When the first details of id Software’s new first person shooter, Quake 3 Arena emerged, not everyone was impressed. The previous games from the team had all followed some kind of story line, with a multi-player sub game thrown in for good measure and this was considered the done thing. Announcing that Quake 3 would be an entirely multi-player only affair seemed like a bit of a cop out.

There were others that saw the light. Quake 3 Arena is THE finest example of the first person shooter g ... more >>

When the first details of id Software’s new first person shooter, Quake 3 Arena emerged, not everyone was impressed. The previous games from the team had all followed some kind of story line, with a multi-player sub game thrown in for good measure and this was considered the done thing. Announcing that Quake 3 would be an entirely multi-player only affair seemed like a bit of a cop out.

There were others that saw the light. Quake 3 Arena is THE finest example of the first person shooter genre, wowing players across the globe. The id team got the balance of the game spot on. The entire focus of Quake 3 Arena is on super fast death-match action and it is delivered on a spanking new dedicated 3D engine. Capable of fully curved and organic surfaces, the new engine makes the title stand head and shoulders above the rest.

Along with the LAN (Local Area Network) and much-hyped Internet play comes the one player action. You have been supplied with an army of AI guided bots to murder. Now these are no ordinary bots. Using dynamic adjustment technologies, the bots will customise them selves to suit you as a player. If you encounter bots that continually beat you, the game will fractionally disable certain aspects of their AI until you can progress. As far as we can make out, the only difference this makes is the accuracy of the bots’ shots. Reducing the intelligence makes no difference to their tactical play.

As is the trade mark of modern FPSs Quake 3 comes equipped with a startling array of destructive hardware to choose from. Rail guns, rocket launchers, shotguns and the awesome BFG 10K from Quake’s great grandfather Doom, are all included for your fragging pleasure.
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