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"Contract Revoked is a four level pack created by Kell McDonald and released in 2002. The episode makes heavy use of a new style of texture set called knave that draws inspiration from Quake III Arena's gothic texturework, bringing the brutal but intricate gothic architecture out of the multiplayer arenas, and into a single player world. Another major source of inspiration is the author's hometown of Edinburgh, Scotland, specifically the Old Town section of the capital, with its mixture of late medieval, Victorian, and Edwardian architecture. This texture set would go on to serve as the inspiration for a generation of Quake single player maps, as its rich materials, tiled floors, and shelves upon shelves of books work together as a completely seamless extension of the original environments found in Quake. The style feels decidedly modern, as Contract Revoked would go on to be one of the early examples of a new generation in Quake map design."
— Addons mod description in the 2021 remastered edition of Quake
Contract Revoked is a 4-level Quake episode mod originally released on June 16, 2002, by Kell McDonald.
Chthon, admiring Ranger's strengths and accomplishments, reveals that he's been powering Ranger all along and subjects Ranger to a series of challenges. Should he win, the contract that binds their soul will be revoked and Ranger will finally be free.
On July 13, 2023, the mod was added as a downloadable addon
for the 2021 Quake Remaster, with an interview of its creator following suit.
The addon is comprised of the levels "To Pass Between the Stars", "Libris Vertiginis", "Thousand Words", "Contract Revoked" and "The Gates of Memory".
The addon and its 2021 Remastered edition version show examples of the following tropes:
- Brutal Bonus Level: "The Gates of Memory", based on the main game's "Dismal Oubliette", contains a high monster count.
- Final Boss: Once again, Chthon, at the end of the aptly named "Contract Revoked".
- Gotta Catch 'Em All: Dispersed through the game's levels are four runes that must be picked up, one in the Hub Level and the other three in each main level. Collecting all of them unlocks the Brutal Bonus Level above.
- Harder Than Hard: The Nightmare difficulty portal is located in the aptly-named "Pit of NIGHTMARE", a room containing a large fleshy maw that constantly emanates a deep, disturbing breathing sound. The entrance to this room is located in the Hard difficulty portal room, directly below the ledge that falls off into the room's bottomless pit.
- Hub Level: "To Pass Between the Stars".
- Secret Test of Character: The whole ordeal of the pack has Ranger being subjected to some gruesome challenges to break free from a contract.
- Shout-Out: H.P. Lovecraft is mentioned in one of the earliest secrets.
- Title Drop: The last level of the main campaign is called "Contract Revoked".
