At this year's QuakeCon, Microsoft and Bethesda kicked off the event by stealth releasing a remastered version of the original Quake for all the major consoles and PC. Quake is one of the most iconic series of first-person shooters ever released. The original game is remembered not only for its revolutionary graphics and presentation but also for its incredible arsenal.
The original game introduced players to a plethora of incredible weapons that would become iconic in first-person shooter history. So with the brand new remastered Quake once again putting friendships on the line in the deathmatch arenas, now is the perfect time to rank the iconic arsenal of deadly instruments from least deadly to incredibly dangerous.
Axe
Like most other shooters of this era, the melee weapons feel more like a joke inclusion than a viable option. That isn't to say that players haven't speedrun Quake using only the axe, but for most players, this short-handled blood-soaked chopper isn't even scary to trees. Pretty much only wielded as a very last resort, the axe is best tucked away and forgotten about.
Shotgun
Perhaps wanting to one-up its own series, developer John Carmack and company at id Software eschewed the usual starting pistol found in its DOOM games to give players a pump-action shotgun as the first firearm acquired in Quake. The shotgun serves as Quake's version of the pistol and is about as powerful as a handgun. Although it serves as a reliable backup weapon, the regular shotgun is flawed as it will always stand second-fiddle to the double-barrelled shotgun.
Nailgun
Essentially serving as Quake's submachine gun, the nailgun is an excellent-looking but rather workhorse weapon. Able to fire nail projectiles at a high rate of fire, it is a rather weak automatic firearm that players will immediately dump for something more hard-hitting. Much like the shotgun, the nailgun suffers from an inferiority complex presented by its more powerful big brother, which improves upon it in nearly every way.
Super Nailgun
Once this multi-barreled behemoth is acquired, players would be forgiven for forgetting that the regular nailgun even existed. The Super Nailgun may fire at the same rate as its little brother, but it doubles the damage doled out to enemies, making it a far superior weapon. Furthermore, its Gatling gun-like animation is one of the coolest in shooter history, evoking classic DOOM chaingun memories, which is never a bad thing.
Grenade Launcher
The grenade launcher is one of the most interesting weapons of the entire Quake arsenal as, upon first use, it seems to be a gimmick that is both unwieldy and sluggish in execution. However, with a little practice, it can become an extremely deadly weapon that not only blows up foes but does so with style. The key to wielding this explosive weapon is nailing the arc of the canister-shaped projectiles, which takes practice. However, once this technique is mastered, this iconic weapon is one of the best in the game.
Double-Barreled Shotgun
If there is one thing that id Software knows, it is how to make a shotgun. The developer kicked things off with DOOM and its sequel, delivering two of the most iconic video game shotguns ever made. Quake brought the shotgun to 3D and included arguably the best double-barreled shotgun of all time. Absolutely devastating, with a signature booming rapport, this version of the double-barrel has strained many a friendship in the deathmatch arenas over the years and continues to do so today.
Thunderbolt
Known affectionately as the Lightning Gun, or LG, this superweapon is a weapon that will strike fear into the hearts of enemies everywhere. With one trigger pull, the Thunderbolt allows players to wield the power of lighting, blasting an arching beam of electric fury into whoever is unlucky enough to be on the other end. The Thunderbolt is a unique superweapon because it demands skill; the player must focus the beam on enemies and aim correctly to unleash the weapon's true devastation.
Rocket Launcher
There could be no other number one on this list other than the most iconic rocket launcher ever created. From its simple but memorable design to its familiar blast rapport, the Quake rocket launcher is still to this day the king of its type in the video game world. Aside from its quick projectiles, excellent splash damage, and versatility, this is the weapon that allowed players to create the rocket jump, changing first-person shooter multiplayer forever. If for no other reason, giving players the rocket jump is enough to put this incredible weapon atop the list both of Quake's arsenal and in video game rocket launchers at large.
Quake originally blew players away with its graphics and speed, but this iconic first-person shooter wouldn't have had such a long life if not for its weapons. So go fire up a deathmatch and waste all present in celebration of Quake's incredible arsenal one more time.