There’s no doubt this is an authentic Quake game. No other game gives you the very best in expert crafted FPS levels that vary nicely in pace and feel, have you running through the most beautiful game graphics you’ve ever seen, and somehow manages to throw you in the middle of the most horrific, grotesque and bloodthirsty world ever – yet leaves you feeling fresh and cheerful for it? Yes, there’s a new Quake in town.

Despite having ample laurels to rest on, Quake 4 excels beautifully at its thing, which is brainless run and gun space marine vs horrible monster firefighting.

Quake 4 starts a little slowly, introducing you to your space marine buddies and giving you time to explore and familiarise your rather massive mothership. Then it picks up pace exponentially through the game, leaving you spent, breathless and begging for more as it winds up. Quake 4 is shortish at about 10 hours, but the quality more than makes up for that.

Every single level – every single room, is designed and rendered with enormous skill and experience. Raven Software has been turning id’s 3D engines into games for well over a decade and they are the best in the biz. You will sit stunned at each turn, this game world really is incredible looking and the lighting in particular beats anything else out there. The alien Strogg base you’re infiltrating is packed with huge machines that whoosh and clank away.

It’s an extremely dynamic world with vehicles and mechs to drive and a cast of dozens of characters with impeccable voice acting and lip syncing. Through it you’ll fight a handful of bad guys at a time, repeat as required. It would be a little dull if it weren’t so pretty and the design so outrageous.

A first for Quake, and well executed at that, is the addition of squadmates. It’s nice to have yelling and screaming space marines at your side, taking some nasty hits for you and a medic to patch you up when you need it. The AI is impressive, squaddies will take good firing positions, not get in your way and generally help just enough to leave you still feeling like the hero.

There are scenes in this game which really warrant an R rating and it’s only the lack of an R rating that got this game through, somehow, as an MA15+, we think. Younger gamers may be unsettled by some scenes here. Meathooks, body crushing machines, circular saws cutting legs off. Stuff like that.

Quake 4 may be formulaic, short and brainless, but it’s done so beautifully that missing out on this gem should be a crime.