Quake III Arena

79%
Game Brain Score Based on 1,538 reviews
  • gameplay
  • graphics
  • story
Quake III Arena Game Cover
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Quake III Arena is a science fiction-themed shooter game that offers both multi-player and single-player modes. The game boasts good gameplay, awesome visuals, and a great soundtrack, but can be quite buggy. In Quake III Arena, you are a warrior thrust into an arena full of hazards and enemies, with no option but to fight or be finished.

  • Mac OS
  • PC
  • Cloud
  • Dreamcast
  • Linux
  • NVIDIA GeForce NOW
  • Play​Station
  • Play​station 2
  • Xbox
  • Xbox 360
Genres & TagsPlay Modes

Reviews

79%
Audience ScoreBased on 1,538 reviews
gameplay44 positive mentions
story7 negative mentions
  • Quake III Arena is a timeless classic that has stood the test of time, offering fast-paced and addictive gameplay.
  • The game features a variety of weapons and maps, providing a thrilling experience for both single-player and multiplayer modes.
  • The bot AI is surprisingly good, making it enjoyable to play against them even when online multiplayer is sparse.
  • The online multiplayer community is mostly dead, making it difficult to find matches with real players.
  • The game has compatibility issues on modern systems, requiring tweaks and mods to run smoothly.
  • The single-player mode feels lackluster, primarily consisting of matches against bots without a compelling narrative.
  • gameplay100 mentions

    The gameplay of Quake III Arena is widely praised for its fast-paced, addictive nature, with many reviewers highlighting its emphasis on skill, reflexes, and tactical play. The mechanics are described as simple yet engaging, allowing for a thrilling experience that remains relevant even against modern titles. While some find the gameplay loop can become repetitive, the overall consensus is that it offers a timeless and exhilarating FPS experience, supported by a dedicated community and well-designed maps.

    • “The gameplay is fast-paced and keeps you pumped with the heat of all the action going on.”
    • “Fluid 125fps combat, precise movement, immense gameplay depth, Quake 3 has it all, in one of the most optimized game engines ever.”
    • “Jumping to frag a guy and doing a 180 to frag another while going downhill onto another platform only to be propelled to a weapon of mass destruction is a great example of great gameplay and fantastic level design.”
    • “Overall, it's okay, but I think the whole gameplay loop of just running around shooting people to get the highest score gets pretty repetitive and stale quickly.”
    • “There was a time in my life when Quake 3 was a fun escape from ill health, but there's not much gameplay left in it these days.”
    • “When I first got Quake III Arena, I was extremely disappointed with the change of gameplay.”
  • graphics79 mentions

    The graphics of the game, originally released in 1999, are often described as dated but still visually appealing for their time, with many players appreciating the nostalgic aesthetic and smooth performance. While some users note the need for mods or high-resolution packs to enhance the visuals, the overall consensus is that the graphics, though not cutting-edge by today's standards, hold up well and contribute to an enjoyable gameplay experience. Despite occasional graphical glitches, the game's art style and design continue to resonate with fans, making it a beloved classic in the FPS genre.

    • “Fantastic graphics for 1999, great guns, excellent map variety, and astounding music.”
    • “The graphical detail was legendary, and everything just seemed amazing.”
    • “Overall gameplay wise and graphics wise the game does not feel dated.”
    • “The graphics are pretty dated, but if you can get past that just enjoy the haunting atmosphere of the levels and the relentless, gory action - you are in for one hell of a ride.”
    • “It's still the king of FPS after all these years and was the first dedicated MP FPS game and the first game to require a graphics card to run.”
    • “Shit graphics but great gameplay.”
  • story41 mentions

    Quake III Arena lacks a traditional single-player story or campaign, focusing instead on multiplayer gameplay and bot matches that offer minimal narrative context. Players note that the single-player mode resembles a straightforward tournament structure, but it does not provide the rich storytelling found in earlier titles of the franchise. Overall, the game is characterized as a multiplayer-centric experience with little to no emphasis on story development.

    • “If multiplayer never works with you, such as demanding CD keys or maps not loading, singleplayer has a 'story' of sorts akin to Mortal Kombat. You go through different tiers until you meet the arena champion and battle for the title; it's very straightforward and can challenge you fairly well if you are off guard.”
    • “In the wake of heavily story-driven FPSes like Half-Life, Unreal, and even Quake II, the successor of one of the biggest franchises moving to multiplayer-only was seismic.”
    • “Playing single player has a story mode, and it sure is hard when playing on the highest difficulty. I can promise you that, as I have beaten it myself, but it wasn't easy.”
    • “Unlike its predecessors, Quake III Arena does not include a story or campaign.”
    • “It's one of the first major content-free games; the developers didn't spend any time making content, level design, or storytelling for the game, relying instead on the hopes that other players will be an acceptable substitute for content.”
    • “Without a story-based singleplayer to work through, this one does threaten to wear out its welcome.”
  • music27 mentions

    The music in the game has received mixed reviews, with some praising its fitting and exciting soundtrack that enhances the gameplay experience, while others find it underwhelming compared to previous titles in the series. Many players appreciate the blend of ambient and action-oriented tracks, noting that the music complements the game's atmosphere, though some express disappointment over the absence of memorable tunes. Overall, while the soundtrack has its highlights, it does not consistently meet the high expectations set by earlier installments.

    • “The soundtrack is one of the best I've encountered in a game.”
    • “Fantastic graphics for 1999, great guns, excellent map variety, and astounding music.”
    • “The music fits the game extremely nicely, as do the environments.”
    • “There is no Quake 2 music in either this episode of Quake or the first one.”
    • “A bunch of small maps with unimpressive weapons, wimpy sound effects, and a forgettable soundtrack while playing against soulless bots with no voice acting but pretending to type clever quips when they frag or die.”
    • “The only thing about this game that is a kind of misfortune is the soundtrack; it's boring as hell.”
  • stability11 mentions

    The game's stability is frequently criticized, with users reporting numerous lags, glitches, and graphical issues right from the start. Many players have found that tweaks and workarounds are necessary to achieve a smoother experience, particularly on Windows 10 and older systems. Overall, while the game can be enjoyable when functioning properly, its initial instability detracts significantly from the experience.

    • “I'm playing on Windows 7 (x64); the intro videos don't display, but the game runs great.”
    • “The game has been incredibly stable; I've experienced no crashes or major bugs during my playthrough.”
    • “Even during intense gameplay moments, the performance remains smooth and reliable.”
    • “The game is pretty buggy and unstable right out of the box.”
    • “If you try to immediately play at default setup, you will be horrified by all the graphical flickers and glitches.”
    • “Is it a bit buggy on Windows 10, so you may have to do a few tweaks before you can get it to run smoothly.”
  • replayability10 mentions

    The game is widely praised for its high replayability, with many users highlighting its timeless appeal and advanced AI that enhances the single-player experience. While some reviews note that replay value may vary depending on community engagement, the overall sentiment is that the game offers a wealth of content and enjoyable gameplay that encourages repeated playthroughs. Players appreciate the fast-paced combat and the ability to jump into matches quickly, making it a favorite for both newcomers and veterans alike.

    • “A timeless classic that provides infinite replay value.”
    • “On a final note, this game is pure awesomeness and has a high replay value.”
    • “Still one of the best replay value games for the buck, and holds true to what FPS arena frag-fests should be like.”
    • “Content/replayability: 5/10 (without a community)”
    • “For its time, the AI was really advanced and still holds up fairly well today, making the single-player experience still worth a visit and giving it plenty of replay value.”
    • “Responsive, balanced, detailed, moddable, replayable, and above all, lovable.”
  • humor6 mentions

    The humor in the game is highlighted by its adorable bots and their amusing responses to player interactions, which can lead to hilarious moments. Players appreciate the nostalgic character designs and voiceovers, as well as the unique personalities of characters that engage in witty banter and playful taunts. Overall, the game successfully combines charming humor with entertaining AI interactions.

    • “The characters and voice over are a hilarious bonus and a lovely dose of nostalgia.”
    • “Hilarious character designs and even funnier in-game taunts.”
    • “The characters you are to quarrel with all have unique personalities, and by that I mean they literally text messages to each other talking trash to you or others in-game, or cracking funny jokes.”
  • atmosphere5 mentions

    The atmosphere of the game is widely praised for its immersive and intense qualities, featuring hostile environments filled with atmospheric hazards and a dark, creepy ambiance reminiscent of Lovecraftian themes. While some players find the dated visuals and unadjustable lighting off-putting, the overall experience is described as unmatched and nostalgic, appealing to both long-time fans and newcomers alike.

    • “Unmatched atmosphere!”
    • “Loved the atmosphere of it.”
    • “Decided to get into this insane atmosphere of sickness again, and I do not regret it at all.”
    • “Quake: its dark and creepy atmosphere takes a page from Lovecraftian lore, and though its dated appearance and overly dark lighting (for some reason you can’t seem to adjust the brightness at all, or at least I couldn’t) may turn some off from playing this game, it still has a lot to offer whether you’re a fan simply looking for a little bit of nostalgia from a beloved shooter series or a gamer merely looking to partake in some classic gaming and you’ve heard the word 'quake' thrown around for a number of years and figured it was about time you got around to checking it out.”
  • optimization5 mentions

    The game's optimization is generally praised for its great performance on modern machines, though some users report bugs on Windows 10 that may require tweaks or unofficial patches for smoother gameplay. Despite these optimization issues, many still find the game enjoyable and worth purchasing, emphasizing that skill and reflexes play a significant role in performance.

    • “Great performance, can run on practically any modern machine.”
    • “Despite some optimization flaws, the game is still worth buying and you can spend countless hours having fun in it.”
    • “Skill and reflexes determine your performance, not loadouts and unlocks.”
    • “The game needs to be optimized with some unofficial files/patches.”
    • “Despite some optimization flaws, the game is still worth buying, and you can spend countless hours having fun in it.”
  • grinding5 mentions

    Reviews indicate a mixed experience with grinding; while some players appreciate the absence of excessive grinding, others find the gameplay can feel tedious, particularly in navigating menus and stalking enemies. Overall, the enjoyment of weapon mechanics is noted, but the grindy elements may detract from the experience for some.

    • “The grinding in this game feels excessively tedious, reminiscent of every MMO ever.”
    • “Menus can be tedious to navigate, adding to the overall grindy experience.”
    • “While the weapons are well-designed and enjoyable to use, stalking enemies with the starting machine gun becomes a bit tedious.”
  • monetization2 mentions

    The monetization aspect of the game is positively highlighted, with users appreciating the absence of advertisements and the inclusion of complete features such as gore, music, and full weapon animations, which contrasts favorably with other games like Quake Live.

  • emotional2 mentions

    Players express a deep emotional connection to the game, often reminiscing about nostalgic experiences tied to significant moments in their lives, such as playing in their grandparent's basement. This sense of nostalgia contributes to a unique and profound emotional impact that resonates long after their initial playtime.

    • “I played countless hours of this game in my grandpa's basement, then went almost a decade and a half without touching it.”
    • “This experience made me feel some special kind of special.”
  • character development1 mentions

    Character development is highlighted by users for its hilarious character designs and entertaining in-game taunts, contributing to a lighthearted and engaging gaming experience.

    • “The character development is incredibly rich, with each character having a unique backstory that adds depth to the gameplay.”
    • “I love how the characters evolve throughout the game, making choices that truly impact their personalities and relationships.”
    • “The hilarious character designs and even funnier in-game taunts make the characters feel alive and relatable.”
Positive mentions (%)Positive
Neutral mentions (%)Neutral
Negative mentions (%)Negative

Critic Reviews

87% average critic score

Play time

6hMedian play time
5hAverage play time
5hMain story
18hCompletionist
2-7hSpent by most gamers
*Based on 2 analyzed playthroughs

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