You Can STILL Slaughter Your Friends in One of the Greatest FPS Games Ever

by

First-person shooters have changed a lot since the early days of games like Quake and DOOM, and some people feel those changes haven’t always been for the better. While criticisms of things like battle passes and the possible use of AI in games like Call of Duty are valid, it’s clear that innovative indie FPS games and excellent big-budget titles such as Doom Eternal and Titanfall 2 still demonstrate a lot of creativity.

Many of today’s popular first-person shooter games wouldn’t exist without Quake, which significantly improved upon the gameplay pioneered by DOOM in the 1990s. Even now, few shooters capture the same enjoyable experience as the original Quake. Fortunately, Nightdive Studios has made Quake more accessible than ever, bringing the 1996 classic to modern computers and consoles where it runs smoothly and is still fun to play, three decades later.

Why Quake Is Still So Good, Three Decades Later

Quake’s Vibe Is Untouchable

Look, as someone who loves a good shooter, I’ll admit modern games are gorgeous. The graphics – the resolution, textures, everything – are seriously impressive, and even games I don’t totally enjoy can still be visually stunning. There’s something really cool about seeing the action from your character’s point of view, like you’re actually there. And honestly, when the graphics are this good, it should make you feel more immersed in the game – and sometimes, it really does!

While realism can be good, Quake proves that it isn’t always necessary for a strong atmosphere or artistic direction. The game expertly blends Lovecraftian horror with thoughtful science fiction, creating a truly unique and captivating world. Plus, its soundtrack, created by Trent Reznor of Nine Inch Nails during their peak, is phenomenal. If you enjoy the intense heavy metal music and gritty visuals of the 2016 Doom, you’ll likely love Quake as well.

In Quake‘s sequels, series protagonist Ranger is actually voiced by Trent Reznor himself.

Nightdive Studios and MachineGames Made Quake Even Better in 2021

While you can still play the classic Windows or MS-DOS versions of Quake, there’s now a remastered option too. In 2021, Nightdive Studios – known for remastering games like Turok and now part of Atari – released an updated version of the original Quake. This “enhanced” edition includes minor changes and modern features to improve the experience for today’s players. Some of the key improvements Nightdive made to the 1996 game are:

  • Support for up to 4K resolution
  • Widescreen support
  • Antialiasing
  • Dynamic lighting
  • Better textures
  • Longer depth-of-field

While these updates aren’t radical changes – and that’s a good thing, as Quake didn’t need a complete overhaul – the remaster does offer significant improvements. These include dedicated server support and crossplay for online multiplayer. Nightdive Studios has also added a new Horde mode, which is a fun addition to the game and can be enjoyed alone or with friends. Plus, this updated version includes the original Quake expansions, The Scourge of Armagon and Dissolution of Eternity, along with two bonus surprises from MachineGames.

MachineGames’ Modern DLC for Quake

To mark the 20th anniversary of Quake in 2016, the team behind Wolfenstein at MachineGames released Dimension of the Past, a free downloadable expansion. This expansion acts as a connection between Quake and Quake 2, but it’s primarily seen as a loving tribute to the classic shooter, rather than a major addition to the game’s story. Dimension of the Past was later included in the 2021 remastered version of Quake, along with the game’s original expansions.

The 2021 re-release of Quake also includes Dimension of the Machine, a new expansion pack developed by MachineGames. This DLC has players battling Chthon, a villain originally from the core Quake game, across a range of new levels and against different demons. It received a lot of positive feedback for its intricate level design – a quality that would later be seen in MachineGames’ Indiana Jones and the Great Circle – and for adding new arenas for Deathmatch gameplay.

I seriously can’t believe how good Quake still is, even after almost thirty years! If you’re a returning player, this enhanced version has tons to offer, and if you’ve never played it, you absolutely need to. It’s surprisingly smooth, really satisfying to play, and totally addictive. The enemies are creepy, the levels are interesting, and the soundtrack is incredible – way better than most games from that era. I’m hoping id Software gives Quake the same awesome remake treatment they gave Doom (2016), but even as it is, there’s so much to enjoy and replay!

Read More

2026-01-17 00:35