Ground Zero is better than its preceding mission pack, The Reckoning, but not by much. Rogue Entertainment's pack has a leg up thanks to interesting enemy types—like the Stalkers and the wall turrets—and a more varied arsenal of weapons. The more straightforward level design and more engaging scenarios also distinguish Ground Zero from its predecessor.
Unfortunately, there are still some lame enemies, like the upgraded Icarus and Medic, and there are some peashooter weapons like the ETF Rifle and Plasma Beam. Also, not a fan of the persistent sci-fi military base theming that all these Quake II units are stuffed with; levels blend together, and they're only distinguishable by their unique objectives.
But overall, I'd recommend playing Ground Zero over The Reckoning. It even includes double the number of deathmatch maps, raising the bar to fourteen maps over The Reckoning's seven. And if you were wondering, yes, the Nightdive port unsurprisingly runs as smooth as butter. I played mostly on PlayStation 5, and it was a seamless experience.
Unfortunately, there are still some lame enemies, like the upgraded Icarus and Medic, and there are some peashooter weapons like the ETF Rifle and Plasma Beam. Also, not a fan of the persistent sci-fi military base theming that all these Quake II units are stuffed with; levels blend together, and they're only distinguishable by their unique objectives.
But overall, I'd recommend playing Ground Zero over The Reckoning. It even includes double the number of deathmatch maps, raising the bar to fourteen maps over The Reckoning's seven. And if you were wondering, yes, the Nightdive port unsurprisingly runs as smooth as butter. I played mostly on PlayStation 5, and it was a seamless experience.