You can still kill your friends in one of the greatest FPS games ever

The FPS genre has come a long way since its days Earthquake and classic DOOMAnd some would argue that its development has not been so attractive. Of course, that's a bit of a radical generalization: even if one correctly criticizes contemporary practices like Battle Pass or potential AI use in series. Call of DutyIt's impossible to deny the simplicity seen in indie FPS titles, as well as the occasional AAA masterpiece destruction eternal and Titanfall 2.

But these industry-leading, exciting FPS projects probably wouldn't exist if it weren't for this EarthquakeWhich effectively installed with Sutra ID software DOOM In the 1990s. To this day, few shooters have the same feel-good quality as the original Earthquake was a game. Thank you, Earthquake Access is easier than ever, thanks in large part to the efforts of Nightdive Studios. The studio helped bring the 1996 classic to modern platforms, running as smooth and buttery as ever, meaning it's still easy to play 30 years later.

Why Earthquake is still cool, three decades later

The earthquake vibe is untouchable

I'll give it to modern-shooter lovers: the games sure look great. Better resolution, texture quality, depth-of-field, and animations make many recent FPS games, much less fun games, a feast for the senses. Of course, there is something particularly fascinating about seeing the virtual world through the eyes of your protagonist, engaging in a close simulation of everyday perception. In theory, and sometimes in practice, the high fidelity of modern FPS titles reinforces this sense of immersion.

It's fair, though Earthquake A classic example is that more realism does not always lead to a better atmosphere or a stronger artistic vision. Classic FPS channels Lovecraftian themes and imagery, mixing them with science-fiction concepts to make things a little more cerebral. doomWhich, ultimately lead to a unique fascinating game world. Then, there is earthquakeA soundtrack composed by Trent Reznor at the height of Nine Inch Nails' popularity and creativity. If you like Mick Gordon's heavy metal score and the combination of 2016 doomThe awesome art design, Earthquake Will definitely have you covered.

Nightdive Studios and MachineGames made Earthquake even better in 2021

You can still enjoy the original Windows or MS-DOS versions EarthquakeBut you don't have to resort to those classic versions either. In 2021, Nightdive Studios, an Atari subsidiary that remastered the games as before. TurokAn “enhanced” version of the original was released EarthquakeBringing it up to contemporary standards with minor changes and modern amenities. The most significant changes to Nightdive in the 1996 version include:

Support for up to 4K resolution
Widescreen support
Antialiasing
dynamic light
Good texture
Longer depth of field

None of these changes are exactly transformative, which is for the best: Earthquake Not much fixing was needed. Still, the remaster features other, more substantial upgrades, such as dedicated server support and crossplay for online multiplayer. Nightdive also added a new Horde mode, which can be played alone or with other players, and is a meaningful expansion. Earthquake Sandbox. Naturally, this modern presentation of Earthquake It also includes two original DLCs, Outbreak of Armagon and The dissolution of infinityIn addition to two special surprises from MachineGames.

Machinegames' modern DLC for Earthquake

In 2016, celebrate Earthquake20th Anniversary, Wolfenstein Developer MachineGames started Dimensions of the pastA free DLC for Earthquake. Expansion narrows the gap between Earthquake and Earthquake 2However it's often considered an homage to the retro shooter rather than any kind of significant reinterpretation or lore expansion. Dimensions of the past Goes to be included in the 2021 “enhanced” version Earthquake Original with two extensions.

Also included in 2021 Earthquake is re-released Dimensions of the machineAnother new DLC from MachineGames. This expansion pits the player against Chthon, the villain of the base game, and introduces a variety of new environments and fiendish enemies. The DLC was widely praised for its intricate level design (perhaps foreshadowing Machinegames' brilliant level design. (Indiana Jones and the Great Circle)Also for its new Deathmatch maps.

All of these started almost three decades ago. Earthquake Still very much worth your time. If you played the original, the enhanced version has a lot to discover and enjoy, and if you've never played EarthquakeThen checking it should be a defcon-level priority for you. The series is surprisingly fluid, satisfying, and relentlessly compelling thanks to quirky enemies, intriguing levels, and a head-banging soundtrack that rises head and shoulders above similar games. Here's hoping ID software delivers Earthquake The doom 2016 treatment some time soon, but until then, the original lineup offers plenty of cache to binge.