he multiplayer shooter is about to get a beefy makeover with Enemy Territory: Quake Wars. Splash Damage, with the help of id Software, is turning the epic war between the Humans and the Strogg into an interactive battlefield. We took a trip to Santa Monica for a little LAN-party preview of the new shooter and put it to the test. Could this new use of a proven franchise topple the Battlefield dynasty?

Before Gears of War, before Halo 2 and before Unreal, there was Quake. Although not the first game of its type to ever feature multiplayer mayhem, it is without a doubt the model multiplayer shooter. Strafing, 3D models and even mouse-look were standardized through id’s PC masterpiece. Until then, gamers really only had a few choices for multiplayer, like Doom or Duke Nukem 3D. When id released Quake II in 1999, the jaws of PC gamers everywhere hit the floor. The multiplayer formula had hit a level it had never been close to before. Quake had now become another word for deathmatch.

The best way to describe a game of Quake Wars would be to just make you a tasty sandwich with Battlefield 2, Unreal Tournament 2004 and Team Fortress Classic as the ingredients. Sound delicious? Like these other games, ET:QW is all team-based gameplay. Each map will have different objectives that will be completed one after another with one side on the offence and the other on the defense. As a team of Humans (GDF) or Strogg (depending on the map) pushes forward, the battles are fought in new parts of the large maps and the spawn areas will even shift to follow along. Each smaller objective allows the action to stay close together and intense through an entire match.

The first map we played was simply called Valley. For the entire map, the GDF will be on the offence and the Strogg on the defense. This is typical of the game, because of how specific each map’s objectives are. As humans, our first objective was to have an engineer construct a bridge over a small ravine so we could get the mobile headquarters across. Next, we pushed on through a tunnel which gave the Strogg and huge bottleneck advantage. This choke point was actually the biggest challenge of the map. Once we finally pushed through, we established a second base where we would setup to fire a missile to take out a shield generator so we could hack some computers up. This was the point in the map where the heaviest hardware comes out. Mechs, fliers and tanks clash alongside infantry as both sides battle for victory before time runs out or someone completes the objectives.

Another playable level was called Sewer, which was set in Japan. Rather than focusing on a stereotypical megalopolis, this battle was waged in a quiet countryside. Once again, the Strogg played defenders as the GDF pushed ahead to hack a computer. One of the interesting things about ET:QW is how the levels are designed to offer a little something for everyone. Battles take place outside, with the air strikes and epic battles one expects to see. The levels we played also feature indoor sections, as well, providing action more familiar to those who cut their teeth on classic Quake deathmatch action.

While the objectives are straightforward, there are plenty of ways to accomplish these goals. While most of the action followed the paved road, skirmishes broke out in nearby ravines and hillsides. Exploration pays off, too. Early on, players who take a detour down toward the river will find a few usable boats. These can be used to traverse the waters along the side and enter a sewer area, which leads into Strogg-controlled territory. To make things a little more interesting, a gate blocks the way, which must be destroyed by a soldier. Once it’s open, though, it provides another way for GDF forces to mount their attacks. It’s clear that levels are designed for a variety of tactics and battle plans, which could add to the game’s overall longevity.

Player will have five classes on either team to choose from all with their own usefulness on the battlefield. The Soldier/Aggressor is your basic combat unit. The Medic/Technician is a unit support class. The Engineer/Constructor will take care of the tech. The Field Ops/Oppressor calls in the air strikes. Last but not least, the Covert Ops/Infiltrator will go undercover for a sneak attack, taking on the identity of killed enemies. Each unit will have an objective role over the course of the maps, too. One unit type may not play a key role on map A but could very well be the most important for map B. The variety of roles makes it quite likely that you’ll find something to suit your play style. Even people who can’t pull off headshots to save their own lives can provide invaluable team support by playing as medics and keeping their sharpshooters healthy.

Playing a game of ET:QW for the most part controls like every other FPS since the first Quake. If you’ve played even one, you’ll be fine to just drop in. What makes the title’s controls stand out is not how they are mapped, but how they are used. The coolest feature Splash Damage has added is an “Easy” button. Normally, to complete and objective, a player would have to switch to the right item, place it, switch to another item and activate it and so on. The F key will actually just allow you to complete any objective by just holding it when you reach the spot. It’s a great way for the newbies to join in on the action rather than just wander the level in a jeep. It’s also handy when playing a class for the first time. You might not know exactly what you’re supposed to do when you approach an objective point the first time, so it’s handy to have that kind of help.

Instead of points or kills, the ranks in a match are decided by experience points. You will gain this from almost everything you do. Complete objectives, frag a foe, or even heal a teammate. You will gain ranks through the course of playing games and in turn, you will unlock upgrades—although we cannot tell you what those will be at this time. Splash Damage has also planned on bringing all of the clan and stat tracking you can handle. There will be full stat access outside of the game via the Web, so you can track you and your buddies when you’re suppose to be working on those TPS reports.

With the lackluster Battlefield 2142 release, the multiplayer FPS crowd is just itching for a new release. With no set release in the near future for Frontlines: Fuel of War, Enemy Territory: Quake Wars is looking better and better. Activision, id and Splash Damage look like they have once solid title on the way and with future PlayStation 3 and Xbox 360 plans, this triple threat could really put some points on the board.