It's easy to draw comparisons between the original Unreal Tournament and Quake III Arena; both games were released in 1999 and both feature a very similar style of FPS gameplay - fast, frantic and fun. In order to keep things suitably hectic, Quake III's maps are small (hence the Arena name), meaning your next kill or death is never far away. This makes it perfect for competitive play as the score is constantly changing when a player who is significantly behind can catch up quickly and easily with one good show of skills. Holding onto a lead is suitably nerve-wracking - especially when multiple players are added to the mix - and there's a great balance to the weapons in the game meaning you'll never feel screwed over, plus the maps are a nice mix of tight corridors and open spaces prompting fast reflexes and steady aim to be required in equal doses. Crucially, it never stops being enjoyable. You and a friend could spend hours playing and never determine a proper winner; you'll simply keep pushing each other to play more and more. The FPS genre has moved on from this style of gameplay sadly, but that just makes this game even more special. Quake III Arena probably created many friendly rivalries over the years; yet to this day, few games can match it for fun.
I have an addiction to achievements, a craving for new bands and a dream to become Captain America. I once finished second in a Mario Kart 7 tournament so I'm kind of a big deal.
