The original shareware episode of Quake (1996) — "Dimension of the Doomed" — the first true 3D FPS with fully polygonal environments, real-time lighting, and a haunting Trent Reznor soundtrack.
About
The shareware version (0.91) was compiled single-handedly by John Romero on June 22, 1996 and released the following day. Episode 1 — "Dimension of the Doomed" — features 8 levels plus a secret level of Lovecraftian horrors: shambling monstrosities, medieval knights corrupted by eldritch forces, and Shamblers that fire lightning from their claws.
Nine Inch Nails frontman Trent Reznor created the sound effects and ambient music — the nail ammunition boxes even feature the NIN logo. Quake was id Software's first fully 3D engine, a massive technical leap beyond DOOM's 2.5D rendering. The shareware edition was the sixth-best-selling computer game of 1996. It runs on the QuakeSpasm engine compiled to WebAssembly.
Controls
- W / ↑ — Move forward
- S / ↓ — Move backward
- A — Strafe left
- D — Strafe right
- Mouse — Aim / look
- Left Click — Fire weapon
- E — Interact
- Space — Jump
- 1–8 — Select weapon
- Tab — Show scores
- Esc — Menu
Gameplay Tips
- Rocket jumping — Fire a rocket at your feet while jumping to reach secret areas. You'll take damage but it's worth it.
- Shamblers resist splash — Shamblers are immune to splash damage. Use the Super Nailgun or Lightning Gun instead.
- Grenade Launcher in corridors — Devastating in tight spaces. Bounce grenades around corners for safe kills.
- Swimming = air management — Underwater sections require careful air monitoring. Know your escape route.
- Explore for secrets — Look for shootable walls, hidden platforms, and underwater passages.
Did You Know?
- Quake's soundtrack was composed by Trent Reznor of Nine Inch Nails — the nail ammunition boxes feature the NIN logo as a tribute.
- The shareware edition was the sixth-best-selling computer game of 1996, while the retail version claimed 20th place separately — meaning Quake appeared twice on the yearly chart.
- The "Quake Guy" was originally going to be a hammer-wielding warrior — the Lovecraftian theme was a late design change during development.
See Also
Quake (Arcade) · LibreQuake · DOOM: Knee-Deep in the Dead · Quake II: The Invasion