Other quality-of-life additions include controller vibration effects when taking damage, an option for always running, save and load menus denoting the campaign name and preventing anomalies with the engine at higher frame rates by capping the maximum FPS to 1,000. Skipping cinematics also uses the Action key/button, and there are now “proper” drowning sounds for the selected model.

As for balance changes, the Railgun deals 125 damage per shot, up from 100. Enemies will no longer dodge shots from the side or behind, and turrets won’t deal extra damage when blind firing. The Berserker’s slam attack also deals reduced damage and can be dodged by jumping. Check out the full update notes below.

QUAKE 2 – UPDATE 1 RELEASE NOTES

QUALITY OF LIFE IMPROVEMENTS

General Gameplay

• Added controller vibration effects when taking damage
• Restored Always Run in the Input Options menu, with separate options for controller and keyboard
• Save and load menus will now indicate which campaign a save is from
• The Compass, Drop CTF Tech and Use Grapple actions can now be mapped as custom binds from the Input Options menu
• Added toggle for Underwater Warp in the Gameplay Options menu
• Increased the window in which input is disallowed after disengaging the weapon or inventory wheel to prevent erroneous look input or accidental item/weapon deselection
• Disabling View Bob in the Gameplay Options menu bobbing results in fewer residual head bobs
  Added missing Tank animation
• Improved Compass objective navigation throughout various places in Quake II, The Reckoning, Ground Zero, and Quake II 64
• Skipping cinematics now requires the Action key/button to be pressed instead of any key/button
• Added an extra chain segment to the Plasma Beam and Grappling Hook when using higher FOVs
• Improved cases where momentum would be lost when traveling up stairs
• Proper drowning sounds are now used based on selected player model
• Capped maximum FPS to 1,000 prevent possible engine anomalies at higher frame rates
• Prioritized Saved Games directory over game install directory when basepath is changed

Multiplayer

• Added ability to load quick saves and manual saves in online co-op without having to back out to the lobby
• Bot chat can now be disabled from Multiplayer Options menu
• Added match browser filters and the ability to sort by ping in the Multiplayer/Online/Join Match menu
• Raised the maximum number of visible matches in the Multiplayer/Online/Join Match menu from 20 to 50
• Excluded full servers from visible matches in the Multiplayer/Online/Join Match menu
• Disabled Quake II 64 physics changes when playing Quake II 64 multiplayer maps
• Enabled Spawn Furthest by default in competitive game modes
• Enabled Auto Join Teams by default for team-based game modes
• Raised default Frag Limit to 30
• Set multiple cvars as cheat-enabled, disallowing hosts to use them when cheats are disabled
• Updated Q2CTF2 (Stronghold Opposition) and Q2CTF3 (The Smelter) to better reflect the original versions of these Capture the Flag maps
• Added support for PC and Xbox consoles to play on LAN together

BALANCE CHANGES

General Gameplay

• Increased Railgun damage from 100 to 125
• Monsters will no longer dodge shots coming from the side or behind
• The slime and lava traps in The Slimy Place and The Frag Pipe can no longer be avoided
• Turrets no longer do extra damage when blind firing
• Killing a Brain while its chest is open will now always count as a kill
• Monsters will no longer open nearby doors immediately after spawning
  Fixbots will abort healing when staggering from pain

Berserker:

• The Berserker’s attack can be dodged by jumping when the slam occurs
• Added a visual tell to indicate when the Berserker’s jump is being charged up
• Added an additional 100ms delay before the Berserker jumps after it is fully charged
• Reduced slam attack damage

Multiplayer

• Removed ladder sounds from multiplayer for balance reasons

BUG FIXES

General Gameplay

• Reduced vision cone size on monsters waiting in ambush to fix some cases of accidental trap activation
• Power shield will no longer reactivate after picking up ammo if it was manually turned off
• Power-ups will no longer leave a phantom pickup after a player dies
• Fixed crash when a soldier tries to use a run attack against no player

However, id Software and Nightdive Studios have been doing excellent work reviving the older titles. Quake 2 is the latest, with its remaster covering the base game and its two mission packs – The Reckoning and Ground Zero. You get Quake 2 64 and a new expansion, Call of the Machine, by MachineGames. Local split-screen, online multiplayer, and AI bots in Deathmatch and Team Deathmatch have also been added.

"If you enjoyed Nightdive’s work on the original Quake, then Quake 2’s remaster will satisfy you. Remember: This is not a remake."

There’s more to it than that, though. I played the remaster, went back to the original to test the waters, and it just doesn’t feel the same. This is the best version of the game to exist and simply essential for anyone who enjoys classic first-person shooters – the boomer shooters before boomer shooters were even a term.

It all starts with the intro cinematic, faithfully translated and looking extremely crisp, almost like a showcase of what the remaster is capable of. Players are quickly dropped into action on the Strogg homeworld, and almost immediately, you’ll notice the difference in texture quality on the starting pistol to the environments and lighting. Previously, shots from some weapons would act like their own light sources, which could feel a bit unnatural at times.

Not only do they blend in naturally, but the environment is more realistically lit. Additional details like muzzle flash, indicators when hitting enemies, and more have also been added. Explosions look more detailed and sharp, while enemy character models are more defined. Even better, it’s all in a 16:9 aspect ratio – no annoying black bars on the sides.

If you enjoyed Nightdive’s work on the original Quake, then Quake 2’s remaster will satisfy you. Remember: This is not a remake. It keeps true to the classic, enhancing and improving its visuals in drastic or subtle ways without sacrificing the original’s atmosphere. In terms of overall flow, it does make some changes to areas, even the architecture in specific places, but doesn’t dull the pacing. The level design is faithfully on point.

The movement also feels so much more responsive. While the original Quake 2 felt weighty, the remaster seemingly adds momentum (which could be the improved tick rate at work). It can be a bit slippery at times but feels very good to control overall – like your character is more agile without unduly increasing the game speed.

"Some new quality-of-life features improve the experience without dumbing down the challenge. There’s a compass which indicates the path to your next objective via some helpful green arrows."

Enemies have also seen some changes. They now attempt to dodge your shots, sometimes ducking out of nowhere. You may not view the Berserker as much of a threat…until it leaps at you out of nowhere. Flying units are also more relentless in their pursuit.

I noticed fewer AI gaffs than with the original, but the enemies never felt unfair. However, this is still an old-school shooter, and they will take you down if you don’t strafe, jump or take advantage of your environment for cover. The improved AI feeds more into the aggressive combat without making it feel repetitive. It’s also worth noting that the enhanced visuals help denote enemy positions, such as when their shadows are peeking around corners. While not the most practical in the middle of a firefight, it’s still pretty cool and adds to the mood.

Of course, some new quality-of-life features improve the experience without dumbing down the challenge. There’s a compass which indicates the path to your next objective via some helpful green arrows. They don’t persist constantly and feel like a nice in-between for pinging and waypoints. You also have a weapon wheel, which slows down the action and lets you choose an appropriate weapon.

No fumbling for keys when you need a Super Shotgun to counter a close-range enemy, and somewhat less panicking when facing a powerful enemy and needing that powerful weapon stat. The best part? Both of these are completely optional. Do you want to get lost in Ground Zero or The Reckoning and figure out the way forward, or memorize keys to swap weapons at a moment’s notice? You can do both of these things, no problem.

"Despite how much it deviated thematically from the first game, Quake 2 is still a classic with an incredibly fun campaign."

Other noteworthy features include the restoration of the original soundtrack by Sonic Mayhem, Jeff Brown and Jeremiah Sypult. Honestly, it’s a trip – one of those soundtracks that’s incredible on its own while enhancing the overall gameplay experience. The industrial riffs are the perfect tone-setter for the action, and it’s impossible to go back to the original game without them. Phenomenal stuff all around.

Finally, there’s the id Vault, teeming with concept art and assets for the entire game. You can view enemies, pickups, weapons, development material, sketches, design docs and unused assets. Even the E3 1997 and ECTS 97 demos are included to play through. Though it’s not an in-depth journey or history into the game’s development, it’s still a treasure trove for long-time fans.

Content-wise, everything is pretty much as you know it already. Despite how much it deviated thematically from the first game, Quake 2 is still a classic with an incredibly fun campaign. Criticized for its limited color palette, it all comes together nicely as you fight through the imposing Strogg homeworld alone and outnumbered.

This was my first time playing Quake 2 64, and its visuals and how it tweaks the original’s campaign make for a unique experience. It might be worth checking out if you’re looking for something even faster-paced than the original game.

"It’s a love letter to fans that includes all past content while accommodating new players with functions like the compass and accessibility features."

Opinions are divided on the mission packs, but they’re decent – not quite as snappy as the main campaign, yet offering some fresh enemies and scenarios. Call of the Machine is interesting since it allows choosing your destination from a hub-like area. Each level is aesthetically distinct, with some interesting enemies to face. It’s not a massive game-changer, but the more adventurous pace meshed well with the hard-hitting action, even if it can sometimes get repetitive.

Quake 2’s remaster isn’t just an incredible visual improvement to a classic game. It’s a love letter to fans that includes all past content while accommodating new players with functions like the compass and accessibility features. It offers a behind-the-scenes look at several assets while addressing one of the biggest omissions – the soundtrack, which is still incredible, even after all these decades.

While the mission packs aren’t on the same level as the base game, the overall package is appealing to fans of old-school shooters. As the best way to experience one of id Software’s most iconic games (especially given its price), it’s also a strong benchmark for remasters in general.

This game was reviewed on PC.