An N64 port of id Software's foundational Quake. Thirty-two gothic levels, a devastating arsenal and the signature dark atmosphere. Performance takes a hit from the conversion and the look runs darker than ever, yet the spirit of Quake comes through cleanly, technical miracle included.
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Category
First-Person Shooter1 player16+
Split screen
Description
N64 port of id Software's landmark FPS, plunging the player into dark dimensions filled with gothic monsters. Published by Midway, released in 1998 in Europe and North America. Thirty-two dark gothic levels, varied arsenal, fully polygonal 3D engine, and split-screen multiplayer mode.
Midway and Lobotomy European March 1998 pressing of Quake N64, which inherits the US code and keeps the two exclusive levels. The PAL version adds multilingual subtitles to the end-of-level screens and a detailed weapons-and-ammunition manual in five languages. That documentary density makes it the favored version among European Quake and late-1990s console-FPS enthusiasts, today scarcer than the US release.
Is Quake still worth playing in 2026?
The N64 port of Quake remains a quiet technical miracle. Thirty-two gothic levels, a fearsome arsenal and id Software's signature dark atmosphere survive the cartridge compression. The frame rate suffered, the rendering is darker still than on PC, but the gunplay and the maze-like dimension of the maps still work. Aubrey Hodges' new music genuinely deepens the oppressive mood. For old-school FPS fans and N64 technical feat hunters, it remains an intriguing detour today and a richer experience than its reputation suggests.
