Video games - Quarantine

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	Video games - Quarantine

Quarantine is a computer game.

Background History

The success of DOOM by ID Software in 1993 led to many other companies exploting DOOM's success. Most of them ended up making unsuccessfull knock-offs. One of those knock-offs was Quarantine; but in no way was it a failure. Quarantine was one of the few games that won in successfully exploiting the features that made DOOM such a winner.

The Game

Quarantine is a First Person Shooter in which the player drives a taxi cab through a city picking up passengers to boost income. The player can also accept to deliver packages for "special" people and thus earn trust from a local organization or group.

This is a violent game that features blowing up cars, killing people, and all the usual violence that can be expected from an action shooter; not recommended for young people.

The Story

KEMO City (or simply KEMO) is located in the eastern seaboard of the United States in a futuristic 2022. KEMO, like today's Detroit and its cars, is known for manufacturing hovercars. Hovercars are cars that hover several feet off the ground making good speed and efficiency while avoiding friction with the road.

However, the city has an above average crime rate. This crime rate becomes so severe that it leads to economic collapse and general civilian chaos. Criminals roam the streets in armored and well-armed hover vehicles making it unsafe for anyone else.

Then comes Omnicorp Inc in 2029. This giant corporation promises to the city officials that it can clean up Kemo and make it return to normal. A proposal is struck and Omnicorp takes charge; it begins building a massive 5 meter thick wall around the city. The inhabitants are assured that the wall is merely a "defensive measure" and that it should not cause them to worry.

The wall is completed in 2032 and the only exit is sealed shut; KEMO has become a massive prison city with all the inhabiatnts, whether they be criminals or innocent. The situation turns from bad to worse; with the population feeling cheated, all hell breaks loose adding further mayhem to the chaos and destruction that already prevailing.

Then in 2043, Omnicorp decided to test their Hydergine 344 on KEMO. This chemical is supposed to make the criminals think right (yeah start praying) Hydergine 344 is then released into KEMO's water reservoir's. But the idiots at Omnicorp were not aware that KEMO's water supply contained high levels of bacteria and viral content. When Hydergine 344 interacted with these vermins, it combined to form a deadly mutated psychoreactive agent.

This agent when consumed caused synaptic breakdown and psychopath tendencies. More than half of the inhabitants have become crazed killer lunatics! Omnicorp had screwed up big time with severe consequences.

You are Drake Edgewater, a 21st Century cab driver desperate to escape from the Quarantined city of KEMO and one of the lucky few unaffected by the spreading virus. You drive a modified '52 Checker "hovercab" armed with headlight mounted machine guns, roof cannons, missiles, explosives, flame throwers, buzz-saws, and a Bad Attitude. Passengers need to be picked and dropped off for cash, bad guys need to be shot, packages need to be delivered, and anyone standing in your way blown up! Rid the streets by any means necessary, of assault vehicles, mutant assassins and slow moving pedestrians. Weapons can be bought at weapon depots and the car can be upgraded at a a repair depot. Upgrades for both include complex weapons and advanced armor. It's all in a day's work, here in KEMO.

And the goal of the game?

Escape KEMO!

Soundtrack

The CD version features music tracks from Australian alternative bands. This made Quarantine a truly unique experience.

1. You Am I - Berlin Chair (2:42)
2. The Fauves - The Driver Is You (3:38)
3. The Black Sorrows - Dance With Me (3:00)
4. Smudge – Ingrown (3:13)
5. Godstar - Lie Down Forever (3:26)
6. Hellmen - Whirlwind (2:49)
7. The Daisygrinders - Uranium Watch (3:47)
8. Underground Lovers - Weak Will (5:29)
9. Screamfeeder – Snailtrail (4:17)
10. Crow - Yellow Beam (5:00)
11. Sidewinder - Now You Know (4:51)

Controls & Keys

It is reported among fans and critics alike that this game requires some getting used to. This mainly deals with the controls and its effect.

UP ARROW: Gas

DOWN ARROW: Brakes

LEFT ARROW: Steer Left

RIGHT ARROW: Steer Right

Z: Jump (that's right, jump; this is a hovercar and Kemo hovercars come with the jump feature:)!

ALT: Select special weapons (these must be bought from weapon depots)

SPACE: Fires the hood mounted twin-machine guns

F1: Look out through left window

F2: Look out the windshield (This is the default position)

F3: Look out through right window

The arrow key controls are difficult to getting used to IF the game is played in DOS. But the wonderful DOS era is long-over and not many people use it. However, the game CAN BE played in Windows XP! Downloading DOS BOX (available free) and playing the game is the best option. In DOS BOX, increase the emulation speed to 30000 for the best results. With this speed, the game runs smoothly and it is very easy to control the vehicle.

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