The Arena Eternal was constructed by the mysterious Vadrigar, the enigmatic Arena Masters, far in the past. The arena was designed to satisfy the Vadrigar's insatiable hunger for carnage and battle. Now you, as a gladiator, must enter battle against the most powerful warriors in history who populate the Arena Eternal. More than 30 types of opponents, each with but a single thought — survival — awaits your appearance!

Within the arena, there is only one rule: kill or be killed. Fortunately, the Vadrigar, unwilling to accept death as a way out of combat, ensure that anyone who dies is immediately resurrected and thrust back into the fray. You must climb the ranks, winning your battles against increasingly powerful foes.

During gameplay, you have a wide variety of weapons from which to choose including several types of guns (machinegun, shotgun, plasma, lightning, rail and BFG), rocket and grenade launchers and bladed weapons. Three kinds of armor can be utilized, each uniquely affecting your armor rating, while more than a half-dozen power-ups dot the arena, providing enhanced combat abilities ranging from invisibility to flight.

Med-kits, personal teleporters, health bonuses and earned medals that count toward final battle score totals round out the many features of Quake III Arena. Single- as well as multiplayer action is offered, although the game is designed for multiplayer contests first and foremost. In single-player mode, the challenge is to defeat automated computer-controlled opponents at each level in order to "unlock" tougher levels.

During multiplayer action, five specific game types are available including all, free-for-all, tournament, team deathmatch and capture the flag. Many options allow full customization of multiplayer games and feature control over aspects such as 'bot skill levels, frag, capture and time limits, connection to dedicated servers, player list designation and friendly fire rules.

Other features in Quake III Arena include unique environmental hazards, properties, and items including fog of death, acceleration and bounce pads, gates, doors, lava, elevators and lifts, voids, water, pendulums, platforms and more. Twenty-six arena maps replete with traps, secrets, lighting nuances and varied surfaces await the intrepid warrior. Four additional capture the flag maps are available for practicing skills against other opponents.

Climbing atop the charred and dismembered corpses of those below, the victor of all the battles shall stand before Xaero, Lord of the Final Arena. Will that victorious warrior be you? ~ Michael L. House, All Game Guide