Enemy Territory: Quake Wars Review

The only other complaint I have is with the audio. While for the most part sound effects are well suited for a game of this sort, I would have liked a bit more punch to weapon effects. Some weapons are fine but (for example), I felt the assault rifle could have been a bit throatier. Also, since the game features no integrated voice chat, you are left with a response system which reminds me of Tribes. Players on either team can greet each other, call for support and even offer warnings but since they are menu-based, it makes it a bit time-consuming when you consider how much easier it is to just say it yourself. Clans, of course, will use a client like Team Speak or Ventrillo to overcome this communication issue, but all that computerized chatter in game was districting. Hearing the Strogg greet each other with an enthusiastic "Hi!" comes off as cheesy. Especially when you have some key-happy twelve-year-old, who is spamming the match with repeated phrases.

The final verdict is that Splash Damage, overall, has done a good job with Enemy Territory: Quake Wars. The work that has gone into balancing each class clearly shows when playing on each side. Graphically the game looks good enough for the fast-paced matches, though it might not justify the steep hardware requirements. The ranking and advancement system which is based on your performance keeps things interesting and rewarding each and every round. The maps are well designed and different enough from each other to provide satisfying variety - for now. A map pack will be needed in short order to keep things from getting stale. Also, the maps are so big you probably do not want to attempt them with anything less than the maximum number of teammates. Just make sure the majority of those teammates are human because while the bot system can help fill the gaps if some of your usual group can't make the game, a bot can never really take their place (No, really? -Ed).

With the holiday release season just getting started, the gaming public will decide within a few short months if ET: QW got the balance right and did a better job than the rest of the Holiday offerings. Only time and the number of returning players will tell. While we wait for a FPS winner to be decided, Enemy Territory: Quake Wars will offer you a great time completing objectives and blasting away at the Strogg (or Human) menace until the wee hours of the morning. Just make sure your bring some human friends to the fight.

(This game also begs the question: is the Quake license enough of a draw, or has EA beat Quake Wars already by just having Battlefield 2142 out so much sooner? - Ed)