Sauerbraten for Mac Editor's Review

Sauerbraten is a freeware First Person Shooter game.

Sauerbraten is based on the 'Cube' engine. It is a redesign of open-source 'Cube FPS'. It is a great open source game. It has single player and multiplayer target. In single player you can fight well designed monsters. The monsters' AI isn't bad at all, even on low level they are still hard opponents. Sauerbraten reminds me of the 'Quake' engine and game-play. In my test I used the recommended settings for video graphics. I just had to adjust the gamma.

The weapons are unusual and in single player mode you have to be very careful with your ammo, it runs out very quickly making the missions very hard to complete with a hand pistol or fist. The further you advance in the game, more weapons will be available. Some of them are very powerful and extremely dangerous, if you are close to the target. These powerful guns remind me of the 'Quake' canon. After you hit a target, besides blood some 'sparks' burst and fall down. In my opinion the game could do without these 'sparks'.

Even if it's freeware, special effects like bullet trajectory or design are well made using the OpenGL engine. This game requires a good video card to have fully detail support. One more feature which I found to be very attractive is it's 3D in-game menu. The sounds are very realistic, and the game music is hard rock which goes very good with the single player game.

Sometimes the huge number of monsters/opponents reminds me of 'Serious Sam'. Unlike the ones in 'Serious Sam' these ones actual hit you when they have a chance, and your ammo runs out quickly.

Pluses: free, lots of options, good design and graphics.

Drawbacks / flaws: sometimes after you quit the game, the computer needs a few moments to free up it's memory. Bullet shells that come down as sparks after you hit a target might as well be missing for a more realistic feeling.

In conclusion: if you enjoyed playing 'Cube' or you are into 'Quake' mixed with 'Serious Sam' first person shooters you might give Sauerbraten a try. There is also Nexuiz and Openarena open source first person shooters.

version reviewed: 2007_08_29