Posted on: January 9, 2018

mchartman
Verified ownerGames: 760 Reviews: 27
A nostalgia-free review
I grew up with Wolfenstein, Doom and some of the Build engine games, but somehow Quake eluded me all these years. A colossal mistake! Unlike Steam's version, GOG has included the soundtrack, but you will have to do a bit of leg work to get it running properly (search the forums, or YouTube). I used the source port QuakeSpasm for a more vanilla experience, and it runs beautifully. By default it has texture filtering enabled (similar to GLQuake) which in my opinion takes away some of the atmosphere-enhancing grime, but you can remove that by pulling up the console (~) and entering the commands "gl_texturemode 3" and "r_particles 2". Voila! By now Quake's reputation is of course legendary in the gaming world, but what surprised me was just how buttery smooth the gameplay is even by contemporary standards (even after 20 years of existence). It follows the classic id model of FPS design, with abstract level layouts and key-hunting; though compared to Doom, the maps in general are smaller and easier to navigate. The weapons all feel meaty and powerful, and offer a variety of methods for dispatching foes. Figuring out which weapons work best against which enemy types is key to survival in Quake. What seperates Quake from Doom and many FPS games since is its dark, brooding atmosphere. Stylistically Quake is a surreal mixture of Gothic horror, sci-fi, and fantasy (and a dash of H.P. Lovecraft). This aesthetic is enhanced tenfold by Trent Reznor's timeless soundtrack, which always seems to lurk menacingly in the background, promising untold horror upon the player. It's simply amazing! The monster design compliments this further, though I didn't find them as iconic as those found in Doom. Once you're done with the main campaign, included with this bundle are the two official mission packs (they're sold separately on Steam), which are required for some mods. All told, Quake is essential for any serious FPS fan. Get it. Play with your preferred source port. Enjoy!
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