Quake

Genre: First-Person Shooter

Players: 1-4 Co-Op / Competitive (Local Split-Screen), 2-8 Co-Op / Competitive (Online)

Game Company Bad Behavior Profile Page: ZeniMax Media Inc

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Review:

(Note: This game is included in Quake + Quake II Enhanced Bundle, along with Quake II.)

When Quake first released on PC in 1996, it became one of the most influential First-Person Shooters ever made, perhaps second only to Doom and Wolfenstein 3D. Where Wolfenstein more or less created what would become the First-Person Shooter and Doom evolved and popularized the genre, Quake brought the genre fully into the realm of 3D using hardware acceleration, with the player able to freely look and aim, and allowing for more intricate level designs, as well as enemies that were fully 3D rather than scaling sprites. And beyond that, Quake also evolved multiplayer play by adding numerous options and, with a later update, online multiplayer.

Over the years, Quake has been ported to numerous platforms, but in 2021, it received a proper remaster, released on PC, PlayStation 4, Xbox One, and Nintendo Switch. This remaster would clean up the original release, include a wealth of content from throughout the game’s various releases over the years, and provide plenty of options to make this the new definitive version of the classic game.

The content included here covers the full original release of the game along with its two mission packs, Scourge of Armagon and Dissolution of Eternity. In addition, it also includes two recent episodes created by developer Machine Games: Dimension of the Past and a new one called Dimension of the Machine, the latter being entirely new to this release. There’s also a free mod you can download to play Quake 64, the version of the game released on the Nintendo 64 platform.

When it comes to performance, this game runs like a dream – flawless 60FPS framerates at 1080p resolution in docked mode (720p in handheld mode), with the framerates dropping down to a respectable 30FPS in 4-player split-screen mode. This is somewhat understandable, as this is a very old game, with blocky, unimpressive character models and low-poly levels with low-resolution textures. but it’s still polishing this game up to perform as good as it ever has. There are even a few improvements here and there, like lighting enhancements that show fitting shadows when a character is near a bring explosion.

In terms of features, this game gives players full control over a wide range of options – they can adjust the resolution, anti-aliasing, field of view, change the button bindings. There’s even an option whether to turn on or off cross-play (enabled by default), for those who would rather just challenge other Switch players. However, you needn’t fear the PC master race here – this game makes excellent use of gyroscopic motion control to give players superb fine control over their aiming, making for good competitive play against even those armed with a mouse and keyboard.

Okay, so all of that stuff I just said above? That’s if you’re a fan of the original Quake. For you folks, know that the Nintendo Switch version of the game is about as close to a perfect port of this classic First-Person Shooter as you could possibly hope for.

However, if you’ve never played the original, you may wonder just what you’re in for here? How does Quake compare to more modern First-Person Shooters?

Well, by today’s standards, Quake is simple, relatively straightforward (hidden secrets notwithstanding), and absurdly fast. It lacks a lot of the options and nuance of more modern First-Person Shooters. The levels can seem a bit repetitive as they lack much of the detail we’re used to in more modern entries in the genre. Online deathmatches are insanity where you can start, be killed, respawn, get a kill or two, and die again, all in a matter of seconds. Fighting enemies is more about moving quickly and unpredictably to avoid incoming fire than it is about strategic movement or any sort of tactical… well, anything. Quake is fast, dumb, and frenetic. In short, this is absolutely not a game for everyone, not even for every fan of First-Person Shooters.

In short, if you’re a fan of Quake who owns a Nintendo Switch, consider this game an absolute must-have. Even if the PC is your preferred platform for First-Person Shooters, the Nintendo Switch version of the game is a phenomenal port with performance and features are largely on par with what’s on PC, and the gyroscopic motion control is good enough that it offers a way to play competitively with mouse and keyboard controls. If you are not already a fan of Quake, but want to try a classic entry in the genre with fast, simple gameplay, this game is absolutely worth a try. But if you’re more at home with more nuanced entries in the genre, Quake might be a bit too old-school for your tastes.

tl;dr – Quake’s release on the Nintendo Switch is a phenomenal port that takes the classic First-Person Shooter, gives the visuals an improved framerate and resolution, includes a wealth of features, options, and content, and even some superb gyroscopic motion controls. This is still a port of a very old game, which shows both in its graphics and its gameplay, meaning this will absolutely not be a game for everyone. However, if you’re looking for classic, fast-paced old-school action, this is possibly the best port we could have possibly hoped for of this game.

Grade: B

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This game has been nominated for one or more of eShopperReviews 2021 Game Awards:

Runner-Up – Best Port/Remake

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