"Words of advice -"

frag

n.,v. [from Vietnam-era U.S. military slang via the games Doom and Quake] 1. To kill another player's avatar in a multiuser game. ''I hold the office Quake record with 40 frags.'' 2. To completely ruin something. ''Forget that power supply, the lightning strike fragged it.

(Definition from dictionary.com)

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Quake III: Arena is all about fragging. Whether you are fragging the computer, an online player from Jamaica, or a real life friend, you're always going to be killing someone/something in Quake III. There are no monsters or levels that involve you finding keys like in other FPS (first person shooter) games; it's just straight up killing with Q3. Quake III: Arena is definitely a nice change of pace from the standard FPS games.

There are three different modes of play in Quake III - single player, multiplayer, and internet. Since the game is mainly for multiplayer action, single player mode is merely decent at best. All you do in single player is select your level of difficulty (it ranges from 'I Can Win!' to 'Nightmare!'), then try to make it through all five tiers to become the so-called 'ultimate fragmaster'. The tiers are basically sets of four arenas (aka levels); there are five tiers in total. Three of the four arenas in each tier are regular deathmatches against 1-3 CPU-controlled characters. The fourth arena is a one-on-one deathmatch with a boss. If you manage to make it through every tier, you can play a VMU mini-game to unlock cheat codes for use during regular play. Beating the one player mode on different difficulty levels also unlocks different codes. With the option of playing on the internet available, unlocking the codes is the only reason to play through single player more than once.

The game's multiplayer mode allows you to choose from one of four modes (regular deathmatch, team deathmatch, tournament, and capture the flag) to play against 1-3 CPU or human controlled opponents. This mode is great if you want to frag your 'real life' friends or if you just want to play an exhibition game of sorts against the computer. Still, it is not the best mode in Quake III.

No, the best mode in Quake III is the option to play on the internet. Just set up an ISP, dial the number, and pick a game server and you can be fragging fellow gamers from all across the world. The option to play on the internet is fantastic, but it does not come without its share of flaws. The biggest problem that you'll notice is the lag that happens every once in a while. If you don't have a good connection, you might find yourself staring at a 'Connection Interrupted' screen and then getting fragged right after. Usually most of the online deathmatches and whatnot are fairly stable, but occasionally you will want to fire a rocket at your TV in anger. Another noticeable flaw is that online deathmatches can be quite uneven. If your opponent is using a keyboard/mouse and you are using the Dreamcast controller, consider yourself screwed. For one, you will have a tough time typing with the DC controller. You will also be at a serious disadvantage game-wise since keyboards can hold all of the game's controls and controllers cannot. If you have any plans of playing Quake III online, then a keyboard is well worth the investment of $15-20. Even with those two flaws, internet play is still a blast and is something every FPS fan should try.

All of Quake III's 30+ arenas are littered with useful items, including weapons. There are nine weapons in total that you can use; they vary with each arena. The weapons range from weak gauntlets and machine guns to devastating rocket launchers and rail guns. There is also a version of the BFG (Big Friggin' Gun) that is a trademark of id Software FPS games, although it is rare to find in this game. Each gun has its own attributes - the rocket launcher is great for 'splash damage' and the rail gun is incredibly accurate (as long as you have good aim). There is a ton of ammo for each weapon scattered throughout the arenas, too. To go along with the weapons and ammo, you can collect armor and health as well as some potentially awesome powerups. These powerups include invisibility, megahealth, and quad damage (where your shots do four times their regular damage). Needless to say, there is plenty to find in each arena.

While you are fighting in the arenas, you will undoubtedly notice the impressive visuals accompanying each level. Screenshots do not do this game justice at all. Each arena is full of detail, making the entire experience simply beautiful (aside from the copious amounts of blood and gore). The shooting effects are excellent - when you shoot at a wall (be it an accident or on purpose), it will leave a mark behind bullet holes if you use a machine gun or just heavy burn marks if you use the plasma gun. The arenas can get quite messy with all of the bloodshed and damaged surroundings. I couldn't have asked for more.

The audio department doesn't fare as well as the visuals, but it certainly isn't bad. The sound effects are very good, with each weapon's noise being easily distinguishable from the others. It is also easy to tell if someone's nearby thanks to the noises you hear (footsteps, gunfire, etc.). There is also a narrator of sorts that says, well, not a whole lot. He will tell you if someone enters the game and will say 'quad damage' or 'invisibility' when someone picks up the powerup, but that's about it. The voice never gets annoying since it says so little and that's all I could ask for. As for the music, it is an average blend of hard rock/metal. The music can get repetitive at times and can quite easily get on one's nerves, but the loud gunfire and other sounds of battle somewhat cancel out its mediocrity.

Overall, Quake III: Arena is one of the best FPS games I have ever played. With its 'frag everything that isn't you' concept and sheer multiplayer fun, it is worthy of a purchase for any Dreamcast owner. Just don't buy it for the single player mode - Quake III is meant to be played against others. Also, be careful where you buy it. A lot of places still charge $40-50 for it, but Walmart has it for $15. Keep that in mind if you plan on buying Q3.

Best Feature: Internet play.
Worst Feature: Lag.

Final Analysis:
Graphics 9.5/10 - loads of detail, impressive
Sound 6/10 - repetitive music, great sound effects
Gameplay 8/10 - 30+ arenas, awesome multiplayer/internet playing
Control 6/10 - best with keyboard/mouse
Replay Value 8/10 - internet play will keep you coming back for more
Challenge 8/10 - very hard with DC controller
Overall 8/10

Reviewer's Score: 8/10, Originally Posted: 02/10/02, Updated 02/10/02