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Pardon the dust! This page includes some jargon that hasn't been added to the site's glossary yet. I'll be around to fix this later, but sorry for the inconvenience in the meantime. |
Review: Quake
At a Glance
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How to Save and Pause:This is dependent on the source port you're using, but normally, you can save your game whenever you want. To pause the action, bring up the pause menu by pressing ESC. Time needed per session:Plan on playing for fifteen minutes or more, as a typical level can take five to ten minutes to clear.
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Does this game pose issues for Christian players?
 | Yes There is a ton of blood and gore present throughout this game, though a potentially bigger issue is the faux-occult content that this game is themed around. Essentially, this is a retelling of Doom (1993) that replaces the satanic imagery with a Lovecraftian horror theme. |
Screenshots
![[view screenshot]](../images/screenshots/quake_0.jpg)
![[view screenshot]](../images/screenshots/quake_1.jpg)
![[view screenshot]](../images/screenshots/quake_2.jpg)
Game Overview
After having two blockbuster First Person Shooters under their belt, the team at id Software managed to make lightning strike again in 1996 with their release of Quake. This game not only improved upon the gameplay mechanics seen in their previous titles, it also introduced several new features, such as a true 3D engine, support for online deathmatches, and the ability to link episodes together as a single adventure. In 2021, a high definition remaster was released on Steam, and while this review will focus on this version of the game, everything said here is also true of the original release.
Quake's story is very similar to story behind Doom; the main difference is that Quake took its inspiration from Lovecraftian horror while Doom was set directly in a satanic Hellscape. In fact, the similarity between these two franchises pretty much ends here, as later games in the Quake series focus on the conflict between humanity and an evil alien race known as the Strogg, ignoring this entry entirely.
As the story goes, the government was experimenting with teleportation technology (again). This led to the development of a working prototype, known as the Slipgate. Things were going fine until a previously unknown alien force, codenamed Quake, attached itself to the Slipgate network and began an invasion. The player character, aka the Ranger, is the sole survivor of one such attack, and he's now tasked with travelling through four different realms in search of magical runes. Once all four runes are gathered together, he can access the source of the invasion and destroy the monster responsible.
The remastered edition also comes with four expansion packs, two of which were originally packaged separately. The first of these is the Scourge of Armagon, which continues the Ranger's adventures in the war against Quake's forces, now led by the monstrous Armagon. The second expansion, Dissolution of Eternity, sees the Ranger travel throughout time in an urgent mission to stop Quake from altering history.
The other two expansions are the Dimension of the Past and the Dimension of the Machine, which are new level packs that were developed for the game's 20th anniversary. They have little plot to speak of, but provide some incredibly detailed and lengthy levels for the fans to enjoy.
Gameplay wise, Quake's enhanced engine allowed id Software to showcase a number of new concepts, such as the ability to aim vertically, bounce grenades off surfaces and around corners, and larger, more elaborate levels than were possible before. To give you an idea of how large the new levels are, the level Azure Agony (E4M7) on its own is 1,460 KB in size - aka the maximum amount of data that could be stored on a floppy disk.
Another new mechanic is the ability to swim in liquids. Aside from giving the player a new way to explore and some new aquatic enemies to face, swimming also gave the hazard suits a new feature. In Doom, they simply prevented the player from taking damage when standing in hazardous fluids. Here, they not only provide protection from some hazards, they also provide an air supply, allowing the player to remain submerged for longer than usual. Alongside the ability to swim comes the ability to drown - so keep looking for air pockets as you explore.
On the downside, the enhanced engine also meant that Quake could feature more graphic and violent ideas than its predecessors. Many of the environments are already thick with blood before the player's arrival, and it's much easier to turn somebody into bloody chunks (aka gibs) than ever. Additionally, blowing something apart now leaves their severed pieces scattered about rather than creating an indistinct mass of red goo.
Despite this glaring issue, Quake definitely left its mark on the gaming industry and earned its place in gaming history. If you're not put off by the gore, it's worth playing, even today.
Quake's story is very similar to story behind Doom; the main difference is that Quake took its inspiration from Lovecraftian horror while Doom was set directly in a satanic Hellscape. In fact, the similarity between these two franchises pretty much ends here, as later games in the Quake series focus on the conflict between humanity and an evil alien race known as the Strogg, ignoring this entry entirely.
As the story goes, the government was experimenting with teleportation technology (again). This led to the development of a working prototype, known as the Slipgate. Things were going fine until a previously unknown alien force, codenamed Quake, attached itself to the Slipgate network and began an invasion. The player character, aka the Ranger, is the sole survivor of one such attack, and he's now tasked with travelling through four different realms in search of magical runes. Once all four runes are gathered together, he can access the source of the invasion and destroy the monster responsible.
The remastered edition also comes with four expansion packs, two of which were originally packaged separately. The first of these is the Scourge of Armagon, which continues the Ranger's adventures in the war against Quake's forces, now led by the monstrous Armagon. The second expansion, Dissolution of Eternity, sees the Ranger travel throughout time in an urgent mission to stop Quake from altering history.
The other two expansions are the Dimension of the Past and the Dimension of the Machine, which are new level packs that were developed for the game's 20th anniversary. They have little plot to speak of, but provide some incredibly detailed and lengthy levels for the fans to enjoy.
Gameplay wise, Quake's enhanced engine allowed id Software to showcase a number of new concepts, such as the ability to aim vertically, bounce grenades off surfaces and around corners, and larger, more elaborate levels than were possible before. To give you an idea of how large the new levels are, the level Azure Agony (E4M7) on its own is 1,460 KB in size - aka the maximum amount of data that could be stored on a floppy disk.
Another new mechanic is the ability to swim in liquids. Aside from giving the player a new way to explore and some new aquatic enemies to face, swimming also gave the hazard suits a new feature. In Doom, they simply prevented the player from taking damage when standing in hazardous fluids. Here, they not only provide protection from some hazards, they also provide an air supply, allowing the player to remain submerged for longer than usual. Alongside the ability to swim comes the ability to drown - so keep looking for air pockets as you explore.
On the downside, the enhanced engine also meant that Quake could feature more graphic and violent ideas than its predecessors. Many of the environments are already thick with blood before the player's arrival, and it's much easier to turn somebody into bloody chunks (aka gibs) than ever. Additionally, blowing something apart now leaves their severed pieces scattered about rather than creating an indistinct mass of red goo.
Despite this glaring issue, Quake definitely left its mark on the gaming industry and earned its place in gaming history. If you're not put off by the gore, it's worth playing, even today.
Points of Interest
Lots of levels to enjoy
With the four expansions, the remastered edition of Quake gives you a total of eighty five levels. Several of these are secret levels that are only accessible through hidden entrances, but you'll see most of them in any given playthrough. Importantly, in order to beat the original game, you'll need to play through all four episodes on a single save file - something that generally isn't needed in an episodic game like this.
Sourceports for all
Of course, not everyone wants to use the fancy new engine the remaster comes with, and the good news is that you don't have to! Quake, like many other older games, has its share of source ports (here's a nice list
), and you're free to chose whatever one you want. Just remember that some features, like Steam achievements, won't be available when you're using a third party engine.
), and you're free to chose whatever one you want. Just remember that some features, like Steam achievements, won't be available when you're using a third party engine.
Steam community features
Speaking of achievements, there are 35 on offer. Most are earned by completing the different episodes, but a few are awarded for managing to pull off some difficult feats, like taking down a Dimensional Shambler using your melee weapon or finishing a specific level without harming any of the monsters.
Concerns and Issues
Graphic violence
By the time this game was released, First Person Shooters had already developed a reputation for being atypically violent, and Quake simply upped the ante. Many of the enemies the player will encounter are already bloody, especially around their mouths or claws, as can easily be seen with the guard dogs. It's also much easier to blast an enemy into bloody chunks, known as gibbs, than it was in earlier games. And, unlike those games, the pieces of dead foes are clearly their severed body parts this time.
The player is also signifanctly more likely to be reduced to a red smear, as there are numerous traps that are waiting to crush or skewer the unwary. Many of these are also already covered in blood and viscera, suggesting that they've claimed quite a few lives before the player arrived.
Lastly, Zombies are an unusual new enemy. In this game, a Zombie can only attack by flinging chunks of its own rotting flesh at the player, and most of your weapons won't kill them. If you want rid of a Zombie, you'll need to rip them apart with an explosive.
The player is also signifanctly more likely to be reduced to a red smear, as there are numerous traps that are waiting to crush or skewer the unwary. Many of these are also already covered in blood and viscera, suggesting that they've claimed quite a few lives before the player arrived.
Lastly, Zombies are an unusual new enemy. In this game, a Zombie can only attack by flinging chunks of its own rotting flesh at the player, and most of your weapons won't kill them. If you want rid of a Zombie, you'll need to rip them apart with an explosive.
Vaguely demonic
Doom gained a lot of negative attention from all of the satanic references and imagery that it used, and Quake seems to have attempted to tone down this problem by taking cues from Lovecraftian horror instead. Thus, while many of the more inhuman monsters resemble demons of some sort, they're technically weird and violent aliens. But, this is an incredibly fine line being drawn, as there are still several explicit satanic references found in the game.
Religious elements
Several levels contain depictions of Christ being crucified, including some instances where it looks like you're supposed to shoot it to trigger some event. Turns out, attacking Christ's image actually does do something - the player is immediately punished with a loss of health and a DO NOT DEFY GOD warning message.
Aside from this, you'll also encounter bloody altars that are used to worship the being known as Quake, and defiling them (by shooting them) is actively encouraged.
As a final point, pentagrams are found throughout the game. Many are built into the walls or floors, while some are painted on the walls using what appears to be blood. One special pentagram, the Pentagram of Protection, is an item the player can collect to gain temporary invulnerability. While invulnerabile, their HUD will say they have 666 points of armor.
Aside from this, you'll also encounter bloody altars that are used to worship the being known as Quake, and defiling them (by shooting them) is actively encouraged.
As a final point, pentagrams are found throughout the game. Many are built into the walls or floors, while some are painted on the walls using what appears to be blood. One special pentagram, the Pentagram of Protection, is an item the player can collect to gain temporary invulnerability. While invulnerabile, their HUD will say they have 666 points of armor.