- Joined
- Jan 2, 2007
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- 1,067
Awhile ago when I signed up for the Quake Live beta I did a "first impressions" bit on what I thought of the beta. Here is an updated version now that I've had more time with the app.
Just like last time the first thing I'm gonna say is: It's Good. It's really good. It's the fast & furious deathmatch game you know and love as Quake III. Most of the changes are cosmetic, like they recently started rolling out in-game ads and the blood has been toned down, although its understandable since a free game is more accessible to younger audiences plus it doesn't really change the feel of the game. On the topic of gore however, they thankfully have also toned down the effect of Insta-Gib, in the earliest versions of the beta multicolored confetti would fly everywhere temporarily blocking the screen. They've toned it down to a simple particle spray, which is easier to see through and such.
The one thing that seems missing is classic Death Match and Team Deathmatch modes. There's duel, but only two people at a time can play duel. Then there's CTF, Clanmatch CTF, and Instagib. But where IS TDM and DM? They are the classic modes and you think they'd still have them. I'm sure they'll come back down the road, but it's odd that they aren't here yet. Maybe I'm just not seeing them.
There seems to be a word filter on as well, though it usually just removes the last two letters of the curse which makes it kinda seem silly and funny when you see people yell "FU! FU! FU!" but once again, it's not really a bad thing, it doesn't add or detract from the game and once again it's probably there since younger audiences might be in the game. I don't get why the language is so bad but w/e.
The only real negative I'll give QL is BOTS. Quake Live is a game best played with humans, 99% of the time you WILL get to play with humans, but if a human is alone in a server he might start hitting the "Add Bots" button. That's fine and all, but the thing is is that the bots don't appear in the player list pre-game and the bots do NOT go away. This causes servers to crash and act up. If a server becomes full yet there are still 8 bots in the server, the server will get confused as to why there are more players than is allowed and it'll crash, and when Quake Live servers crash it takes the whole service with them. Obviously griefers will use this as well, and when you see that damn "QUAKE LIVE WILL BE BACK SHORTLY" screen just because there were too many bots running around it's a bit annoying. Thankfully the only other time oyu see that screen is when ID is updating.
Updating is pretty painless, sometimes it might take down the site or it may limit your ability to play online and only allow you to play locally with a few bots but otherwise updating is silent and doesn't affect your ability to hop into any server, although glitches and crashes can happen so it's usually best to look at the update bar and wait for it to fill up.
Quake Live is no looker, it runs on a *mildly* updated version of the Quake III Team Arena engine, but at the same time it's a GOOD thing that it runs on such an old engine because I'm sure a newer engine would probably slow the game down. The game blazes by with lightning speed on any computer new and old (Unless it's pre 1999
) and that means matches will always be vicious and fast paced, and almost always fun.
If you are a fan of Quake and fast paced competetive multiplayer, Quake Live is for you. They are still accepting beta sign ups at www.quakelive.com Give them your email and they just might send you an invite. Or you can just wait for the final version. Either way, it's great fun.
Just like last time the first thing I'm gonna say is: It's Good. It's really good. It's the fast & furious deathmatch game you know and love as Quake III. Most of the changes are cosmetic, like they recently started rolling out in-game ads and the blood has been toned down, although its understandable since a free game is more accessible to younger audiences plus it doesn't really change the feel of the game. On the topic of gore however, they thankfully have also toned down the effect of Insta-Gib, in the earliest versions of the beta multicolored confetti would fly everywhere temporarily blocking the screen. They've toned it down to a simple particle spray, which is easier to see through and such.
The one thing that seems missing is classic Death Match and Team Deathmatch modes. There's duel, but only two people at a time can play duel. Then there's CTF, Clanmatch CTF, and Instagib. But where IS TDM and DM? They are the classic modes and you think they'd still have them. I'm sure they'll come back down the road, but it's odd that they aren't here yet. Maybe I'm just not seeing them.
There seems to be a word filter on as well, though it usually just removes the last two letters of the curse which makes it kinda seem silly and funny when you see people yell "FU! FU! FU!" but once again, it's not really a bad thing, it doesn't add or detract from the game and once again it's probably there since younger audiences might be in the game. I don't get why the language is so bad but w/e.
The only real negative I'll give QL is BOTS. Quake Live is a game best played with humans, 99% of the time you WILL get to play with humans, but if a human is alone in a server he might start hitting the "Add Bots" button. That's fine and all, but the thing is is that the bots don't appear in the player list pre-game and the bots do NOT go away. This causes servers to crash and act up. If a server becomes full yet there are still 8 bots in the server, the server will get confused as to why there are more players than is allowed and it'll crash, and when Quake Live servers crash it takes the whole service with them. Obviously griefers will use this as well, and when you see that damn "QUAKE LIVE WILL BE BACK SHORTLY" screen just because there were too many bots running around it's a bit annoying. Thankfully the only other time oyu see that screen is when ID is updating.
Updating is pretty painless, sometimes it might take down the site or it may limit your ability to play online and only allow you to play locally with a few bots but otherwise updating is silent and doesn't affect your ability to hop into any server, although glitches and crashes can happen so it's usually best to look at the update bar and wait for it to fill up.
Quake Live is no looker, it runs on a *mildly* updated version of the Quake III Team Arena engine, but at the same time it's a GOOD thing that it runs on such an old engine because I'm sure a newer engine would probably slow the game down. The game blazes by with lightning speed on any computer new and old (Unless it's pre 1999
) and that means matches will always be vicious and fast paced, and almost always fun. If you are a fan of Quake and fast paced competetive multiplayer, Quake Live is for you. They are still accepting beta sign ups at www.quakelive.com Give them your email and they just might send you an invite. Or you can just wait for the final version. Either way, it's great fun.
