So why is it that Quake 4, Raven's recent teaming with id, plays it very, very safe? A solid shooter, it's nonetheless a throwback to a time before Half-Life and Half-Life 2, Call of Duty, and Far Cry - an era in shooters when all you needed was a big gun and an even bigger boss monster to aim it at. And unlike other Recent "retro" shooters like Painkiller and Serious Sam, Quake 4 doesn't offer inventive level designs, unique flair, or a budget price tag. But there is one boundary it pushes: How much you're willing to pay for a 10-hour retread
campaign and bot-less Quake III-style multiplay.
Final Verdict: Highs - Loads of action; gruesome visuals; Q3DM17 with Doom 3 graphics
Lows - Uninspired gameplay; Stroggification plot twist goes nowhere; no multiplayer bots. Bottom line - This old-school shooter suffers from a lack of 21st-century game design.