DISTURBING, haunting, hellish and pretty damn good. Quake, the full version, is out there now for all to experience and because it's id Software's first fully developed title since Doom 2 it simply can't be ignored. While Quake is not too dissimilar to the Doom format, there the comparisons end.
The completely redeveloped game engine and the greatest multi-player facility ever will ensure that Quake will be around for a long time indeed. This full version offers three additional episodes, which get progressively more difficult.
Unfortunately there are no additional weapons, but there are five new heinous creatures to contend with.
To set the tone, every game needs a soundtrack; Quake, however, has what can loosely be described as atmospherics, which are exquisitely done. As a result, playing Quake in the dark is probably the next best option to sitting alone in front of the TV watching late-night horror films.
While it's brilliant to play solo, it is against others that Quake really excels. You can play via modem or network (up to 16 players), and even over the Internet.
With all the hype surrounding Quake, expectations are - unsurprisingly - extremely high. While it probably won't satisfy those expectations it is still superbly put together. For the connoisseurs of shoot-em-ups this is an absolute must. For the rookie it will have you shaking in your slippers. Hope to see you on the other side.
Graphics: 95%, Sound: 94%, Gameplay: 94%