The original Quake has been recreated for PC and consoles and is available today, so it’s time to rocket leap in 2021. The first-person shooter genre is ascribed to DOOM and Wolfenstein 3D, but Quake was the first game to employ 3D images since previous games (including Duke Nukem 3D) utilized 2.5D visuals to provide the misleading appearance of a 3D world.
When compared to the brightly illuminated space stations and colonies of the DOOM trilogy, Quake was set in a dark fantasy land filled with demons and eldritch abominations, making it stand apart. Outside of its technological achievements, Quake was a significant game because it directly influenced the development of games like Half-Life, and its mood and graphics allowed for new types of narrative in video games.
During QuakeCon 2021, a new remaster of Quake was revealed, and it’s now available for $10 on Nintendo Switch, PC, PS4/5, Xbox One, and Xbox Series X/S. (or free for existing owners). The aesthetic update in the remastered edition of Quake includes new models, dynamic shadows, and better lighting. In addition, the graphics support 4K quality and widescreen format.
The music produced by Trent Reznor of Nine Inch Nails, which some thought was the reason the game hadn’t been restored earlier, is one element it keeps from the original game. Quake’s online multiplayer has cross-play compatibility, as well as specialized servers for Deathmatch and co-op. When Quake launches today, Xbox Game Pass users will be able to play it for free.
The retail and downloadable DLC expansions for Quake are also included in the remaster: Scourge of Armagon, Dissolution of Eternity, and Dimension of the Past. There’s also a fresh new episode called Dimension of the Machine, which was produced by Wolfenstein remake creator MachineGames for the 25th anniversary of Quake.
In the future, Quake will get free add-ons, including Quake 64 and its alternative soundtrack. Backward compatibility is presently in effect for the PS5 and Xbox Series X/S versions of the game, although they will receive specific improvements in the future.
Because of the great response to the improved DOOM remasters, a Quake remaster may have been unavoidable. Quake deserves just as much fan attention as the DOOM games, and a contemporary remaster that smoothes out the rough edges is the perfect way to expose this classic to new fans all across the world.
