Review by: Brian Pipa

All new from Microforum, this essential collection of levels, cheats, hints and tactics is the most comprehensive ever assembled for the decade’s hottest game – Quake! With a huge collection of hints, a directory of web servers where you can challenge other Quake warriors, Dark Hour is bringing you more Quake than ever before, and taking carnage to new levels!

Having just received the full version of Quake for Christmas (thanks Jennifer!), I was pleasantly surprised to find Microforum’s Dark Hour too in my reviewer’s mailbox. Dark Hour adds 23 new levels to Quake – 13 multiplayer levels and 10 solo levels. The 10 solo levels are linked together to provide, essentially, a new episode. Start on the Valhalla level and work your way up, with the levels increasing in difficulty as you go. The 23 new levels incorporate 50 all-new, original textures to give the levels a new and different look. Unfortunately, their are no new monsters or weapons.

The interface into all of Dark Hour is very easy to use – so easy, that no manual is included, nor is it needed. Not once have I had the urge to look in a manual for help with Dark Hour – everything you need is on the CD. The interface allows you to read the story behind the Dark Hour levels, install the levels, play any of the installed levels, find just about anything Quake-related on the Internet, or get help if you need it.

The Web references give you a list of just about every Quake resource available on the Internet. Quake editors, clan sites, servers, sites to download freeware levels – everything. Some of the sites I have heard of before, but many were new to me (although I don’t claim to be the most up-to-date Quake fan in the world). The installation of the Microforum levels are controlled very easily within the Dark Hour interface. You can also run any of the levels you’ve installed by selecting it then choosing solo, deathmatch, or co-op mode. When you choose to play a level, it will spawn Quake with the level you chose loaded and ready to go.