Quake II (remastered)
Developed by: id Software, Nightdive Studios, Machinegames
Published by: Bethesda Softworks
Date of Release: August 10, 2023
Price: $9.99
The year is 1997.
The development house id Software has released Quake II. It stands as a monumental sequel that solidified the franchise's reputation as a pioneer in the first-person shooter genre. Building upon the success of its predecessor, it brought a blend of innovative gameplay mechanics, immersive atmosphere, and cutting-edge technology that set new standards for the gaming industry at the time. Quake II showcased remarkable strides in graphical fidelity for the era, which certainly served to amplify its stunning realization of a gritty, industrial-inspired aesthetic that fully immersed players in a dystopian world controlled by the hostile Strogg alien race.
While Quake II diverges from its predecessor's Lovecraftian horror themes, it introduces a compelling sci-fi narrative loosely based on the classic WWII file The Guns of Navarone. Players assume the role of a space marine infiltrating the Strogg homeworld to eliminate their leader and put an end to their ongoing invasion of Earth. The game's story is delivered through environmental storytelling, briefings, and mission objectives, allowing players to gradually piece together the broader story of the conflict. The focus on narrative is far more involved than in the original Quake, and it really ads a lot to the overall experience.
At its core, Quake II preserves the fast-paced and frenetic gameplay that its predecessor is known for. Players navigate a variety of interconnected hub-based levels, each filled with challenging enemy encounters and intricate puzzles. A diverse arsenal of weapons, from iconic classics like the shotgun and rocket launcher to bombastic futuristic offerings such as the railgun and hyperblaster are littered throughout the campaign, offering a satisfying and visceral gunplay experience.
The level design of Quake II demonstrates both a firm grasp of artistic creativity and technical prowess alike, with intricate architecture and a sci-fi aesthetic that went well beyond most games of the time. The game's atmosphere is heightened by the meticulously designed environments, from claustrophobic corridors to varied outdoor areas, expertly showcasing the alien hellscape of the planet Stroggos. Despite the hardware limitations of the time, the game's graphical prowess still holds up remarkably well even in modern retrospective.
The sound design of Quake II contributes significantly to its immersive atmosphere. Quake II is a veritable symphony of auditory delights. The metallic clangs of weaponry, the guttural roars of enemies, and the eerie soundscape of alien worlds blend seamlessly to immerse players in its universe. The redbook audio soundtrack composed by Sonic Mayhem, is a masterpiece of industrial metal and otherworldly ambiance, which expertly punctuates the gameplay with moments of tension, triumph, and introspection. In more hyperbolic terms, it frigging shreds.
The original Quake was a pioneer in the concept of online multiplayer in the FPS genre, with its innovative QuakeWorld technology, and Quake II absolutely takes it to the next level. The fast-paced multiplayer modes, ranging from deathmatch to capture the flag, became the foundation for future online shooters to follow. Furthermore, the ease of modding Quake II allowed the budding modding community to grow and flourish, leading to the creation of countless user-generated maps, total conversions, and gameplay enhancements. This flexibility extended the game's lifespan and demonstrated the sheer potential of player-driven content creation.
Quake II remains an enduring testament to the golden age of FPS gaming, showcasing innovation, technical prowess, and addictive gameplay. Its influence on the genre is undeniable, with multiplayer and modding becoming integral components of modern gaming culture. Even decades after its release, Quake II retains its status as a classic that encapsulates the spirit of fast-paced, immersive, and thrilling first-person shooters. Whether you're a veteran gamer or a newcomer, Quake II deserves a place in your gaming library for its historical significance and timeless enjoyment.
The year is 2023.
It is the future.
Quake II has up until now been available for purchase on Steam and GoG, but it is just a mere shell of its former glory. The game doesn't work very well on modern systems with its default configuration, and the absolutely shredding soundtrack by Sonic Mayhem is missing. Source ports abound, but they take a fair bit of tinkering to get things working just right, and you still need to find a copy of the soundtrack, usually by less than legal means. Well just throw all that out the door, Nightdive Studios have you covered!
Quake II is back, and it's hungry for fresh meat! Nightdive Studios has teamed up with id Software and Machinegames to bring Quake II back from the dead. To paraphrase an old ad for the console version of the game, they've ripped it's heart out and and strapped it into a new body. Said body is Nightdive's in house KEX engine, which has powered so many freaking good remasters as of late, such as Rise of The Triad Ludicrous Edition, the original Quake remaster, Turok 1 and 2, Shadow Man Remastered, Strife Veteran Edition, Powerslave Exhumed, and theres too many to list really.
The remaster for Quake II has a massive freaking laundry list of improvements, from improved models with better polycounts and textures (and ZERO vertex wobbling! Of course you can use the old models if you crave the oldschool look.), better lighting and dynamic shadows, and a massive load of restored content that was originally cut during development. There are now weapon and inventory wheels to select your gear, and an optional compass that will lead you to the next waypoint. The enemy AI and pathfinding has also been improved, with enemies being able to dodge shots and even jump from ledges in pursuit of the player. The previously mostly-harmless berserkers can even leap at you from across the screen to deliver a beatdown, finally making them a challenge!
Another improvement that finally brings Quake II from being an unplayable piece of garbage to the pinnacle of FPS glory is the addition of muzzle flashes for all weapons. Yep, you read that right! EVERY WEAPON NOW HAS A MUZZLE FLASH! THE GAME IS NOW PLAYABLE! OMGWTFBBQ!!!!111one. All sarcasm aside, I have seen so many people complain about the original game's lack of muzzle flashes, so you can all rest easy, this remaster has you covered!
Quake II now comes with the original main campaign plus the two original expansion packs, The Reckoning and Ground Zero, completely baked in with all the improvements of the main game. On top of that you get the formerly Nintendo-exclusive Quake II 64 (with an accompanying CRT shader!), AND a brand new 28-level campaign expansion from Machinegames, titled Call of The Machine. Like the Quake remaster before it, there is an absolute wealth of rich gameplay to be had here. On top of the gameplay there's also an id Vault gallery with concept art and videos, and a whole lot of other goodies that I won't spoil. Also the Switch version has HD rumble and gyro aiming, which makes things that much more interesting. It's always fun to play around with motion controls IMO.
And then there is the multiplayer. Hooooo boy, there's multiplayer. Supporting local 8-player splitscreen, LAN and online crossplay between all platforms. All modes from the original game are supported, including Deathmatch, Team Deathmatch, Capture the Flag, AND Co-op! The competitive modes even support AI bots to play against. Quake II has always been an amazing online fragfest, and the remaster just makes it that much easier with it's built-in server browser.
So as I stated in the first half of this review, Quake II is still one of the finest retro FPS games of all time, and this remaster firmly cements its place in history all while making it accessible for generations to come. Nightdive and id Software have even gone so far as upgrading previous owners of Quake II on supported platforms (Steam, GoG and MS Store) a free upgrade to the remaster, and for new customers the price is only $9.99. In this day and age of overpriced barebones re-releases (I'm looking at you, Rockstar) its so nice to see a studio that cares that much about giving their customers a good value. Even if you're someone who passed on Quake II originally, or didn't like it at all when you played it before, I seriously reccomend trying the remaster. The quality of life improvements added bring a breath of fresh Stroggos air, and the experience can't be beat.
