The curves are smooth and organic, the lighting is stunning, and the level of detail in the maps is breathtaking. During one hectic, competitive CTF LAN I could not stop myself from continually pausing to pan around a room to enjoy the view. The brooding, gothic atmosphere of the previous Quakes has been replaced by a brighter arcade style. Gameplay has moved from realism to abstract functionality. Weapons, ammunition, and powerups float unrealistically above the ground and glow with neon colour.
Platforms float over impossible bottomless voids.
Weapons are oversized and bursting with ballistic muscle. Sounds are rich and explosively resonant. Gibs are exaggerated and comical. Q3A no longer attempts to create a believable realism, but provides what is clearly a game environment. Levels don't link together, or have any relevance to each other apart from providing an arena for play.