What do NIN, H.P. Lovecraft and The Shambler have in common? Quake!
So what is this game about? Honestly, I don't know. Something about a slipgate, teleportation and kill as many monsters that your ammo allows. And then kill some more.
This unfortunately is a let-down in the game. I guess if you like total bloodbath, pay revenge on 'the fiends of Satan' and do-the-shambler-tango (quick game reload), then this will be your early birthday present.
The level design is a little boring. Grab key, kill, open door, grab key, kill, and exit. However there are some level designs that really impressed me (mainly Episode III especially the Wind Tunnels and the Vaults of Zin). So it was obvious that the designers can design really cool levels but didn't.
The collection of arsenals is pretty good though. The shotgun can play as a non-zooming sniper, the scrumptious super nailgun and the grenade launcher will part 'doorways' for you and the baby Thunderbolt will give you pleasurable discharge to your enemies. However don't use the Thunderbolt in water (remember science: electricity + water = do-the-shambler-tango).
There are thirteen monsters to choose from rottweilers (what's with id and rottweilers - remember Wolfenstein 3D?) to zombies (gotta love them – worthless twits), spawns and of course the yeti Shambler (once you have being introduced to one you'll never forget it). So what do you do to all these chocolate éclairs? Splatter them.
The overall mood of the game is impressive. Once you enter the slipgate (past level one) then you see gloomy skies, pentagrams, fire and brimstone and dark corridors and yet hear the sounds of distant moans, crackling fires and the whirling air that surrounds you. The music from NIN simply adds well to this environment. It's time to get acquainted with your shotgun. Lock and load partner.
Speaking of partner, the game strong points were its online feature. Online game was still at the 'developing/growing' stage hence not many games ultilise this medium. id software however took the bull by its horns and introduced a massive online community. Deathmatch and co-op was the two options for online gaming and that my friend was the highlight. Here, I really don't care much about the story but care about fragging. This is the time where boys turn to men; I am Alpha and you are Omega; don't mess with me cause I'm the rocketman; talk is cheap and stats don't lie; eat my shrapnel and call me Lucy sort of thing. Overall, even though the single player mode can be quite a bore at times (little imagination of level designs) what really saved this game was the setting itself (turn off the lights and feel the mood), sounds and of course the online all-you-can-eat fragfest.