While id Software might be more well known for their work on DOOM these days, many still remember the days of playing Quake into the early hours, either taking the fight to the Strogg on their own turf or showing their friends that they rule supreme over LAN matches. Still, id Software haven’t fully forgotten about Quake, as they previously remastered the first game for modern consoles in 2021. Now, they’re back for Quake 2, and if you’ve been loving the recent trend of boomer shooters, this trip down memory lane is just for you.
Pitched as essentially the definitive edition of Quake 2, this remastered package includes a huge range of updates to the gameplay and controls, allowing this classic to function better on consoles. Equipment and weapon wheels, along with time being slowed down while you choose your weapon, allow those who favour controllers over the keyboard and mouse to properly enjoy the game without sacrificing the fast pace that gives Quake its identity.
As for the game itself, Quake 2’s classic gameplay still manages to hold up even after all these years, though Quake 2’s gameplay is definitely benefitting from the recent resurgence of boomer shooters like Warhammer 40K: Boltgun, Ultrakill and DUSK. People clearly yearn for blocky levels filled with powerful enemies, levels brimming with secrets to discover and massive weapons that can turn flesh into the mulch at the simple pull of the trigger, so what better time than now for Quake 2 to make its re-emergence?
The collection itself includes the entire base campaign for Quake 2, which includes dozens of levels by itself, but for those hoping for a lot more content, this version of the game also includes the original mission packs The Reckoning and Ground Zero, which also boasts a huge library of missions and enemies to massacre. If that’s not enough for you, there’s even a brand new campaign titled “Call of the Machine,” which is a whole new set of levels developed by MachineGames, and the levels from Quake 2’s N64 port.
On top of all that, there’s campaign co-op, multiplayer and crossplay, along with a whole collection of behind the scenes content, concept art and background anecdotes that help make the total package feel like a definitive remaster. In truth, Quake 2’s remaster puts a lot of other HD re-release efforts to shame, as id Software and Bethesda seem to be approaching this release as a celebration and preservation of everything Quake 2 related. Compared to other re-releases that slap a new lighting change into the mix and call it a day, Quake 2’s feels like it comes from better intentions, especially considering how cheap the game is.
Perhaps the best feature of Quake 2 is the fact that all the content is available from the get-go, with players able to pick their favourite level across all five campaigns and jump in immediately. If you’ve got a favourite moment or level from Quake 2, you don’t have to plough through the entire game to relive those memories, nor do you have to play the original levels if your main interest in this re-release is the new campaign from MachineGames.
The only real knock for this game that springs to mind is the fact that despite all the modern trappings and updates, most of Quake 2’s campaign levels still rely on manual saves in order to track progress in the middle of a level, which is very punishing for newcomers who’ve become too accustomed to regular checkpoints. The only exception to this rule are the new Call of the Machine levels, meaning they’re ideally suited for newcomers in a certain sense, as the regular levels will possibly lead to you feeling frustrated by losing 15 minutes of progress because you died to an instant kill laser.
Either way, that’s a very minor knock on what is still an incredible package in both value for money and as a celebration of a retro game’s legacy. Whether you’re a veteran of Quake 2, or a newcomer looking to see what the fuss is about, this is an easy remaster to recommend. Just make sure you learn from my mistakes and quicksave. Often.
A copy of Quake 2 on PS5 was provided by PR for the purposes of this review.Â
READ MORE:Â Boomer Shooters Explained: Games, Mechanics & More
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