46 reviews
Sales Rank: 8817

Format: Cd-rom
Platform: Windows Xp
ESRB: Mature
Media: DVD-ROM
Edition: Special
Autographed: No
Memorabilia: No
Batteries Included: No
Age: 17 - 20 years
Operating System: Windows XP
Shipping Weight (lbs): 2
Dimensions (in): 0.1 x 0.1 x 0

MPN: 32973
Model: 47875329737
UPC: 047875329737
EAN: 0047875329737
ASIN: B000AQE79E

Release Date: October 18, 2005
Availability: Usually ships in 1-2 business days

Features:

•	Arena-style multiplayer that allows players to play as Strogg or Marine in deathmatch, team deathmatch and capture-the-flag modes
•	Fight alongside other marines in both small squad missions along with large, epic battles
•	Diversity of combat with indoor and outdoor environments along with mechanized walkers and hover tanks to pilot
•	Battle through the early portion of the game as an elite marine, then after your capture as a "Stroggified" marine with enhanced abilities
•	DVD edition includes Quake II plus two expansion packs, Making of Quake 4: Behind the Scenes, developer interview, and concept art

Accessories:

•	PC Gamer (1-year)

Similar Items:

•	Doom 3: Resurrection of Evil Expansion Pack
•	Doom 3
•	F.E.A.R. Director's Edition
•	Far Cry
•	Half-Life 2: Episode One

Editorial Reviews:

Product Description
The ultimate war continues! You are Matthew Kane, a member of the elite Rhino Squad and part of the next massive invasion that spans across the entire Stroggos planet. Equipped with hi-tech weapons and vehicles, and teamed with a top Marine squadron, you soon realize this war is far from over. In fact, your worst nightmare's soon realized when you discover to defeat the Strogg, you must become one of them. The Special DVD Edition includes Quake 4: The Making Of, Quake 2, Quake 2 Expansion Pack: Reckoning and Ground Zero.

Customer Reviews: Read 41 more reviews...

2 out of 5 stars

Interesting Concept, Poor Game Play September 6, 2008
9 out of 10 found this review helpful

Once again, you, the player, return as a battle hardened marine fighting the forces of an alien enemy on the planet Stroggos. Your enemy, the clever and malevolent half machine half human Strogg have been invading earth for years, stripping the planet of its natural resources and using the body parts of the deceased for gory experiments. Now, in a last attempt to stop the invasion, you are sent to Stroggos to destroy your enemy before they destroy your world. However, the planned invasion on Stroggos goes awry, many of your comrades are killed and your ship is wrecked. Now, with the help of a few remaining fellow soldiers, you must battle your way through this bizarre and malevolent alien world. However, your worst fears are soon realized when it becomes apparent that to defeat your enemy, you must become one of them! The battle for earth begins . . .

Game Play

When I first started playing Quake 4 I was immensely impressed. The graphics were marvelous, the plot absorbing, and the general aura of palpable tension enthralling. However, as the game progressed I became less enamored. I freely admit that I have no gaming skill whatsoever, and am a frequent user of cheat codes, however, I was able to play Doom 3 through without a great deal of reliance on cheat codes. Buoyed by my success, I assured myself that at last I had acquired some amount of skill and would be able to enjoy Quake 4 . Alas, but it was not to be! As the game wore on, I instantly tired of getting killed every few seconds, getting stuck, lost, confused, and just generally enraged. I gave in and searched the internet for my trusty old cheat codes. So much for that self fabricated palaver about having acquired some gaming skill. Still, I was certain that once I typed in my cheat codes (the ones that gave me all the weapons and made me invincible) I would be able to finish the game. After all, how pathetic would it be to have the invincibility cheat code on and still loose! Surely even I wasn't that bad. Well, I was. Actually, I'd prefer to blame that on the game. Okay, so I'm not that skilled a gamer but even so, a game really shouldn't be that hard. So, why was this game so impossible? Let me count the ways:

Complexity of the Missions:

As can be assumed by this sections title, the mini-missions that were present during each level were particularly complex. Within the first few levels, the player is inundated by seemingly impossible missions to acquire objects that can't be found, save other soldiers who seem to throw themselves into harms way, open doors that just won't open (even when I cunningly gave myself the cheat code for a rocket launcher in hopes that I could just blow up the door), etcetera. As the game wore on, the fun dissipated and each mission became like a chore. After finally completing a task, I was rewarded with yet another extraordinarily difficult mission until finally I became so stuck and so dispirited that I gave up and refused to finish the game. Even with every cheat code known to man, I simply couldn't get past that impossible level. I was only four levels in when I became irreversibly stuck. This then, was why I choose to write this review. For a highly experienced gamer this game will probably not seem quite as unfeasible, however, the extreme level of complexity will still prove annoying despite the gamers skill and tenacity. For a fairly new gamer like myself, avoid this product at all costs! Quake 4 is for experienced, skilled, and infinitely patience gamers only!!!

Ineffectual Cheat Codes

This then brings me to my second qualm, the ineffectual cheat codes. Although not everyone is so reliant on these odious codes, I found that sadly I was. So, imagine my surprise when I donned the invincibility cheat code and still got killed! How is that even possible you ask? Well, the design of the game is such that in each level the player will be presented with a mission that, if failed, is often fatal. Therefore when the player doesn't finish the mission in time the game automatically stops and the player is obliterated forcing them to start the same level all over again. Therefore, the cheat codes are completely ineffectual, useless, futile, inadequate, ad infinitum.

Along these same lines is the critical timing of the missions. Often I was killed because I did not perform the feats with enough speed. Being a new gamer, I found it extremely tiresome that such great skill and unwavering attention was expected of the player. I much preferred the method that the Doom series employed where the player was allowed to choose their own level of difficulty. This enabled new players to start the game and become accustomed to the gaming world whereas older players were allowed more challenges. Had this method also been presented in Quake 4 I feel that many of my complaints would have been rendered void. Sadly, this was not to be.

Character Provided Information

Compiled with the level of sheer complexity, is the character provided information. Unlike the Doom games, each level is so complex and the missions so minutely detailed, that it became essential for the game creators and programmers to use other characters, such as army commanders and other soldiers, to deliver important mission oriented messages. Through their explanations, the player learns of the current circumstances, ongoing storyline, and the various minutias regarding an impending mission. Because of this, it is essential to have the computer sound blaring. As I soon discovered, this is any easy way to irritate your family members especially when you feel like indulging in a game while they try to watch television. Also, because all essential information is conveyed through dialogue, it is essential to listen carefully to everything the characters' say. This level of concentration soon becomes yet another irritating aspect inherent in Quake 4.

Weapons

As if the game was not already difficult enough, the weapons provided made actually hitting a target nearly impossible. Only the machine gun was actually useful in striking the aforementioned targets. The other weapons, including the advanced weapons only to be acquired later in the game, were completely powerless and therefore made actually hitting a target nearly impossible. The targets themselves were always provided with better weapons, were able to move faster, hide more efficiently, etcetera, therefore culminating to make them nearly indestructible.

Enemies

The Strogg themselves prove to be rather undeveloped villains. Unlike the Doom villains, we are never truly allowed to see our adversaries. They are often two far away to see and for the player's own safety, especially without the benefit of cheat codes, it is imperative to shoot at them from a distance. Therefore, the villains are never truly seen thus diminishing the level of terror expected from a horror/action videogame.

Also, the programmers made use of the same villains in several levels resulting in the gamer being subjected to a re-run of identical carnage sequences. This repetitive feeling of deja vu was yet another flaw in the ever crumbling facade of Quake 4

Besides all these qualms, the concept of the villains themselves, half machine, half human, simply didn't evoke as much imaginativeness as could have been expected. Perhaps I have been spoiled by years of Doom but the concept behind Quake 4 simply wasn't as imaginative or terrifying as it could have been. Still, the rich storyline and character details more than made up for this small fault.

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All of these flaws, laboriously explained above, proved fatal to the Quake 4 experience. Although they were several nice elements to the game, these elements were simply not enough to overcome the great complexity of the plot, the endless mind numbing missions, and the countless conundrums presented in each tiresome level. However, for the benefit of the reader, I have provided a brief segment below that detail the more pleasant elements of the Quake 4 experience.

Graphics

After having just recently finished Doom 3 , I was instantly able to recognize the graphics employed in Quake and was not overtly surprised to learn that Quake 4 relied on the Doom 3 engine. As in Doom 3 the virtual world of the Stroggs was fully brought to life with fluid graphics, realistic companions, and (unlike Doom) excellent lighting. The graphics were almost perfect and certainly the best that I have seen to date.

Storyline

Although the storyline of Quake 4 was not as unique as the Doom saga, it was more highly developed. The aura of tension and mystery was sustained throughout the few levels I managed to master and the greatest regret that I have about discontinuing my excursion in the Quake world was that I would be unable to witness the ending of the finely crafted storyline. Indeed, at times the game acquired and almost cinematic feel that left the gamer hungry for more. Sadly the sheer complexity and hopelessness of the mission made it impossible for me to continue further in the Quake world and therefore, I remain ignorant as to the story's conclusion. However, judging by the beginning portions of the tale, I can only assume that the story continued onward at an exciting and intriguing pace. Would that I could have finished it.

Characters/Dialogue

Unlike the Doom 3 saga, Quake 4 boasts superior characters. Instead of pursuing the same Doomesque aura, the programmers allowed for greater variety of characters in Quake 4rendering them far more important to the continuation of the tale. Indeed, the marine is rarely ever left alone and is either accompanied by a squadron of his soldier comrades or his commanders. Each character is essential to the story and thus a more realistic aura is created. This was one of the most enjoyable aspects of Quake and effectively helped to construct a distinctly personal and relevant aura.

As for the character's dialogue, this aspect is far less believable. The dialogue is generally corny and over done but still helps to keep the gamer's interest and proves to be an entertaining if unrealistic addition to the Quake 4 atmosphere.

Special Edition

I purchased the Special Edition CD-ROM. Included in this edition are the following features:

* Concept and Production Art Gallery
* Quake II plus expansion packs Reckoning and Ground Zero
* The Making of Quake 4: Behind the Scenes
* Interviews with id Software and Raven Software

Conclusion

Although Quake 4 boasted several nice features most notably the cinematic story telling and the inclusion of more than one character, the devastating flaws that surrounded the game proved fatal to the gamer's enjoyment. The complex missions, impossible time limits of each adventure, the poor weapon design, and the ineffective cheat codes all conspired to take a game with great potential and render it un-enjoyable and irritating. Recommend only for those with extreme patience and great gaming skill.

- Ravenova

4 out of 5 stars

Quake 4 August 9, 2008
Liked it better than Doom 3 and the exp pack. At least it didn't take 10 seconds to put a shell in the shotguns chamber. Better weapons also. To bad Raven abandened Soldier of Fortune.

3 out of 5 stars

pretty, linear and no directions November 14, 2007
wish I could have all the effects cranked, but, even with the newest patch, I couldn't access the very highest resolutions (and it wasn't my system since it's a 2007 high-end/crossfire model).

still, it looks excellent, but I kinda felt like I was on a conveyor belt from the very beginning. Nothing to explore and only one way to kill/get through a level - very linear

halfway through the game, there's a boss battle I just couldn't get through...even after about 30 attempts....and that was on the easiest setting!!! Part of my problem was I couldn't figure out the missile tracking system (there are no directions for this with the game or anywhere online as far as my research went). I wasn't impressed enough with the game play to continue and sold it

by the way, I only bought this "special DVD edition " because I got it at the same price as the single CD. The extra content is pretty lousy. Yeah, the "making of..." is o.k., but old Quake 2 and it's expansion packs aren't worth anything to me. Those games weren't good enough to play more than once.

though not quite as graphically advanced (debatable), "Far Cry" is much more immersing (I actually finished that on "medium" difficulty)

1 out of 5 stars

Wish I hadn't Bought It November 4, 2007
0 out of 1 found this review helpful

I had to reboot twice to get this installed. 'Way too much work for a so-so game. Pretty graphics, boring gameplay. Shoot-it-up, fine. I started shoot-em-ups with the original Wolfenstein. It was immeasurably better than this. I wish that it was the old 'try-before-you-buy' days. I wouldn't have bought. Find another...better would be easy.

4 out of 5 stars

After Quake 3? November 3, 2007
After Quake 3 I was really apprehensive about this purchase. I thought, oh no not another frag everything party but this has goal. Not much of a story but it was ok because the graphics were cool and game play smooth. I thought it was long enough but game writers need to include more puzzles in these to add to fun. The AI in this is terrific for the time it came out and the weapons selection is super. Once again I find myself comparing every game to Half life.