Although the game failed in presenting a good storyline, Quake was a benchmark in terms of graphics and multiplayer when it came out. The 3D engine created a lifelike world that could be viewed from any perspective.
Quake is still quite entertaining to look at even today.
The architecture consists of gothic castles, military installations and fiery arenas. Grand arches mark entrances and exits, while moving bars and bridges guide you through the levels. I can appreciate the flickering torches, shadows, and dim lights that grace the worlds of this game, knowing that this started the trend of good looking shooters. The weapon effects are great, with trails of light that follow a launched rocket, as well as particle explosions that you can see from far away. With the OpenGL patch, the textures are smoothed out considerably, bringing it almost up to par with Hexen 2.