A port of Quake II
This version of Quake II differs from the other releases by replacing most of the levels with new ones. Some of the levels have familiar themes or even re-create the original ones closely; however, new stages are dominant, tending to be significantly shorter than those of the PC version. This release also features additional graphical effects, such as lighting during gunfire. Multiplayer for up to four participants is included.
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Played the remastered version on Steam Deck, so I'm sure the N64 version has awful controls, as is tradition for console FPS at the time.
The short, concise mission structure makes this much more streamlined than the PC version, though it was overall very, very short (about 1.5-2 hours I reckon). Solid game, not great.
The short, concise mission structure makes this much more streamlined than the PC version, though it was overall very, very short (about 1.5-2 hours I reckon). Solid game, not great.
Suffers from a less engaging OST much like Doom 64. Solid shooting action with some enjoyably nasty encounters regardless. I never got past level 5 on 64 before the ND remaster. It was nice to finally revisit the dimly recalled first chapter of the game after all these years.
Enjoyable experience with an ACTUAL final level. Really like the little level transitions and the mission thing is cool too. Adds some immersion. Weapons are solid, and I like the visuals a lot.
Played this in the Quake 2 remaster. Honestly just a really fun and breezy time, well worth playing if you want a little more Quake 2.
DOOMATHON entry #12/20
List: https://www.backloggd.com/u/Mariofan717/list/doom--quake-campaigns-ranked/
An interestingly oddity that's thankfully been preserved for a modern audience in Nightdive's remaster, even having the honor of being listed among Quake 2's other campaigns despite being a markedly different experience. This port sits somewhere between Doom 64 and my understanding of the PS1 port of Doom; all of the content here is exclusive to this version, but it's also a conversion at its core rather than an outright new game.
Due to hardware limitations, this campaign consists entirely of brief, disconnected levels that are much more linear than anything that's come before in this marathon and sometimes even feature distinctive gimmicks seen nowhere else in Quake 2, such as icy surfaces. The bite-sized nature of these levels prevents most of them from being as memorable as the mazes of Quake 2's predecessors despite keeping the pace brisk for the entirety of its mere two-hour duration.
The heavy use of colored lighting along with the N64's characteristic texture filtering give this port a much appreciated distinctly vibrant look, while Aubrey Hodges's dark ambient soundtrack frankly feels misplaced here. A new soundtrack certainly wasn't a bad call given that I so heavily associate Sonic Mayhem's rip-roaring metal tunes with the overwhelming brown industrial aesthetic of the original game; this version, however, simply doesn't have a strong enough identity to warrant such a radically different soundscape. Doom 64's aesthetic works because every aspect of the game works in tandem to instill a sense of dread, while Quake 2 64 is still ostensibly more Quake 2. Given the length, there's really no reason at all to pass this up as opposed to the overlong mission packs, even if I don't think it's as cohesive as it could have been.
Cross-posted on Twitter: https://twitter.com/mariofan717/status/1755533823021101231
List: https://www.backloggd.com/u/Mariofan717/list/doom--quake-campaigns-ranked/
An interestingly oddity that's thankfully been preserved for a modern audience in Nightdive's remaster, even having the honor of being listed among Quake 2's other campaigns despite being a markedly different experience. This port sits somewhere between Doom 64 and my understanding of the PS1 port of Doom; all of the content here is exclusive to this version, but it's also a conversion at its core rather than an outright new game.
Due to hardware limitations, this campaign consists entirely of brief, disconnected levels that are much more linear than anything that's come before in this marathon and sometimes even feature distinctive gimmicks seen nowhere else in Quake 2, such as icy surfaces. The bite-sized nature of these levels prevents most of them from being as memorable as the mazes of Quake 2's predecessors despite keeping the pace brisk for the entirety of its mere two-hour duration.
The heavy use of colored lighting along with the N64's characteristic texture filtering give this port a much appreciated distinctly vibrant look, while Aubrey Hodges's dark ambient soundtrack frankly feels misplaced here. A new soundtrack certainly wasn't a bad call given that I so heavily associate Sonic Mayhem's rip-roaring metal tunes with the overwhelming brown industrial aesthetic of the original game; this version, however, simply doesn't have a strong enough identity to warrant such a radically different soundscape. Doom 64's aesthetic works because every aspect of the game works in tandem to instill a sense of dread, while Quake 2 64 is still ostensibly more Quake 2. Given the length, there's really no reason at all to pass this up as opposed to the overlong mission packs, even if I don't think it's as cohesive as it could have been.
Cross-posted on Twitter: https://twitter.com/mariofan717/status/1755533823021101231
Very Quirky version of Quake 2, basically being its own game or, I guess a side-story to the main game?
Level design is more similar to Doom or other N64 shooters, small closed off levels with limited objectives as opposed to the main Quake 2's sprawling levels.
It's honestly pretty fun for what it is, especially now that you can play through it the Quake 2 Remaster! I don't see why you shouldn't give it a quake romp.
Level design is more similar to Doom or other N64 shooters, small closed off levels with limited objectives as opposed to the main Quake 2's sprawling levels.
It's honestly pretty fun for what it is, especially now that you can play through it the Quake 2 Remaster! I don't see why you shouldn't give it a quake romp.