way for a hundred imitations can be considered nothing less than a classic of modern gaming history. Out went the 2-D scaled bitmap graphics and in came a true interactive 3-D engine with dynamic lighting effects, animation and equally creepy 3-D enemies to inhabit this world, something today we all take for granted, but was very much a new milestone back in 1996.

I.D's game had it's critics in one-player mode, (the Polygon monsters came in lesser numbers than the flat enemies of Doom) but in Multiplayer it was and still could be considered one of the most exciting, immersive combat experiences that you could ever play on a PC. Anyone who's played a 16-man deathmatch amongst friends or acquaintances alike cannot deny the sheer power of this game. The sound was sickly detailed (with the help of one Trent Reznor) and the graphics were dark, earthy and atmospherically unmistakable.

Quake for many has been the closest thing to experiencing armed warfare (or a close approximation) without having to actually leave your seat, except of course when you need one of those sweaty adrenaline induced toilet breaks after you've just slaughtered your best buddies in over the top (but graphically intense) detail, with the fattest smile on your face, and for that I.D. we salute you!

Simply put, "Quake" is one of the best games available for PC. Although the game may be somewhat dated in terms of the graphics and the multiplayer capabilities, it's very atmospheric, detailed, and at times, scary! It may look like another 'shoot-em-up' game, since it is made by the creators of "DOOM", but it is probably one of my most favorite games! I didn't like the multiplayer game that much(but maybe it's because my computer is slow), but I thought the single player game was great! The music and sound effects were created by NIN, and there were times when I thought I was playing NIN's version of a video game. The dark, brooding interiors look much like the video "Closer", and the music is probably the darkest side of NIN I have ever heard!

In short, get this game! One, for it's graphics and fun gameplay. Two, for NIN's music and sound effects!