In a matter of seconds, the hideous half-flesh/half-mechanized Strogg units scattered throughout our compound we were tasked to defend with our very lives. How they managed to break through our first line of defense (made up of a tank unit) is beyond me but before we knew it there were Strogg all over our North American compound. Lifting up my firearm, the only thing we can do now is make our bloody yet glorious stand. Ah, it’s moments like this that make Enemy Territory: Quake Wars for the PlayStation 3 such an addictively enjoyable multiplayer action game with a lot to offer multiplayer fans.

Having been released on the PC first, Enemy Territory: Quake Wars finally reaches both the PlayStation 3 and Xbox 360 for a similar multiplayer experience. On the PS3, you can play online or you can set up a LAN match for when you want your LAN parties to include something other than Warhawk. Sure, you can play the game with bots when you’re on your own but the real treat comes from playing against real players. With no story mode, there really isn’t much to do as a single-player game anyway … unless, of course, you use single player as your training ground.

Still centered in the familiar Quake universe, Enemy Territory features both the Strogg side and the human side that fights as the Global Defense Force (GDF). This game is actual a prequel to Quake II during the Strogg invasion of Earth as the GDF attempts to make a stand against the alien invaders on earthly soil. This means the battles will take place in various locales in the North American, African, and Pacific and Northern Europe frontlines as either the GDF or the Strogg invaders.

Both sides have something different to offer aside from the obvious cosmetic differences between the two opposing forces. Each side has a number of specialty classes, vehicle types and weaponry. The Strogg are vastly superior when it comes to technology and this is reflected in the types of vehicles, weapons and items available to them. The minute the human side sees a Strogg assault infantryman take flight thanks to their Icarus GravPack (an impressive jet pack) you know you’ll be in for an interesting fight. Of course, the human side isn’t without their own heavy firepower. Many a Strogg will feel the sting of the Vampire Strike Bomber that levels a good portion of the battlefield.

There are a small variety of game match type but what the game doesn’t have in quantity it more than makes up for it with quality. Each playing map is not only huge but it contains a number of points of interest that was literally designed for a massive 16-player skirmish. Enemies will fight for these key locations to secure spawn checkpoints for their side as well as take over areas within the map that will serve to set up anti-personnel turrets or anti-vehicle turrets to get the upper hand on your enemies. Depending on the match type, your objectives might change at a moments notice so coming to secure areas or coming to learn the terrain will help advance your side towards victory.

The game modes range from Stopwatch (a mode where you stop and switch sides in various points in the match), Objective (each side is given objectives to complete) and Campaign (numerous mission-based objectives are given). You are also offered the choice between playing as the Strogg or the humans as well as pick your character class. The beauty of this game comes in the form of the character classes that allow you to sample various positions whether you would like to be a field medic, engineer, field op, covert ops or soldier (aggressor if you play the Strogg side). You can always switch classes after you die on the field so you can figure out what role suits you best.

Oh and there are vehicles aplenty in this game and you will most definitely put them to good use no matter what match type you play. The humans, in my opinion, have the best vehicles although you can’t complain if you play the Strogg side either. The Strogg’s Cyclops Heavy Walker alone is a force to be reckoned with so if your GDF team encounters one you best have rocket launchers and mines ready. Each class also has their own weapon types. As I mentioned, the maps are huge and engineers can set up gun turrets in strategic areas. You can run and gun your way through the enemy forces but you are rewarded for your battle sense as well.

While the action is hot, Quake Wars suffers from a few problems that hold it back from being the ultimate multiplayer shooter. We can forgive the almost 10-minute installation process and yes, we can even look past the really long load times between matches but we cannot easily dismiss the fact that you will die often throughout the game. It’s almost impossible to reach your destination because you’ll get killed with a shot or two from your enemy. You’ll constantly find yourself either asking for health or going back to the spawn point. To make matters worst, the game doesn’t allow you to use any form of voice chat so you are stuck with some preset voice commands that become annoyingly repetitive throughout the game. How are you supposed to tip off your teammates with a limited number of words?

As for the game’s graphics, Quake Wars looks good on the PS3 and sports some dazzling effects and equally impressive backgrounds. While up close building and objects are just plain, from afar the bunkers and backdrops are rendered wonderfully. What doesn’t work, however, are the character animations that not only move stiffly but they also lack details. Still, when it comes to the large maps, grand explosions and other visual effects this game do them well.

What little music we hear in the game is militaristic in nature and the menu screen is punctuated with an intense score. The rest of the game is made up of gunfire and explosions so expect to hear plenty of that throughout the game. What you won’t find is good voice acting. As I mentioned, the few voice commands are composed of a few words so you’ll hear plenty of “thank you” and requests for medical aid by other players or bots. In short, the game’s sound is the weakest aspect of the game.

Enemy Territory: Quake Wars for the PlayStation 3 is not short on action but, thanks to a few evident problems, you can’t help but feel that this game could have been so much better on the console. Never mind the lengthy load times, it’s the repetitive tug-of-war mechanics that slow things down a bit. Still, if you’re a Quake fan and like a huge battle, Quake Wars should still be on your Must Have list.

Gameplay: 8.5
Whether you play as the Strogg or the GDF, the real star of the game is the inventive maps and plenty of vehicles to make this such a deep and involving multiplayer game. You can practice your skills on your own using bots but online is where the real action can be found.

Graphics: 8.0
The visuals are wonderfully crisp, colorful and filled with graphical details that really stand out. The visual effects are more than decent and, while character movement can be way too inelegant, the character models up close look good.

Sound: 7.0
The game’s main menu sports some good music and the sound effects are just as detailed as the graphics. Sadly, the voice work is made up of pre-set words that such as “thank you” or “need medic.” There’s really not much special in the sound department.

Difficulty: Medium
The battlefield will feel like total chaos and that’s just how we love our multiplayer games. With so many vehicles, character classes and weapons, you’ll find yourself taking advantage of everything the game has to offer in order to help your side. As a single-player game, the bots aren’t dumb so expect a challenge.

Concept: 8.5
Quake fans will love the fact that the game plays up the human-versus-alien conflict just as good as past Quake games. This is more of an online or LAN affair but there’s a single-player mode to keep you company when you don’t feel like heading online. Oh, and you just have to love all those cool vehicles and massive maps.

Multiplayer: 8.5
Online is where the game really shines and by allowing up to 16 players on screen you will find that battles flow more smoothly without the clutter. While I would have loved the ability to use voice chat, the fact that the game runs at a steady framerate and the ability to set up a LAN match more than makes up for it.

Overall: 8.5
First-person shooter multiplayer fans love their battles massive and overwhelming and Enemy Territory: Quake Wars delivers it despite a few setbacks. While the battles are exciting and fun, there are a few problems that make the game feel a tad repetitive and a wee bit frustrating. If you can overlook these blemishes, the overall beauty of the game will keep you entertained.