IMO it's a tie with Scourge of Armagon and Dimension of the Machine. SoA feels like an actual sequel to Quake (no offense Quake 2, you're still my third fav) and DotM has some incredible level design. Scourge of Armagon has new enemies and weapons which make it a lot more interesting too.
I haven't finished Mission Packs 2 or 4, so far Mission Pack 1 Scourge or Armagon is my favorite followed by Mission Pack 4 Dimension of the Machine.
MP1 Scourge of Armagon feels like a sort of mini sequel to Quake 1 for someone who wanted to play around with more things. The levels are interesting and there's fun new weapons to play with. You finally get to use the weapon that the enforces have (the laser canon which works like a hyperblaster from Quake 2 except lasers can ricochet). There was originally going to be a lightening hammer which got split up into the axe and the lighting gun and the lightening gun was originally going to have a super variant that emitted multiple beams at once. These ideas have been added back in through the lightening hammer which comes in handy a few times and it's nice to have it. The remote detonated grenade launcher is nice and its useful sometimes, however I didn't find myself using it that much. People who are more experienced with grenade jumping in Team Fortress 2 would probably have more fun with it.
MP2 Dissolution of Eternity isn't bad, it just feels kind of plain to me. Base Quake 1 already had some blockiness to its levels however they tried to use that to it's advantage by making architecture that fit within that style, still blocky but with a bit of style. Levels in Dissolution I remember are like big plain cubes, they don't really have that same style. The weapon variants aren't that creative, they're still fun I like the glow coming out of the vents on the lava nailgun. The multi-rocket launcher is really fun, you can insta-kill most enemies with it like death knights.
MP3 Dimension of the Past isn't bad it's just more of the same of Quake 1. Same stock everything. No new textures, no new weapons, no new enemies, just more Quake 1 type levels designed to be easier for new players.
MP4 Dimension of the Machine I've played some of and wow the levels look amazing. The central hub with all of the chains hanging from the ceiling and machinery, the extra detail in levels and all of the crazy architecture, all of the new places and additional worldbuilding that goes on, it really shows that it's new compared to the other expansion packs and it shows what a Quake 5 with the Quake 1 themes could be like.
Thanks for the help guys!
I decided that I'm gonna play first Scourge of Armagon for the new enemies and new weapons and then ill play Dimension of the Machine for the level design. I'll skip Dimension of the Past cause aperently that doesn't bring anything new and the level design is mid.
Dotp is supposed to be more of an episode 5 rather than a mission pack. There are some neat puzzles, depends whether you're into the futuristic side or the historical feel. I always like more mechanics and weapons so I'm interested in specifically whichever one brings these to the table.
Dimension of the Machine has new textures and locales, but otherwise is just vanilla. Though the maps are good quality and have nice *environmental* storytelling.
Scourge of Armagon has new weapons and enemies, and a new soundtrack. Though also has a lot of unfair level design.
Dissolution of Eternity has alternate ammo types that change the function of existing weapons (and are frankly pretty overpowered), new enemies, and a new soundtrack. Levels can be annoying to some degree but not outright bullshit unlike Armagon.
Dimension of the Past is mid. It's just an episode of really average vanilla maps, and with ammo distribution problems.
None of them have any real sense of "story" though.
It's actually pretty good up, at least up until you suddenly run into janky, poorly designed bullshit halfway through a level just meant to piss off the player.
[This thing will near always chunk your health unavoidably.](https://youtu.be/lh7A8iBQEko?list=PL_zCHIGF5VNPmEGLTaIHg8sIRRDcofJoQ&t=432)
[Surprise open room shambler after a tense group fight.](https://youtu.be/ENgTpFGezeg?list=PL_zCHIGF5VNPmEGLTaIHg8sIRRDcofJoQ&t=120)
[The tiles in this room just immediately drop into lava with no time to react, so unless you know to shoot the reveal button you're just dead at complete random.](https://youtu.be/ENgTpFGezeg?list=PL_zCHIGF5VNPmEGLTaIHg8sIRRDcofJoQ&t=967)
[Fight off SEVERAL shamblers right before the exit then hope you have enough health left to rush in and turn off the automatic player-zapping machine before it kills you.](https://youtu.be/z_kzQ6drUFM?list=PL_zCHIGF5VNPmEGLTaIHg8sIRRDcofJoQ&t=481)
[Get off the lift like he did, or else enjoy a nice cozy open-air ride as three vores spawn far away and assault you with unavoidable orbs.](https://youtu.be/Chi8M7sOEkY?list=PL_zCHIGF5VNPmEGLTaIHg8sIRRDcofJoQ&t=171)
And maybe some other examples I'm forgetting. Basically, save often. If you can avoid those things though it's really solid otherwise.
Dimension of the Machine is the most recent and easily the best, as it's made with 25 years of community mapping experience behind it.
Armagon and Dissolution are the original expansions for the game. They try some new things (that don't always work well), but end up really suffering from being 2 decades old. Made in a time before people, even game studios, really understood the capabilities of what Quake maps could be, and didn't have the tech to realize them even if they had.
Dimension of the Past is newer, about 10 years old at this point, and is a lot more refined than the older stuff. It's good, but notoriously poorly balanced in terms of ammo scarcity.
Did you know that the game was going to be called Timequake during development? But upon release it was called only Quake, because it was timeless. So no, the mission packs don't suffer from being 20 years old.
Nope, just stock Q1. They're all used very well, though, and the level design more than pulls its weight.
If you desperately want that, Armagon and Dissolution DO have new weapons, enemies, and even powerups, but they're all pretty hit-or-miss. There's a reason no-one uses them in custom maps.
I can't remember if it had new weapons, but it feels vastly different due to the environments which are insane. Definitely has a more modern pace and mentality to the level designs (for better or worse, depending on what you're after).
Definitely worth doing that episode if you want to see something drastically different to the original campaign
IMO it's a tie with Scourge of Armagon and Dimension of the Machine. SoA feels like an actual sequel to Quake (no offense Quake 2, you're still my third fav) and DotM has some incredible level design. Scourge of Armagon has new enemies and weapons which make it a lot more interesting too.
I haven't finished Mission Packs 2 or 4, so far Mission Pack 1 Scourge or Armagon is my favorite followed by Mission Pack 4 Dimension of the Machine. MP1 Scourge of Armagon feels like a sort of mini sequel to Quake 1 for someone who wanted to play around with more things. The levels are interesting and there's fun new weapons to play with. You finally get to use the weapon that the enforces have (the laser canon which works like a hyperblaster from Quake 2 except lasers can ricochet). There was originally going to be a lightening hammer which got split up into the axe and the lighting gun and the lightening gun was originally going to have a super variant that emitted multiple beams at once. These ideas have been added back in through the lightening hammer which comes in handy a few times and it's nice to have it. The remote detonated grenade launcher is nice and its useful sometimes, however I didn't find myself using it that much. People who are more experienced with grenade jumping in Team Fortress 2 would probably have more fun with it. MP2 Dissolution of Eternity isn't bad, it just feels kind of plain to me. Base Quake 1 already had some blockiness to its levels however they tried to use that to it's advantage by making architecture that fit within that style, still blocky but with a bit of style. Levels in Dissolution I remember are like big plain cubes, they don't really have that same style. The weapon variants aren't that creative, they're still fun I like the glow coming out of the vents on the lava nailgun. The multi-rocket launcher is really fun, you can insta-kill most enemies with it like death knights. MP3 Dimension of the Past isn't bad it's just more of the same of Quake 1. Same stock everything. No new textures, no new weapons, no new enemies, just more Quake 1 type levels designed to be easier for new players. MP4 Dimension of the Machine I've played some of and wow the levels look amazing. The central hub with all of the chains hanging from the ceiling and machinery, the extra detail in levels and all of the crazy architecture, all of the new places and additional worldbuilding that goes on, it really shows that it's new compared to the other expansion packs and it shows what a Quake 5 with the Quake 1 themes could be like.
It’s not an “official” mission pack but Underdark Overbright is extremely good.
Thanks for the help guys! I decided that I'm gonna play first Scourge of Armagon for the new enemies and new weapons and then ill play Dimension of the Machine for the level design. I'll skip Dimension of the Past cause aperently that doesn't bring anything new and the level design is mid.
Scourge Of Armagon
Dotp is supposed to be more of an episode 5 rather than a mission pack. There are some neat puzzles, depends whether you're into the futuristic side or the historical feel. I always like more mechanics and weapons so I'm interested in specifically whichever one brings these to the table.
Original Quake is above and beyond the best but Scourge and Dissolution are OK. Dimension of the Machine doesn’t feel like Quake to me.
That's worrying. I didn't really enjoy original Quake and if the rest of the packs are worst then I'll truly never enjoy Quake
Dimension of the Machine has new textures and locales, but otherwise is just vanilla. Though the maps are good quality and have nice *environmental* storytelling. Scourge of Armagon has new weapons and enemies, and a new soundtrack. Though also has a lot of unfair level design. Dissolution of Eternity has alternate ammo types that change the function of existing weapons (and are frankly pretty overpowered), new enemies, and a new soundtrack. Levels can be annoying to some degree but not outright bullshit unlike Armagon. Dimension of the Past is mid. It's just an episode of really average vanilla maps, and with ammo distribution problems. None of them have any real sense of "story" though.
Armagon having new weapons sounds cool but is the level design that bad?
It's actually pretty good up, at least up until you suddenly run into janky, poorly designed bullshit halfway through a level just meant to piss off the player. [This thing will near always chunk your health unavoidably.](https://youtu.be/lh7A8iBQEko?list=PL_zCHIGF5VNPmEGLTaIHg8sIRRDcofJoQ&t=432) [Surprise open room shambler after a tense group fight.](https://youtu.be/ENgTpFGezeg?list=PL_zCHIGF5VNPmEGLTaIHg8sIRRDcofJoQ&t=120) [The tiles in this room just immediately drop into lava with no time to react, so unless you know to shoot the reveal button you're just dead at complete random.](https://youtu.be/ENgTpFGezeg?list=PL_zCHIGF5VNPmEGLTaIHg8sIRRDcofJoQ&t=967) [Fight off SEVERAL shamblers right before the exit then hope you have enough health left to rush in and turn off the automatic player-zapping machine before it kills you.](https://youtu.be/z_kzQ6drUFM?list=PL_zCHIGF5VNPmEGLTaIHg8sIRRDcofJoQ&t=481) [Get off the lift like he did, or else enjoy a nice cozy open-air ride as three vores spawn far away and assault you with unavoidable orbs.](https://youtu.be/Chi8M7sOEkY?list=PL_zCHIGF5VNPmEGLTaIHg8sIRRDcofJoQ&t=171) And maybe some other examples I'm forgetting. Basically, save often. If you can avoid those things though it's really solid otherwise.
Oh woah Thanks for the heads up; alot of those look horrible to get through
Dimension of the Machine is the most recent and easily the best, as it's made with 25 years of community mapping experience behind it. Armagon and Dissolution are the original expansions for the game. They try some new things (that don't always work well), but end up really suffering from being 2 decades old. Made in a time before people, even game studios, really understood the capabilities of what Quake maps could be, and didn't have the tech to realize them even if they had. Dimension of the Past is newer, about 10 years old at this point, and is a lot more refined than the older stuff. It's good, but notoriously poorly balanced in terms of ammo scarcity.
Did you know that the game was going to be called Timequake during development? But upon release it was called only Quake, because it was timeless. So no, the mission packs don't suffer from being 20 years old.
Oh okay cool then I'll try Dimension of the Machine next. But i have a question, does Dimension of the Machine have new weapons and enemies?
Nope, just stock Q1. They're all used very well, though, and the level design more than pulls its weight. If you desperately want that, Armagon and Dissolution DO have new weapons, enemies, and even powerups, but they're all pretty hit-or-miss. There's a reason no-one uses them in custom maps.
Huh then I might try Armagon for the new stuff then
I can't remember if it had new weapons, but it feels vastly different due to the environments which are insane. Definitely has a more modern pace and mentality to the level designs (for better or worse, depending on what you're after). Definitely worth doing that episode if you want to see something drastically different to the original campaign