by Wyatt "JOEDOG" Elliott
Quake 3 has already made its console debut last year on the Sega Dreamcast. It was a great translation. Full multi-player support, including Internet play. Great graphics and decent control.
Thanks to Electronic Arts Quake 3 is making its PlayStation 2 premiere. Titled as Quake 3 Revolution. It's the same old Quake 3 with enhanced graphics and some bonus features. But basically the same Quake 3 you know and love. Except no Internet play of course.
As I said, Quake 3 Revolution offers enhanced graphics. At least compared to the Dreamcast edition. It's not a major difference. It hasn't been redesigned from the ground up or nothing. But you can expect higher resolution graphics at a slightly higher frame rate.
The best part about this edition of Q3 is the control. I hate it when a console game tries to mimic the PC's mouse and keyboard control style on their controller. When playing the PC version, you buy a controller to get away from using the mouse and keyboard. So why in the world would you set up the controller to mimic it? If you prefer that style of control, than more power to ya. May you kick my butt playing the game, But for the love of all things good, give us the option to change it to the way we like it. (This message is directed to the programmers of such games as KISS Psycho Circus, Armorines, and Time Splitters. Yeah you know who you are!)
Back to my original point. Quake 3 Revolution proves that you can have a PC game transition and give it console style control and be successful. (Console style control; see GoldenEye, Perfect Dark, Medal of Honor.)
As far as I'm concerned this is the best version of Quake 3 on the market now. It offers multi-player (without Internet), single player mode, capture the flag, and the rest of Q3's offerings.
The lack of Internet play is a downfall, but it forces us gamers to actually socialize face to face with people. Once again, the PlayStation brings people together instead of tearing them apart. If you've already tired out of Quake 3 on the PC or Dreamcast, I don't suspect that this one will bring you back. However, if you love the game, or first person shooters in general? Quake 3 Revolution is one of the best multi-player ones out there today. And definitely the best first person shooter on the PS2 . . . Until Medal of Honor comes out.
PUBLISHER: EA
GRAPHICS: 9 MUSIC & SOUND: 8 CONTROL: 10
SECRETS: 9 ORIGINALITY: 8 FUN & REPLAY: 8.5
OVERALL: 8.5