Review

Developed by:Splash Damage Published by:Activision Genre(s):
  • FPS
  • Platform:
  • Microsoft
  • PC
  • Sony
  • Cost:$59.99 ESRB Rating:TEEN Players:1 (2-16 Online) Release date:May 27, 2008 Reviewed on:XBox 360
    7.2

    Enemy Territory: Quake Wars

    “Dear Helen,

    I know it’s been a long time since I last wrote you. Fort Brag was hit hard a few months back and we have been trying to recoup ever since. Don’t worry. It takes more than crazed, cybernetic spacemen to take down the GDF. I wish I were home with you and the kids. How are they by the way? I know they are afraid of the dark and I hear those underground bunkers aren’t well lit. Truth is, it’s not any better on the surface. The skies have been blackened with all the debris we’re kicking up. It’s like that old black and white film we saw a few years ago. I think it was called The Matrix. Anyways, I’m doing just fine. Physically that is. Emotionally, well, let’s just say I’ve been better. They got me going to some shrink. I’m sorry but it’s hard to cope with the things I’ve seen. Johnson was killed yesterday. I’m sure you heard. I told the fool to take it easy but he just had to be the hero. Good old Johnson. Well, I got to go. Tell the kids I said I love them and to mind their mother. I hope to see you all soon.
    Love Matt!”

    This is it Quake fans. This is where it all started. For those who don’t know, the Quake series is about our war with the Strogg-an aggressive and scavenger like race of aliens. Being extremely wasteful, they were forced to leave their home planet in search of “resources”. Each planet they come in contact with they enslave, turning the inhabitants into either cybernetic slaves or Stroyent (food/fuel). With each planet they conquer, their army grows larger and larger. In the year 2065, the Strogg finds our planet. Enemy Territory: Quake Wars, a prequel to the rest of the Quake series, tells this story.
    To be honest, there isn’t much more to the story. Being a team-based multiplayer FPS, Enemy Territory: Quake Wars (which I will call ET for short) focuses less on a central plot and more on the battles that raged between the races in the first early years of the war. ET is broken down into two modes, campaign and online multiplayer. The campaign is just like the multiplayer component (only with more AI controlled opponents). So, I’ll talk most about the online mode to save time.

    Again, being a team-based game, everything in ET revolves around teamwork. When you join a match (or you create one) you are given the choice between the GDF (Global Defense Force) and the Strogg. Depending on which map is picked to play on, the roles of the factions change. On each map, one of the warring factions will be required to complete a given objective within the time limit, ant this is in addition to defending them selves against the opposing faction. Once the faction is picked, each player must choose a specific role in order to help the team accomplish its goal. The roles are Soldier, Medic, Engineer, Covert Ops and Field Ops (or for the Strogg, the Aggressor, Technician, Constructor, Oppressor, and Infiltrator, respectively.). Now I know what you’re thinking. With so many similar sounding objective-based games out right now. What does ET bring to the table?

    The first would be the structure of the objectives. On each map, objectives must be completed by a player who has chosen the specific role required for the job (or objective). For example, if the GDF needs to build a bridge in order to advance into a Strogg facility, the only players capable of doing so are the ones playing as Engineers. Of course, while the Engineers are working, they are vulnerable to attack by the Strogg. They will need help from the Soldiers who can give heavy weapon support and if someone drops on the battlefield, the Medics are there to revive them. The Covert Ops players can put up smoke screens to help mask the movements of the other players all while sniping enemies. Basically, by playing their part and working as a team, each player helps to complete the objective-and with the ability to change roles during a match, you’re able to effectively strategize a plan for victory. For instance, let’s say we are on the same team and are trying to complete an objective. However, the Strogg players keep ambushing us. By switching my role over to the Covert Ops, I can call in for a Radar Station to be dropped at my location. The station will continuously scan a wide area, and marking any Strogg troops it detects. This information is given to our whole team, making sure we don’t get ambushed anymore.

    Another thing that I thought was cool was the differences between the two factions. Most games like this have two or more factions fighting each other with the same weapons and gadgets (they just look different). In ET, there are big differences between the Strogg and GDF. For example, the humans need ammo dropped by Field Ops in order for their guns to be of any use. Don’t worry as the Field Op players have an endless supply. The problem comes in when those players are getting killed before you can get any ammo from them. The GDF also need medic packs dropped by Medics, if they are injured. The Strogg however, use Stroyent- a substance made from the flesh of conquered enemies. This concoction is used to restore their health as well as replenish their ammo reserves (they can even take some of the ammo and used it for health on the PS3 version).
    There are many more differences between the factions that range from special abilities to choice of vehicles. While not being entirely different (this is a FPS after all), the two factions offer unique experiences. I can’t say that for other games like this.

    While the gameplay is exciting, I do have to comment on the sound and graphic quality of ET. This game was released as a PC title before being ported over to the next-gen systems and it’s easy to tell. There are better looking FPS’s for the PS3 and Xbox 360 (Bad Company for one). Of course graphics don’t make a game good, but it can make a good game better. The war between the humans and the Strogg would be more believable with better-looking character models and environments. As it stands, the indoor locations are decent but some of the outdoor ones need more detail. They come off looking very bland and dull. The character models look the part, but aren’t as detailed as their PC counterparts. The same can be said when if comes to the sound department. Anything less than a large explosion sounds weak (even with the sound cranked up). I remember playing the PC version and being excited because of the sound quality. It almost made you want to duck because it was like real bullets were flying by your head. It becomes more and more apparent that the visual and audio components of ET needed some retouching with each skirmish.

    Ever since I played the demo at E3 ’06, I have been “patiently” waiting to get my hands on a review build of Enemy Territory: Quake Wars. The PC version is the best version on the market right now. At the same time, that doesn’t mean the 360/PS3 versions aren’t worth buying. I am happy to say that the gameplay stands up to previously released objective/team-based First-Person-Shooters on the market. Between this and Battle Field: Bad Company, I don’t think I need any other shooters right now (kind of like how I felt after Halo 3 and Call of Duty 4 came out).

    Gameplay:

    9

    By having objective-based combat, special roles, and two distinct factions, Enemy Territory: Quake Wars is successful at making gamers work as a team. Awesome!

    Graphics:

    6

    While not horrible, they don’t stand up to other games in the genre.

    Sound:

    7

    A little better than the graphics (a little).

    What's New:

    7

    Enemy Territory doesn’t reinvent the FPS wheel. It did accomplish what most games like this couldn’t and that is to make teamwork a top priority.

    Replay Value:

    7

    While this is a great online game, Enemy Territory: Quake Wars suffers from the lack of a real campaign. This means that your fun is dependent on whether or not people are playing online (even with the inclusion of bots).

    Final Score:

    7.2

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