Quake II is fast, gory, and a step up mechanically when compared to its predecessors. It splits its single-player mode into units, which are composed of connected levels. It feels like you're exploring a larger world in this game; a very different experience from the portal-connected worlds of the original Quake. Combine those elements with a Doom-like militaristic sci-fi setting and a shredding metal soundtrack, and you've got yourself a pretty solid id Software title.
Unfortunately, Quake II frequently suffers from truly convoluted level design. Like with previous games, you're sometimes required to backtrack with newfound key items, and it's significantly easier to become lost. If you thought The Pain Maze was too obtuse, just wait until you have to backtrack through multiple stitched-together and labyrinthine levels. The level objectives are also frustrating, especially if you pick up a save file after not playing for a while. Your primary objective at one point is, and I quote, "Establish communication link to command ship." Sure, whatever that means, man. I'm not even incompetent at these games, it's just that the monotony of running back and forth through samey sci-fi base levels really gnawed at me during this second playthrough. Everything blends together, and only a couple of memorable "units" stick out.
Thankfully, Nightdive comes to the rescue. Like with all of their other classic FPS ports as of late, the 2023 version of Quake II has everything you could ask for in a remaster. There's all the bells and whistles that Nightdive worked into the original Quake and then some, along with unique additions like hit markers, reworked enemy AI, new enemy attacks, and a brand new bonus campaign developed by MachineGames. They've even added a compass item that points you to your next objective, going as far as to create a breadcrumb trail that further nudges you towards it—convoluted levels be damned. Like with their Quake remaster, Nightdive has delivered the definitive version of Quake II, and it's available on all major platforms, warts and all.
Unfortunately, Quake II frequently suffers from truly convoluted level design. Like with previous games, you're sometimes required to backtrack with newfound key items, and it's significantly easier to become lost. If you thought The Pain Maze was too obtuse, just wait until you have to backtrack through multiple stitched-together and labyrinthine levels. The level objectives are also frustrating, especially if you pick up a save file after not playing for a while. Your primary objective at one point is, and I quote, "Establish communication link to command ship." Sure, whatever that means, man. I'm not even incompetent at these games, it's just that the monotony of running back and forth through samey sci-fi base levels really gnawed at me during this second playthrough. Everything blends together, and only a couple of memorable "units" stick out.
Thankfully, Nightdive comes to the rescue. Like with all of their other classic FPS ports as of late, the 2023 version of Quake II has everything you could ask for in a remaster. There's all the bells and whistles that Nightdive worked into the original Quake and then some, along with unique additions like hit markers, reworked enemy AI, new enemy attacks, and a brand new bonus campaign developed by MachineGames. They've even added a compass item that points you to your next objective, going as far as to create a breadcrumb trail that further nudges you towards it—convoluted levels be damned. Like with their Quake remaster, Nightdive has delivered the definitive version of Quake II, and it's available on all major platforms, warts and all.