"A Great Sequel To One Of Gaming's Classic FPS Franchises"
Quake II had a lot to live up to for me, since the first title was one of the best old-school FPS titles I had ever played. Thankfully the sequel delivers, changing the formula slightly from a hectic run-n-gun romp to a slightly metroidvania style. While the first few levels left me confused with where to go and what to obtain, I grew to love this game and its quirky visuals by the end.
This title is a bit easier than the first entry to the Quake series, but I think the gameplay is still intact. There are more keys and doors to unlock within this title, and the environments tend to blend together still, but I enjoyed that there was more environmental storytelling in this title. The Strogg are a fierce enemy, and torture their victims in horrifyingly cruel ways, so there is a bit more incentive to get revenge for your fallen comrades.
The weapon variety is still there, although the weapons are strange this time around. There is an introduction of spread to most weapons, and this makes hitting long range shots difficult (unless of course you are using the laser cannon). Additionally, the soundtrack is pretty good, with it suiting the gameplay much like the first title (I previously thought there was no soundtrack, but realized it was an audio issue).
As for level design, they felt tighter overall. There were still a few spots that could have been smoothed out a bit better, but there weren't any frustrating sections like in the first game. The game as a whole is more consistent as well, but the added touches with the first title still make it the better of the two for me.
Overall, this game is a great addition to the Quake franchise. While the music and weapon design could have been a bit more unique, the gameplay and level design still holds strong. I would Recommend this game to fans of the series, and any FPS fan who isn't afraid of jumping in to an old-school classic like this!
Final Verdict: 7/10 (Good)
Quake II had a lot to live up to for me, since the first title was one of the best old-school FPS titles I had ever played. Thankfully the sequel delivers, changing the formula slightly from a hectic run-n-gun romp to a slightly metroidvania style. While the first few levels left me confused with where to go and what to obtain, I grew to love this game and its quirky visuals by the end.
This title is a bit easier than the first entry to the Quake series, but I think the gameplay is still intact. There are more keys and doors to unlock within this title, and the environments tend to blend together still, but I enjoyed that there was more environmental storytelling in this title. The Strogg are a fierce enemy, and torture their victims in horrifyingly cruel ways, so there is a bit more incentive to get revenge for your fallen comrades.
The weapon variety is still there, although the weapons are strange this time around. There is an introduction of spread to most weapons, and this makes hitting long range shots difficult (unless of course you are using the laser cannon). Additionally, the soundtrack is pretty good, with it suiting the gameplay much like the first title (I previously thought there was no soundtrack, but realized it was an audio issue).
As for level design, they felt tighter overall. There were still a few spots that could have been smoothed out a bit better, but there weren't any frustrating sections like in the first game. The game as a whole is more consistent as well, but the added touches with the first title still make it the better of the two for me.
Overall, this game is a great addition to the Quake franchise. While the music and weapon design could have been a bit more unique, the gameplay and level design still holds strong. I would Recommend this game to fans of the series, and any FPS fan who isn't afraid of jumping in to an old-school classic like this!
Final Verdict: 7/10 (Good)