Basics

Posted: Mar 27, 2012 5:29am UTC

Basics

QUAKE 4 starts out as a relatively tame shooter, but by the end of the first half of the game you'll find yourself in a heap of trouble if you haven't picked up a few strategic skills. Being prepared for the battle ahead is as important as the battle itself, so read up on these general strategies before taking it to the war zone.

Weapon Variety

There are a lot of weapons in QUAKE 4 and not all of them have the same uses. If you rely too heavily on one weapon, you could find yourself out of ammo when you need that weapon later. Try to mix up the weapons you use in combat. For example, try mixing it up between the Machinegun and the Hyperblaster during your typical skirmish. That way you'll balance the ammo you use, assuring that you don't run out of ammo for a weapon you may need (you never know when you need to zoom in and pick off a strogg with the Machinegun).

Switching between weapons will also ensure that you're not forced to leave behind valuable ammo. If your weapons are completely stocked, you'll have to pass up ammo supplies that you won't be able to get back. As long as you use your weapons evenly, you should have room for new ammo all the time and never run out of ammo for your favorite guns.

Look for Cover

QUAKE 4 is a fast-pace shooter, but that doesn't mean you should be running around like a chicken with its head cut off. Stick to tactical play, using surrounding objects as cover from enemy fire. All enemies run through attack patterns that have holes in them. Learn these patters and jump out to attack just when they've let their guard down.

Using cover is especially important when fighting enemies with instant-hit bullet guns (like Machineguns, Shotguns and Railguns). You have almost zero chance of dodging these bullets, so your best bet to keeping safe is to stay behind cover.

Protect Fellow Marines

Unless you're rolling with the Rhino Squad, you'll find that your fellow marines aren't terribly resilient. They'll die to one close-up encounter with an enemy strogg. Even though they're fragile, they're still highly useful. Try to keep them around, even if it means sacrificing your own health sometimes.

The marines you most want to protect are the techs and medics. At almost any time (as long as you're not engaged in a firefight), these guys can patch your armor and refill your health, giving you a better chance of making it through the missions. Even if you lose a bit of health in an attempt to save a medic, you can always get it right back once the battle is over.

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