Arcane Dimensions (2015)

This modpack is kicking ass so far. I'm not a fan of Quake's level design, being far too addicted to dickish spawns for my taste that don't use the roster to its fullest (that Shambler that spawns behind you on the lava bridge in E1M6 can go fuck itself with the lightning gun), but Arcane Dimensions is pushing every single facet of Quake to its limits. Graphically, every level drips in atmosphere and has incredible aesthetics, mechanically there's a lot of much-appreciated rebalances (every single hitscan in the game other than the lightning gun and Shambler attack is now a projectile, your loadout included) and new enemies, and the level design not only shows a better understanding of how to use the tools at their disposal than id itself, but is an insane feat in scope as well - I've finished one non-remake level and did a bit of another, and both are looking to take about half an hour when doing moderate secret hunting, containing around three hundred enemies; a far cry from the tame engagements of the base game.

I've always enjoyed Quake's moody atmosphere and fun-ass movement, and I don't even dislike how the weapons feel as much as other people do, but Arcane Dimensions takes Quake to the next level. As a boomer shooter neophyte, this is setting a really high bar so far.