Quake is a first-person shooter developed by id Software that established many conventions of the genre with its fast-paced combat and dark fantasy setting. The enhanced edition brings the 1996 classic to modern platforms with updated visuals while preserving the core experience that defined retro-style FPS games.
Gameplay
Players control Ranger, navigating interconnected levels filled with enemies such as corrupted knights, deformed ogres, and other twisted creatures. Movement emphasizes speed and precision, with jumping and strafing playing key roles in avoiding projectiles and positioning for attacks. The arsenal includes shotguns, nailguns, rocket launchers, and the iconic lightning gun, each suited to different enemy types and combat ranges. Exploration rewards players with secrets that often contain powerful items or alternate paths. The original atmospheric soundtrack composed by Trent Reznor remains intact, enhancing the tense atmosphere across military bases, medieval castles, lava dungeons, and gothic cathedrals.
Visual upgrades in the enhanced version include support for up to 4K resolution, widescreen formats, improved models, dynamic colored lighting, anti-aliasing, and depth of field effects. These changes maintain the original aesthetic without altering the fundamental feel of the gameplay. Controller support has been added alongside traditional mouse and keyboard controls.
Game Modes
The single-player campaign forms the foundation, tasking players with collecting four magic runes across four distinct dimensions to confront an ancient evil. Both original expansion packs, Scourge of Armagon and Dissolution of Eternity, extend the campaign with additional levels and challenges. Two further expansions developed by MachineGames add Dimension of the Past and the new Dimension of the Machine, the latter involving time and space travel to power a dormant machine and seal a portal against greater threats.
Horde Mode introduces endless waves of monsters on dedicated maps, playable solo or with others. Players earn points through kills and combos to unlock weapons and power-ups. Multiplayer supports competitive matches with up to eight players online or four in local split-screen, focusing on pure retro-style deathmatch combat. Cooperative play allows up to four participants to tackle the full campaign and expansions together, either online or via local split-screen.
Multiplayer and Expansions
Online features include dedicated server support for matchmaking and peer-to-peer options for custom games. Crossplay enables sessions across PC, Xbox One, Xbox Series X/S, PlayStation 4, PlayStation 5, and Nintendo Switch. Mod support lets players download and play additional fan-made and official content, including Quake 64, with more additions planned over time.
Ownership provides access to both the untouched original version, fully moddable as it has been for years, and the enhanced edition with its curated improvements and modern conveniences. The two versions coexist without replacing one another.
Is It Worth Playing?
Quake suits players who enjoy classic first-person shooter mechanics centered on movement, precise aiming, and exploration in a compact, challenging campaign. The enhanced edition makes the experience more accessible on current hardware while retaining the original's intensity and level design. Horde Mode and expanded multiplayer options provide replayability beyond the story content. Reviews from critics and users have been generally favorable, highlighting the faithful updates and enduring gameplay loop. Those seeking a straightforward, high-speed shooter without modern open-world elements or live-service features will find strong value here, especially with the included expansions and cross-platform support.
