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This game was grossly underrated...except for the ending.

Quake 4 is probably the best FPS I've played in 2005. This is the game that I feel Project Snowblind, Republic Commando, and Pariah were trying to be. It got so many things right, and yet critical reviewers seemed to gloss over those in favor of complaining about linearity or lack of true squad based combat. Let me be among those who declare that linearity and squad based combat can both go to hell in a flaming ball of discarded goo where my traditional FPS is concerned. This is the game that Project Snowblind, Republic Commando, and Pariah were trying to be.

So what did the game get right? For starters, just gameplay in general. The weapons and the enemies provide a great, challenging variety that'll keep you fragging those ugly Strogg. The graphics and dynamic lighting are both top notch, using the Doom 3 engine in a great way. Here's a screenshot to demonstrate:

Quake 4 dynamic lighting example

Notice the X on the floor in the center. It's caused by a light source behind one of the many rotating fans in the game and it looks just great. This contributes to the great sense of environment, especially when you include the NPCs talking, working, or warring around you. The story is quite epic, with a great beginning and many well designed levels. There's even pseudo squad based combat of the best kind: your squadmates will draw fire, heal you, and even shoot back if they feel like it. However, there usually isn't a mandate to keep them alive, so let them take that flaming barrel if you don't feel like quickloading, which, by the way, is particularly fast. There are even multiple quicksaves at a time, so if you want to backtrack a little, it's not hard. This game nailed the implementation of the quicksave/quickload idea.The one huge drawback to Quake 4 is its ending. After fighting through so many levels and fighting two huge end bosses you'd expect a massively epic finale. Well, no spoilers here, but suffice it to say that the ending to the game is noticeably un-epic, and left me wanting to play The Maw on Halo. A better finish would have made the game truly stand out, but as it is, it'll end up being just another FPS that the reviewers complain about.