Quake 3 returns on the Xbox 360 with it's amazing gameplay quality, but it's also ridden with glitches and bugs.
Okay, so you probably think this game is just Quake Live with exclusive maps, but to be truthfully honest, I've done comparison with Quake Live and this version, and there are A LOT of small changes. For example, the shotgun in Quake Arena Arade, is actually less accurate and has a different spread than QL. QL's accuracy and spread is so much better than QAA-the shotgun to me is basically a defensive weapon in this game due to the changes they made. Rocket Launcher does more damage (about 10-11 points more) and has increased splash damage than QL. However, you can rocket jump MUCH MORE effectively in QL than this game and if you shoot somebody, they seem to fly up more in the air compared to QAA. You can actually strafe jump in QL, in this game you cannot-it looks like the developers completely took it out (don't get confused with strafejumping and bunny hopping). However, you move side to side little bit faster, and the changes goes on.
Even some of the maps have been adjusted gameplay wise or the gameplay itself. In QL FFA, you would always get 10+ more ammo from a gun untill you reach 25 ammo than you can only get 1. In QAA FFA, you can only have up to 10, and everytime you find a gun from it's spawn point, it's 1+ extra ammo. So don't say this game is basically Quake Live with new maps cause that's not true. There are some stuff that are still similar to Quake Live in this game though.
On to the new maps, are they good? Yeah, I enjoyed most of them and there are new maps for both FFA, TDM, and the CTF modes. I played all of the FFA and TDM (not a CTF guy), and I liked them. It seems like Cliffside is the most popular out of all the maps which is like this castle map with accelerators and it's one of the bigger maps definitely. It's basically like an "island to island" type of map where you have to really use the accelerators to find your foes. If you're not into those type of maps and more into straight-up bunny hopping to find your opponent, maps like Symmetry and Forlon might fit your playstyle. Most of the maps are medium-sized and to be more specific of what medium-size is, it's kind of those maps that feels like you're in a big area, but it's not too hard to find enemies, you will definitely find them in you're going to play like an 8 man FFA or 5v5 TDM match.
Last part of the gameplay section will be is this game still similar to the Quake 3 we love even with all those changes?. So yeah, they did change quite a bit of stuff, but it still plays like Quake 3, I promise you. The railgun is still hard to use, rocket launcher is still your best friend, bunny hopping is essential, you must learn the map to succeed, and so on, and so on. So don't worry if you feel like the developers are trying to appeal to the more COD/Halo audience, it's not like they added perks or killstreaks in this game, I mean this game is an old-school shooter, it's not a modern shooter. Trust me, it's still Quake 3 Arena. Just imagine it that the developers were trying to change some stuff a bit to keep it little fresh and SLIGHTLY different compared to what you were probably used to.
A lot of familiar maps are in this game like Vertical Vengence, House of Pain, The Camping Grounds, The Longest Yard, and so on. Most of the maps that were chosen to put in this game were probably the fan-favorite ones so chances are, you might like most of them if you're not too familiar with Quake 3.
On to the graphics and sound, well the graphics are nice, they look beautiful and it should since it is a remake somewhat. Sounds are exactly the sounds that you love from the original Quake 3 Arena, so no worries about in this department. There are some music in a couple of the maps you play like Jumpwerkz (one of the newer maps) will feature this heavy and hostile hip-hop beat to pump you up.
Now for the parts that disappointed me about this game. NO SPLIT SCREEN??? COME ON MAN! What's one of the best things about having a console, SPLIT SCREEN, SPLIT SCREEN, SPLIT SCREEN. It sucks, this game would've been sooo fun to play with my friends that don't have a 360 and we could've had a blast. Next thing is, no spectator mode? Come on whose bright idea was this? How is this game going to appeal the more COD/Halo fans if they have no idea how to play this game? Most people that are playing this game are PC gamers and old FPS fans, we need some of the newer crowd to keep this game alive. The more, the better.
Dedicated servers are a must in this game. Just give us some atleast. Now, I pretty much don't care about Freeze Tag, but no Instagib? I think Instagib is a great way to improve your aim with the railgun and this would've been a nice option to have. There are quite a bit of glitches and bugs in this game. Sometimes, the aim-assist won't go on when I use the Shotgun or the Lightning Gun-what's up with that? Even if I'm shooting the guy, I get no hitsounds or damage on the dude what so ever. When you play online, you will probably freeze at some moments and NO, IT"S NOT A SYMBOL OF THE RROD, I'VE PLAYED 4-5 HOURS OF BOTMATCH AND DID NOT EXPERIENCE ANY OF THIS FREEZING ISSUE. Everytime I load up this game, I have to go to control and look up on my control list to activate my "weapon hotkey" buttons because it won't work if you won't do it. Please fix these issues!!
Other then that, this is an awesome game and FINALLY, it's out and I'm probably gonna be playing this game quite a bit. JUST FIX THESE SMALL/BIG ISSUES and this game would probably be one of the best console ports of a PC game I've seen since Duke 3D and Doom on the XBLA. It would also raise my score of this game. Anyways, if you're looking for an awesome MP game and you love FPS, try this game out.