Some games are impossibly complex with dozens of layers including character motivation and plot. Some are simple; they do what it says on the box and are much more enjoyable because of it. Take Enemy Territory: Quake Wars: five seconds in to basic training and you notice that your fellow recruits are labelled ‘Brave Human’. You don’t need to watch Star Trek to know that when the Strogg finally show themselves, these poor saps will be the first to meet their maker.

Enemy Territory: Quake Wars takes you back to the beginnings of the human/Strogg war outlined through the classic series of Quake games. The cyber mutants have arrived on Earth, determined to Stroggify humanity and harvest our planet for parts and resources. Understandably, the people in power are very unhappy about this prospect and have mobilised the military to do something about it. Yes, for once this game is not set on a snowcovered sphere watched over by three moons, it’s actually set here on Earth and includes campaign maps featuring Africa, Norway, Finland, Antarctica and the Lake District.

You can play on or offline as either Strogg or humans and it’s the mechanics of the campaigns where Enemy Territory: Quake Wars comes into its own. Like popular MMOs it comes with several classes but you don’t have to pick one and stick with it throughout the whole game, instead you can do it on the fly, as well as choosing new weapons and filling needed roles with the campaign. For example, one mission might require you to blow up some gates and as a medic you’re completely unsuited, so it’s time to deploy an engineer. You’re effectively switching characters as your new engineer (with different weapons) will parachute into a landing spot close to the site and will then take over and do his thing. You can then choose to continue playing as an engineer or swap back to a soldier or a medic when and if you’re slaughtered by the Strogg, making it a handy skill during online battles. Depending on the class you gain different abilities, so if you’re a medic you can respond to calls for health packs from other players or defibrillate them. In single-player mode you can command a pack of minions who will follow basic multiple-choice options such as requesting ammo or needing a health pack as well as getting your troops to stay where they are while you scout ahead.

The Strogg are not only ugly, they also have completely different classes like Infiltrator and Oppressor while the slightly less scary Technician plays a similar role to the human medic. But because you’re dealing with humanoid aliens in suits it can sometimes be difficult to distinguish human from Strogg and that works in their favour as these brutal invaders will cut you down without a second thought.

At the same time the AI makes for an entertaining diversion, the human troops don’t seem that smart (prime examples being the poor Brave Humans) while the Strogg are shockingly bright and very good with their guns. This ensures Enemy Territory: Quake Wars isn’t a complete walkover in multiplayer mode.

The problem with the game is that it’s a port of last year’s PC and Linux version which, while there is an instant player base, also means that the gameplay hasn’t been changed one iota. Indeed it means new recruits are walking into a slaughter as those familiar with the Quake series will smell fresh blood.

Each campaign presents you with objectives on a map and tips on how to complete them, making the gameplay itself seem tedious and lacking any form of brainpower other than shoot, reload and duck and cover. The other aim of the game is to win back the Earth from the Strogg or take it from the humans, one campaign at a time. Each map is marked by borders and as you take points of interest, like landing sites or spawn locations, you watch their territory recede unlocking new skills and Achievements as you go.

Thanks to id’s use of its MegaTexture graphics engine, the maps themselves are quite realistic and detailed enough to make them really stand out. This detail is a refreshing change and adds a sense of realism that is often missing in FPS’. You also have the option of utilising various vehicles including jeeps, tanks and even Strogg mecha monsters, although the controllability differs between them.

At the end of the day, Enemy Territory: Quake Wars tried to fix a mediocre genre by injecting new concepts into it that promote varied gameplay and it almost succeeded. Unfortunately, the bland, hold-yourhand gameplay is annoyingly patronising and although it can be fun in short bursts, ultimately you could be having more fun elsewhere.

Lesley Smith