Quake (Sega Saturn, 1997)

Lobotomy Software was one of the companies responsible for proving that 3D FPS games could be handled on the Saturn which was already starting to look like a diamond in the rough against its competition at the time, the N64 and PS1. Quake is a legendary PC FPS game from ID Software who created Wolfenstein 3D and Doom, and while Lobotomy couldn't port the game hair for hair, they did make a fantastic conversion that is very enjoyable on the Saturn and worthy of a hardcore Saturn fan's attention.

Quake is fast, brutal, and simple for its time playing like a fully realized 3D Doom, which is a good thing if you're an ID/Doom/Duke 3D (aka classic era FPS) fan. It has over 30 levels divided up into 4 episodes similar to Doom's setup and a playstyle similar to Doom in that you can pick up an assortment of guns and keep them all on you (unlike modern FPS which often limit you to 2 or 3 on hand.) The settings of Quake are often dark, gothic, and creepy, having you on the look out for oncoming ambushes.

What hinders Quake most on the Saturn is the learning durve for controls (which you can adjust, and a 3D Saturn pad helps), followed by the lack of multiplayer which has come to be a standard that Quake almost always delivered. Also, the diffiulty is fairly high, expect to restart a level a few times as you adjsut to the controls and setting. Lastly, the game does have a fitting atmosphere but it's too dark and there's no brightness options to help seeing a little better.

Overall Quake is a great and difficult Saturn FPS experience that if Lobotomy was still active today, should still earn them praise. They proved that the Saturn, while difficult to program efficiently for, could handle some great 3D conversions if you took the time to produce for the "little Sega underdog".

I enjoyed the PC version of Quake and this is almost as good. Since Quake only was made for DOS not current versions of Windows, this is a nice compromise.

Pros: Some of the Best graphics ever on Saturn. The lighting effects are very good and the sound is dead on!

Cons: Jerky control with standard Saturn controller and no on-the-fly game saves. Control issues are disappear if you have or upgrade to a Saturn 3D controller as shipped with Nights Into Dreams game. Other minor gripe is single player only mode.

Limitations aside, it is still a good if not great port.

This is a very rare find be prepared to pay a premiun especially if game is complete.

Quake for the Saturn is worth buying. Well, only if you're really good with the Saturn controller, and if you can handle some difficult levels and enemies, and if you never played the PC version.


Pros:

-Fun gameplay
-Great graphics for a Saturn game.
-Decent atmospheric music

Cons:

-At times, the game is challenging
-No multiplayer support in this port of Quake, unlike the PC and N64 ports.
-Very little storyline
-Awkward control layout at first.

quake is the 1st 1st person shooter I ever got into..
The Good
IT long, challenging, good graphics, has great weapons, affordable, one of the better games for the Saturn, and great music!!

BAD
Funky control. takes a bit to get use to.
A bit hard latter on. maybe too hard!!!
1 Player only!! What no split screen or even better Sega Netlink?! If only this was on the netlink!!

All In All
I love this game it has given me a lot of fun.
Great to add to your collection

I bought this product because it has a high fun factor and great graphics for the 32 bit era and good sound & good control.