'get ready to Quake ... again'
 Developer: Nerve/Splash Damage
Publisher: Activision
Category: : FPS
Multiplayer: 1-16 (Xbox Live/PSN)
Official Site
Platform: X-Box 360
Might look like: /
Date posted: 27 June 2008
Written By: Ian
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Leaving Battlefield Quaking?
The Quake series has always been famed foe multiplayer gaming, right from 'Quake 1', one of the first 3D FPS's to offer online gaming, to 'Quake 3 Arena', the first in the series to focus entirely on online gaming, right up to 'Quake 4', which also featured solid, arena style deathmatches.
Now, the team behind Enemy Territory, set in the Wolfenstein Universe, have created "Quake Wars", which promises the same fast-paced gameplay, but with large, open maps, rather than tight areas, and the objective-based gameplay and various classes of the Battlefield series and Frontlines.
Can ID Software pull this ambitious project off, especially as they bill the single player as a prequel to Quake 2?
Multi Gameplay
The 'single player' is without a doubt the most disappointing aspect of the game.
If the game had been advertised as a multiplayer-only experience, with bot matches as an added extra, then yay! But here, we have a 'prequel to Quake 2.' Rubbish. You get an opening CGI movie. Then. Nothing. Squat.
Four 'campaigns' that just group together 3 maps from multiplayer together as one side. No story, no cut-scenes, no nothing. You learn nothing about the background to the conflict at all. This is, therefore, pretty disappointing.
However, once you get into the thick of the action, the single-player prepares you pretty well for the multiplayer experience, and the single player missions are actually pretty fun. As just mentioned, the gameplay style is a mix of Quake speed and Battlefield objectives. This means you get objective based gameplay, but matches that can be completed much quicker than some of the epic battles in EA's series. This is a good thing in many ways.
In fact, everything feels very tight, from the aiming (although there is perhaps a little too much auto-aim), to the upgrades and time it takes to take objectives, to the interplay between classes, who are very similar, yet so very different.
  
The classes also feel very equal, with all of them being competent in combat, yet with their own special abilities to complement this basic skill. If you ever wished Battlefield could be a bit quicker, this is the game for you!
Mixed Bag Graphics & Solid Sound
The graphics in ETQW are a bit of a mixed bag. The environments, which use ID's flaunted and lauded 'megatexturing' feature look absolutely stunning. Whilst there are few fancy effects (like HDR lighting) involved, the maps are huge, well aliased, and feature nice colour sets, whilst at the same time, retaining a very 'Quake' feel to them.
This is especially true of indoor areas, which are often dark and narrow, with battles in these areas often feeling like a traditional game of Quake.
Levels of detail are high, without ever reaching a particularly stunning level, but the game, is, on a whole, very pleasant to look at.
Character models, on the other hand, look fairly poor. Despite the fact that there is little variation between classes, the models just don't look up to scratch compared to the rest of the game, appearing a bit blocky and low-polygon compared to the environments. Weapon models are also a bit brown and dull, and don't feature any dynamic lighting or shadowing effects on them, which again, just mars the experience ever so slightly.
Sound-wise, the game is a solid performer. The weapons effects, and many of the other effects, have been recycled from other Quake games. This sounds cheap, but to the fan of the series, is actually a really nice touch that adds to the experience.
There isn't much speech, so it can start to grind somewhat, but never that badly. All of the effects are nice and bassy, and what music there is fits nicely with the game, adding to the punchy overall experience.
  
Frantic Multiplayer up to 16 !
Thankfully, the multiplayer options in ETQW are much better. In fact, its basically the single player all over again, except you can play with other people! There's unfortunately no split-screen, but online play is up to 16 players. This feels about right on the maps, even though the PC version supports 32.
The matches are frantic, fast, and feel like proper Quake, with the added bonus of objectives. If there aren't 16 players about, then you can add bots into the mix too to fill the game out.
Online, the game performs very well, finding games using a Halo-style matchmaking system, which is very fast, then once you are playing, the game seems to be thankfully lag-free, even with large games. The graphics also remain as in the single player, another bonus.
Stats are tracked in these games, and are quite detailed, but unfortunately, they are not easy to find after games, as you need to search for yourself in the online leaderboards. Its also unfortunate that the XP system, which works really well, is not persistent like it is in COD4, for example.
However, this levels the playing field somewhat, so is not a major design flaw at all. Overall, it's a great multiplayer experience for anyone who enjoys either Quake or Battlefield, and joyous for those who appreciate both genres.
Conclusion
"Enemy Territory: Quake Wars" is a surprisingly solid game. I wasn't sure that having Battlefield style gameplay mixed with Quake mechanics would work at all, but developer 'Splash Damage' have done a great job, providing the frantic, fast-paced gameplay of Quake, whilst mixing it up with classes, upgrades and objectives found in Battlefield.
That's not to say the game is perfect. The character models aren't great, the stat tracking system is rubbish, and the rewards could have been more persistent.
However, the multiplayer gameplay is brilliant. Just don't try and persuade me that this has a 'deep single player' next time- prequel to Quake 2 this may be, but I learnt nothing about the Quake universe!
Therefore, highly recommended if you like online shooters, less so if you don't.
-Ian
Pros:
+ Matchmaking
+ Level Design
+ Superb Gameplay
Cons:
- Story? What story?
- Character models
- Short single player
 
 
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