Quake Arena Arcade

18 cert, ID Software, Xbox Live ***

With the familiar stone walls and old sound effects (the clink of armour, the click of a shotgun), revisiting the world of Quakeis like bumping into a long-lost friend, albeit one who's let himself go a bit. Once the vanguard of the first-person shooter, the Quakefranchise has long been eclipsed by the likes of Haloand Call of Duty. Quake Arena Arcadeis a slightly modified and updated rerelease of the 1999 classic. It's still a good-looking game, and the controls and movement are smooth and fast. But it's really just a dude with a gun chasing another dude with a gun. With the single-player campaign, why not throw in the creepy ghouls from the beloved original? The enemy AI is poor but the game comes alive in the chaotic online multiplayer mode. Lean, simple, efficient, Quake Arena Arcadehas the feel of a shooter for those who can't afford a major, full-price title.