Preliminary review of Quake Champions. Speed, guns, rocketjump

Just imagine: you are rushing, it means that you are jumping on narrow platforms, grab a rail that has arisen in front of the nose, send one enemy, the second, third and … immediately observe how your hero is torn to bloody scraps (not) successfully The flew rocket. He pulsates in the temples, and in the chest, it is as if someone is hiding in the alarm-you nervously fidgets on a chair and drawn by the cherished https://love-gb-casino.co.uk/ to the treasured Respawn button.

If the end of the 1990s, these lines would belong to the author of the review of the new Quake 3: Arena. But now-2017, and we are talking about Quake Champions, The game from the legendary ID Software. What does all this mean? And this, friends, means that Quake has returned and, more than ever, is ready to argue for the title of the main multiplayer shooter on PC.

Hello from the past

The authors took precisely the third part as the basis of the new game, this can be seen with the naked eye. The first arena that we got into the ZBT is a remake of the classic Q3DM6 card, the same, with columns, a bridge and a pack of springboard along the perimeter. But it is much more important that ID Software employees managed to accurately recreate the gameplay familiar to everyone who spent hours in computer clubs in the early 2000s. The main thing in Quake Champions is your skill: accuracy, reaction speed, knowledge of the card and a timer built into the brain, counting seconds before the appearance of icons soaring in the air.

Armor lies on the left below, and to the right – a sand clock, accelerating the restoration of special skills.

These icons – weapons, health, armor or temporary bonus that increase damage – also hello from the past: they arise on the map, disappear if they are selected, and then restore. Others hang out calmly for the time being, but at the beginning of the round the hot battle flares up for the guns – no one wants to meet the enemy with a rocket launcher and in response to shoot a dozen metal nails from a nail.

And most importantly – emotions are all the same. Everyone who played in Quake 3: Arena, remember how a moment before a shot from a rail -sized breath and exhausted sharply if the deadly rays came right into the enemy. When shooting at Quake Champions, you do the same, and this applies not only to the rail. Enemy missiles, for example, make you bent now and then, sitting in an armchair, and a shotgun forces you to run as close as possible to the enemy and plant more fractions in his carcass.

And while the body recalls all the relevant reflexes, familiar techniques come up in the memory: jumping, straffjamping and, of course, Ructjump, who will send your hero somewhere to the top without the help of a springboard. Well, and the endless movement, where without him. You can’t stand still in Quake Champions – they will blow up, cut it out, and will get. While moving from death, too, not a single player is safe, but on the run to catch a rocket in the forehead is much more difficult.

Platform jumps

In the beta version of Quake Champions, there was a place for three arenas: the Q3DM6 remake, it was nicknamed Blood Covenant, the ancient temple of Ruins of Sarnath and the majestic castle of Burial Chamber.

The first card has already passed the test of time, and there can be no complaints about it. With two others, too, everything is in order. Both arenas are designed in accordance with the local gaming process: long corridors and a lot of platforms for jumping, springboard and many all sorts of protrusions that allow you to achieve the goal without turning from the trajectory. And the levels look worthy, in the spirit of the series. What are the lava waterfalls, bloody streams and a huge rotating eye, riveted to the ground with chains.

According to intra -game mythology, this is the eye of the ancient god Kalkha, watching the players.

Quake Champions generally looks great, and partly the merit of our compatriots, studio Saber Interactive , responsible, including for the graphic game engine. Effects, Champions costumes and every detail on a particular barrel-all this reminds us that once all the games of the ID Software were legislators of graphic fashion.

Weapon is your best friend

Shooting in Quake Champions will be possible from a machine gun, a nailazemet, a shotgun and a missile, as well as a lightning stake and a rail. In addition, there is a saw – for cases when the cartridges ended or the enemy ran up to you too close. And here is what a thing: as an initial weapon, you can choose one of the first three trunks and further choose its improved version on the map. In other words, if you are reborn with a shotgun in your hands, you should not run past the shotgun icons with a satisfied look – this barrel will be more damaged.

Something is missing? True, a plasmagan, a grenade launcher and Bfg. In the near future we are unlikely to see them, although the developers themselves proudly admit that they have several more surprises in stock. What exactly is being discussed is difficult to say. But now you can guess why the developers decided to abandon three classic weapons. The fact is that they already have to balance a lot in the new game.

Ahead

Now Quake Champions can hardly be called a perfectly balanced shooter, otherwise ID Software would not spend so many beta tests. But the characteristics of the weapon and the timings of the icons are not the most severe headache, the authors cope with this perfectly. Nine champions cause much more questions, each with their own unique skill.

Of course, of course, there is no about any division into classes – this is not for you Overwatch. All champions are in more or less equal conditions, shoot from the same trunks and all as one with a squeal scattered into parts when a rocket hit. And now all fans of Quake 3: Arena have a question: “What does it mean in more or less equal conditions?"Namely: more or less, but not in equal.

Jashcher Sorlag, for example, spits with acid enemies.

The problem is in those most unique skills. So, the ranger knows how to teleport to any point on the arena: the hero throws a luminous sphere in front of him and, when repeatedly pressing a special button, moves to where this area is located (the skill works like a translocator from Unreal Tournament 3 ). Or here is Galen, scattering in the way of the enemies of the totem, working as mines. Nothing complicated so far, right? But then it is already more difficult. NIX becomes invisible, the visor sees all enemies through the walls, but the Skalbirer simply blows all the living on the run when he activates the ability “ahead”.

These skills are not endless, they work limited time, and then slowly restore. But, firstly, they can be restored faster (with the help of bonuses), and secondly, the skillful “quakera” is enough for a three-second “Volchak” to get a noticeable advantage over enemies. I’m generally silent about “far”: skirmishes with a skilbire most often end up with the use of this skill, and it is simply impossible to dodge or avoid a blow.

It is clear that in amateur matches you hardly not notice problems with the balance: everyone runs, shoot, rejoice. But Quake Champions openly claims to be popular e -sports discipline, for which such an imbalance is unacceptable.

Other screenshots from Quake Champions

Quake Champions will be conditionally paid: by default all players are available one champion, a ranger, and the rest can be rented for in-game currency or buy forever for real money. About those who do not want to buy heroes gradually, the developers also did not forget-if you wish, you can buy the whole set of characters and forget about such a concept as free-to-play. True, there is still no way from chests: in the boxes (bought both for real and for currency), you can find skins, stripes and other cosmetics. According to the creators, there will be no buns that violate the balance (much more).

When the full version of Quake Champions is released, the authors do not say. Yes, they are in a hurry and nowhere: everything is fine with the game, it remains to deal with the balance. Then and the conquest of e -sports heights will be thought.