Missile lock? That sounds like a bad thing, right?

Giant walker robots blast rockets at your teammates. Enemy turrets rotate and rattle off machine-gun fire. A Star Wars laser beam—à la Reagan, not Lucas—etches a line toward opposing forces. Enemy Territory: Quake Wars is a futuristic first-person shooter that shares little with other hits named Quake. Instead of having you run down cramped hallways engaging in solo bouts against demons, Quake Wars requires teamwork and coordination to control objectives and win rounds. It’s a refreshing change, and few Mac shooters give the same sense of collaboration.

An alien invasion pits a human alliance in battles against the attackers. The story is loosely told through solo matches against the game, but the premise is just an excuse to bring out the big guns. Gamers can take either side in the conflict—and in the endlessly replayable online matches against other people—although slight differences in the forces add a little depth. But whether based on alien technology or human research and development, the guns feel powerful and responsive.

In addition to choosing sides in the invasion, you’ll pick a specific character class and weapon. These choices need to be balanced within a team—medics, for example, can heal other units but have fewer gun choices. We had fun diving for fallen friends and resuscitating them. And some objectives, like fighting through enemy defenses to hack a computer terminal, require a specific character to succeed. A spy-style character can even disguise himself as an enemy and try other tricks to move undetected.

Quake Wars adds little innovation in its specific game objectives and team style. We often felt like we were playing capture the flag when delivering a suitcase to a satellite room or delving into a general territory-control game when occupying a location. But while we found few surprises, Quake Wars congeals into a complete action game full of choices. Character classes let you personalize your play. And the dozens of vehicles—the lumbering tanks or fast-moving, defenseless ATVs—enhance the sense of control.

While lacking innovation, Quake Wars still feels fresh. Its epic firepower and team-based approach give gamers a new way to play a first-person shooter

COMPANY: Aspyr
CONTACT: www.aspyr.com
PRICE: $49.99
REQUIREMENTS: 2GHz Intel Core 2 Duo or faster, Mac OS 10.5.1 or later, ATI Radeon X1600 or Nvidia GeForce 7300 with 128MB or more VRAM, broadband Internet for online play.

Balanced, fun team-based play. Variety in guns, vehicles, and character types. Fluid, clear graphics detail the moment.
Intel Macs only. Game types feel recycled from other hits.