Genre: Action, Driving
Developer: Imagexcel
Publisher: GameTek
Year: 1994
Platform: PC
Quarantine is an action-driving game set in a dystopian future where the player assumes the role of Drake Edgewater, a cab driver trapped in the walled city of Kemo. The city is controlled by a corrupt corporation, and its inhabitants have been driven to madness by a failed mind-control experiment. Players must navigate dangerous streets, completing fares while engaging in vehicular combat to survive and ultimately escape the city.
The game blends first-person driving with shooter mechanics. The player’s taxi is armed with various weapons, including machine guns, rockets, and mines, which can be upgraded or replaced as the game progresses. Missions involve transporting passengers to their destinations while avoiding hostile gangs, corporate security forces, and other hazards that populate the city’s streets.
Kemo is divided into multiple districts, each with unique layouts, enemy types, and increasing difficulty. Players can earn money by completing fares or destroying enemy vehicles, using the funds to purchase better armor, weapons, and vehicle enhancements. The city’s open-ended design allows for non-linear exploration, adding variety to the gameplay.
The PC version was released for MS-DOS and supports both keyboard and joystick controls. It features digitized sound effects, a soundtrack from Australian bands, and fully voiced passenger dialogue, which contribute to the game’s darkly comedic tone. The game’s mix of violent action and satire drew comparisons to other dystopian media of the time.
