Quake 4 PC demo locked, loaded

Gamers not sure about dropping $50 for the PC version of Quake 4 can get a taste of it, a tremor if you will, with Activision's newly released demo of the game, which can be downloaded from GameSpot.

The 324MB file includes playable portions of the game's single-player story mode, as well as a sampling of its multiplayer mayhem. Playing solo, gamers are thrown headlong into Earth's invasion of the Strogg home planet. Players get two areas to explore (and shoot the living dirt out of): a heavily guarded Strogg installation and a series of the alien civilization's air defense trenches.

The demo also offers a look at the game's multiplayer mode with one map, "The Fragging Yard," in two variations: one for full-scale skirmishes and one for one-on-one showdowns. The maps are playable in deathmatch, team deathmatch, and tournament modes.

Quake 4 is rated M for Mature and retails for $49.99. For more on the game, check out GameSpot's full review.