User Reviews (1 - 11 of 44)

Show these reviews first:

Highest Rated
Lowest Rated Newest
Oldest Most Helpful
Least Helpful

Hold up! This is NOT a DOOM clone!

5 Rating: 5, Useful: 31 / 40
Date: October 25, 2005
Author: Amazon User

Whoa! Some folks are comparing this to DOOM! No way! Firstly, the AI is much improved. You aren't stuck in constant corridors where the AI doesn't have to have a brain. It just has to 'be' right in front of you, and come at you.
Not so here. I have actually watched the enemy AI step away and hide behind a pole until i passed the pole and shoot me in the back! You gotta keep your eyes on this one.
Of course, it can be a system hog. I have a P4 3200 + 1 GIG DDR RAM + 256 MB DDR PCI EXPRESS ATI VIDEO + SOUND BLASTER AUDIO. With those specs, i got a REALLY sweet framerate that hardly dropped under 75 fpm. That with a 1024X768 screen setting and *MOST* features cranked. I was glad they alowed key binding to be changeable, and that they included the save anytime feature also. NO FREAKIN' CHECKPOINTS! I see minor comparisons to HALO and DOOM and even F.E.A.R. But, not so much that the game feels derivative. I thought the graphics were sweet at the settings i chose. And, the weapons sound incredible. You can almost smell the gunpowder. This is worth every penny.

Rezet's Xbox 360 vs PC Game Review: Quake 4

5 Rating: 5, Useful: 23 / 25
Date: December 20, 2005
Author: Amazon User

Sometimes, very rarely a 3D shooter playes better on a console than it does on a PC. Well, it's not one of those times. As a matter of fact for those who have played a PC version of Quake 4, playing it on Xbox 360 will be a huge step down. Surely the HDTV graphics are there and overall the game looks similar to the PC version, but controls are again the weakest link here.

Well, since the opening was about the "bad parts" of the game, let's go ahead and get though them before we get to the "good ones".

Having played Quake 4 on PC, and deciding to be a hot shot by start the Xbox 360's verion right away on the "corporal" difficulty, I quickly realized how bad of an idea that was. Aiming is certainly something that takes a good time to get used to with a controller. But even after about 5 hours I was still no where near good at locking into enemies and strafe dodging shots as I was on a PC after only 10 minutes of play.
Surely by switching to the "private" difficulty I was able to get though the game with a relative ease but the excitement wasn't there. All underminded by the fact that 3D shooters are meant to be played with a keyboard and a mouse.

The graphics in this game while not "Half-Life 2" realism like, are certainly pretty. And if you enjoy watching people get cut in half with saws, you will certainly appreciate all the character, textures, particle effects (yes, blood) and lighting quality of this game. (On the same note, if you enjoy it TOO much, you may want to see a doctor *wink*).

The problem, however, lies in the inconsistent FPS (Frames Per Second). Many times FPS plunge into low teen numbers, making the game a slide show for a few seconds. It wouldn't have been a problem if that happend every now and then but frames don't stay consistent for more than a couple of minutes at a time. Combined with already hard to work with targeting system, it can bring pure hell in certain situations and quickly lead to death. Which then leads to perhaps the last big problem in the game - long "loading" times. Loading times can last in excess of 30 seconds. And although they don't appear often if you progress though the game (about once every 30 minutes), they can become enormously irratating if you keep dieing. In situations where it takes more than simply shooting at the enemy (usually boss fights), it may lead to situations of running into a room, getting nailed with one hit and looking at "loading" screen. It can test a patience of those who are not sure what they are doing and die in seconds only to look at spinning Quake logo for half a minute, over and over.

On the good side, however, the game is a well made 3D shooter from the point of level designs, overall graphics, and a relatively deep storyline for a what most would consider "mindless shooter". The story is easy to get into: Stroggs are continuing the fight against the human race. So as one of the marines you get dropped off on their planet to show them who the boss is. The missions are the ones that tell you story from a "brotherhood" military point perspective. You know that the war is going on, but inside the game it's more about surviving together with fellow marines. Assigned to the squad, you constantly on the move to help others, and AI (CPU controlled NPCs) do a surprisingly good job helping you as well. Which certainly takes away the feeling many other shooters give you that you are actually "baby sitting" the NPCs instead of working as a team.

Through out the game you get to know quite a few peronalities and spend most of the game fighting along side of them. Never knowing who will live and who will die. It isn't until you get deeper inside enemy bases that makes you understand why this game deserves a strong "M" rating. The images of graphical torture of captured fellow marines, blood and gore are everywhere. But what can you expect from a complex called "Strogg's Medical Facility"?

The level and environemt designs are good, but at times can get a bit seamless. And the fact that many missions force you going back and forth though same rooms - certainly doesn't help. But it isn't significanly de-valueing the game overall.

There is a good choice of weapons in the game that get modified through out the game for a bigger punch. And there are a number of vehicles available for the use through out the short missions (usually outside). It seems fun but certainly nothing you haven't aleady seen before in other 3D shooters.

Multiplayer is pretty good and certainly adds a good amount of fun to the game. However, Xbox 360's version suffers from the same problems mentioned above. Where things like precise controls play bigger role than they do in a campaign mode. Making a PC version truly shine and leaving 360's version in the dust.

Overall, this game is an almost perfect example of what you would expect from "big hitter" companies like Raven Software and Id Software. But I wish they had taken a slight risk and tried to add something new to the game to spice it up and make it stick out from the rest.

PC version of this game strongly deserves 4.5 our of 5 stars. Xbox 360 version, however, is proabably somewhere in between of 3.5 and 4 stars out of 5. Mostly due to problems mentioned in the beginning of this review. One thing can be guaranteed is that you will have a blast playing it if you are into linear Gory, and Bloody 3D "twitch" shooters. The only suggestion here is to get the game for a PC if you have a powerful enough computer. If you don't, you will still have a blast on Xbox 360. Just probably not as a big one.

An expansion worthy of notice

5 Rating: 5, Useful: 8 / 10
Date: October 19, 2005
Author: Amazon User

In retort to the other review, yes this game uses the Doom 3 engine and this game is also shooter. I can understand cotempt for this game b/c of all the shooters coming out but this one IS EASILY my favorite. The AI is quite inteigent tho sometimes predictable. Graphics are still great, lighting is insane. I really can't complain biut it at all. Multiplayer wil catch on soon, and it will definately bring Quake fans up to speed. Happy fraggin' guys.

If your system can handle it, this the best FPS game you'll ever play

5 Rating: 5, Useful: 4 / 4
Date: February 21, 2006
Author: Amazon User

Quake 4 is one of those games that comes along every so often that challenges the computer you use. It is a perfect benchmark for how smoothly your system runs. The makers of this game stopped at nothing to give the most realistic backgrounds, loudest, and fullest sound, engaging interactive characters, stunningly designed bad guys, and all around brilliantly animated gaming environment available. While you will need to have a computer that plays games first and does everything else later, the experience you will have playing this game will make it all worth it.

You are Matthew Kane, and you're a late guy. I know this because every time you regroup with your squad, they will ask if you took your time, or make some smart aleck comment about your punctuality. You will be called on to scout for the rest of your squad, so half the time you're exploring the area alone, and the rest of the time you and the squad are in team play.

You must battle the Strogg, who are taking all the human resources and tools away from the military. Turns out they want the humans themselves, to use their actual body parts. Creepy. The villians you will encounter are very varied, and may use a cannon, blade, teeth and claws, whatever.

The cutscenes occur here and there, but they're entertaining, and further the story along. No checkpoints, no PDA. The story goes along smoothly and gameplay is never dull. There are also skill levels if you find yourself in the weeds too quickly.

Online play is very fun as well, as you have deathmatch or capture the flag options.

Again, this game is the best FPS game you will ever have, just make sure your computer is top of the line graphics/memory wise. I played it on a Dell XPS M170 notebook with all the bells and whistles, and got a killer framerate. Along with the game, this DVD edition contains three older Quake titles (Quake II, Reckoning, and Ground Zero) as well as a making of documentary. 10/10.

Truly a worthy sequel to the fantastic Quake series

5 Rating: 5, Useful: 3 / 3
Date: October 21, 2005
Author: Amazon User

To other reviewers: Reserve judgement till you finish the game. It just gets better and better.

For the rest of you:

****Warning**** Some spoilers below.

Gameplay: The gameplay is fairly basic but still loads of fun. There is some prudence needed on your part, you can't just run and gun all the time and expect to get through.

Weapons: The weapons upgrade is a great idea. Even your weaker weapons at the beginning of the game can be used later in the game for more punch. And they are all useful. The machine gun is great to snipe enemies at a moderate distance. The nail gun is my favorite (especially later in the game). I wish the railgun and the BFG was more powerful though. And I did not like that the railgun has to be reloaded after 3 shots, especially since there is a charging time.

Enemies: This is one of my favorite elements of the game. The enemies are just amazing to watch. They have brought back the Gunner, Beserker, Gladiator, etc. with excellent detail. I wish they didn't disappear after they are dead. So sometimes I get myself killed just so I can get a better look at them. The AI maybe lacking a bit, but that is easily forgiven because of the damage these enemies can do at the harder settings. The bosses are a sight to behold.

Level Design: Amazing, detailed, probably the best I have seen in an FPS. You should upgrade your PC if you haven't done already, it is worth the experience.

Sound: The game sounds are absolutely incredible. The weapons sound very convincing. There is always some chugging and whirring in the background to immerse you in the industrial strogg atmosphere. Do yourself a favor and turn the volume up. The only weak point is the music, the score could have been a lot better (Halo raised the bar a little too high for me, unfortunately).

Kudos to Id and Raven for a spectacular game. We want more! Bring on the expansion packs! I can't wait 6 years for another sequel.

By far one of the best games of this year

5 Rating: 5, Useful: 8 / 12
Date: October 27, 2005
Author: Amazon User

First and formost this game is not a doom clone. Yes it uses the same engine but it's another game on it's own. Ok here's the Story on Quake 4 you play as Mathew Kane a new member of Rhino Squad and take place right after the events in Quake 2 where a lone marine knocked out the planets defenses and took out "The Big Gun" and killed the leader the Makaron. This is where Quake 2 ends and Quake 4 begins. Now for the graphics= the graphics overall are really great and worth taking a look. As for the game overall I would recommend it to anyone who loves FPS's. A great game and great use of the most powerful engine on the market this game is worth the $50 dollars you pay for it or if you get the special edition which comes with Quake 2 and the expansions it's $60.

Fan-freakin'-tastic

5 Rating: 5, Useful: 8 / 8
Date: November 27, 2005
Author: Amazon User

The latest in the Quake series is just short of perfect. Quake 4 follows the story from Quake II (which is included in the DVD edition of the game), and, like Quake II, is completely unrelated to Quake I and Quake III.

The story itself is fairly well done, better than most shooters (hard to be worse than nothing, lol). A couple small things here and there are unexplained (like the multiple Makrons...), but they are definitely not story stoppers. Moves pretty well.

Top notch graphics, based off the Doom 3 engine. A little intense for most computers, but once you set it to what your box can handle, it still looks wonderful. I had mine set to near-lowest settings (since my hardware is nearly three years old), and it still looked and moved fluidly.

The gameplay is fantastic, with nearly non-stop action. There's a lot of unit-based action, with the player spending quite a bit of time with other soldiers and even developing a bit of a bond with his own unit, Rhino squad. Enemies are always coming from everywhere, though a cleared area usually stays clear (thank you id). There are a couple pathetic attempts to include puzzles later in the game, though they are easy enough.

There are a few vehicle levels (riding in a troop carrier, driving a tank, driving a mech, and riding in a tram) which are very well done, proving difficult but not impossible. I would've liked to see more tank or mech time, but the game is already pretty long.

The sound is pretty sad. I had to pull some tricks out of nowhere to get it to work, and even then it all sounds really tinny. It gets the point across, though, so it's not a total failure. Honestly, I'm not even sure if there is music in the game. I want to say that there is, but I can't remember any for the life of me. So I suppose the soundtrack, if there is one, is completely forgettable.

Scores:
Gameplay - 9/10
Sound - 6/10
Graphics - 9/10
Story - 8/10

Overall - 9/10
Well done and very much worth picking up when they support more hardware (or if you have the extra cash and an itchy trigger finger).

*Note: the above scores are my opinion, and are not based on any system. Also, I run Quake 4 on a AMD Athlon XP 2600+ with 512MB DDR400 and a GeForce FX5600 with 256MB vram, which is running SuSE Linux 10.0. [...]

Amazing gaming experience...Worth every penny

5 Rating: 5, Useful: 6 / 10
Date: February 16, 2006
Author: Amazon User

First off DON'T RATE THIS GAME BASED ON HOW YOUR COMPUTER RUNS IT. NOBODY CARES ABOUT YOUR HARDWARE AND PERFORMANCE ISSUES WITH THIS GAME. IT IS NOT FAIR TO THE DEVELOPERS OR PEOPLE INTERESTED IN BUYING THIS TITLE. IF YOUR SYSTEM CAN'T RUN IT WELL THEN OBVIOUSLY YOU HAVE A MEDIOCRE SETUP AND NEED TO UPGRADE. I get a kick out of how people complain about video performance when they are running on board video. PLEASE get a clue!!! Now for my review I'll make it short as possible. This is without a doubt one of the best FPS titles I've ever played. Graphics, gameplay, story, weapons, action are all top notch. Level design is superb these guys did an incredible job making this game. I don't undestand how anyone (specially a FPS fan) could give this game less than 5 stars. This is coming from someone who has played most of the popular FPS titles (FEAR, Half Life 2, Doom 3 etc). Yes the graphics are like Doom 3 (which I think were gret) but the game plays a lot differently. One thing I really enjoyed was fighting along side fellow marines unlike Doom 3 where you are solo throughout the entire time. The weapons you get are a lot of fun and you have a very interesting variety to choose from. Cut scenes are fantastic. My two favorites are the Pod flight scene and the transformation you go through when the Strogg try to change you into their kind. Amazing and very intense. Also if you have a good surround sound setup you will be treated to a spectacular sound effect ride not ruined by background music. I have a pair of surround headsets coupled with hardware mixing creates a truly engrossing atmosphere. I'm still playing the game and I must say since I started I just about stopped playing other FPS games. This one has me hooked. This is my first Quake title and I must say I've become a dedicated fan. I'm really hoping for another title after this. You also get to operate some pretty cool machinery which is nice and changes things around once in a while. I also love the open area battles that are present throughout the game which makes for some great long range gun battles. I hightly recommend this titel to anyone that wants a fun, action packed FPS shooter which delivers intense excitement and thrills during every step of the way. You wont be dissapointed. I do advise you get the DVD version , installs a lot quicker and you have less discs to worry about. If your thinking about getting this title just do it. Well worth the money just for the single player experience alone.

Great Game as awaited.

5 Rating: 5, Useful: 3 / 13
Date: November 02, 2005
Author: Amazon User

Hi,

I was waiting for Quake 4 for quite a time and followed the stages of development to release, and what i was excpecting was wooooooooooo.

The game is so interactive and much fun having a squad with you making it so real, the game resulution is wonderfull such as D-III and the game play is YEAH !!!.

Believe me prepare your PC for this Game to get the best of it, as im playing with a LogitTech MX1000 and a VGA Nvidia FX 5200 and a 5.1 sound system.

To me little money is worth it for this game.

The same thing i said on Doom III review is "Great Job ID Software"

;)

Bow the knee, Quake 4 is here.

5 Rating: 5, Useful: 3 / 3
Date: May 19, 2006
Author: Amazon User

Lets start off with a disclaimer: There isn't a lot here that you haven't seen before. If you've played Quake, Quake 2 and Quake 3 you already know a lot of what Q4 is going to give you. Quake 4 didn't reinvent the wheel (gotta love those cliches). They just made the bloodiest, meanest, and most addictingly fun wheel on the market.

The Breakdown:

GRAPHICS - Beautiful! The difference between Q3 & Q4 graphically is more like the difference between Q & Q3. All the textures look silky smooth. The charater models look gruesome and fluid. The blood sprays in all directions with every gunshot and impale. The one drawback is that you computer has to be high-end. Don't fool yourself into thinking that you can run this game on anything less that the listed requirements.

SOUND - The sound effects are creepy and always appropriate. The soundtrack sounds epic. It makes you feel like a hero even if you are just running through some trenches.

GAMEPLAY - If you like Quake-Quake 3. You will not just like the game, you will love it an see it to completion. It is better than the other Quakes in every area. I will admit that I haven't played any multiplayer in Q4, but if CTF is anything like Q3 I won't be disappointed.

If you didn't like any of the previous Quakes then don't even consider picking up Q4. You won't like it! So shut up and don't give the game [...] just because it plays like a Quake game and not like a photocopied military clone.

Review Page: 1 2 3 4 5 Next 

Actions