Ages: teens & up
Parental
Advisory:
Violence & Language
Violence
Rating:
As the number in the name implies, Activision's QUAKE 4 is the fourth
in a series of bloody, violent and venerable first-person shooters. It's the
best Quake yet, which is saying a lot. Fans of the series will want to dive
in and blast away.
It seems that The Global Defense Force is trying to invade the Strogg home planet. In this sequel to the second Quake, gamers become Matthew Kane, a member of the legendary Rhino Squad, who has to penetrate deep into the heart of the Strogg war machine and carry out a series of missions to destroy the barbaric alien race that's an amalgamation of machine and man.
Throughout, players and their fellow marines encounter and battle all manner of alien creatures as well as mechanized walkers and hover tanks. The single-player campaign mode is challenging and fun to play. And there are some intriguing weapons upgrades that are handy in certain situations.
The game was built on id Software's DOOM 3 technology and features fast-paced multi-player competition that feels much like that in QUAKE III Arena. It's lots of fun, but don't expect something entirely new. For those who are so inclined, QUAKE 4 comes in a higher-priced Special DVD Edition that includes QUAKE II, the QUAKE II expansion packs, and behind-the-scenes content.
The graphics are detailed and cutting edge. But to obtain this visual look, the game has high system requirements. In other words, you'll need a blazing fast computer in order to play this game. Don't waste your money if you have a slower system that will simply crawl along. Of course, Quake 4 has made a reputation from its graphic violence. This is no title for young kids.
Quake 4 is a worthy sequel to the Quake series. Fans will particularly enjoy the single-player campaign. And multi-play is fun, but does feel a lot like that in earlier renditions.
-Wayne N. Kawamoto
