*Reviewed with 2023 Remaster
Quake 2 is a weird game to rate because as it was back in 1997, it was only "okay". Not a bad game, but just kind of boring.
Nightdive's incredible remaster fixes that and them some. There's more content here even compared to the QUAKE 1 remaster they did for 2021, and that was already a great package.
Combat has been completely rebalanced from the ground up to be much more challenging and engaging, via simple visual overhauls and reintegrating cut enemy attacks. New additions as well like a separate weapon wheel for inventory items are genius and just make this port the best one if you ask me, and that's not even going into everything else.
More multiplayer customization options, all of the Q264 content (pre-packed in the game by default as well, not an add-on this time!), mission pack-exclusive multiplayer maps working out of the box, and even some new ones from MG, on top of restored playable cut content via the "id vault" such as E3 test showcase maps.
If Q2 wasn't your cup of tea when you first played it, give it a shot again with this new port. It's absolutely incredible and I honestly find it the better game compared to Q1 in some aspects. This raises the bar not only for Nightdive's remasters (something they have emphasized a lot in interviews for future projects), but remasters in general. If games got as much care and respect in re-releases as this one, the world would be a lot better.
Quake 2 is a weird game to rate because as it was back in 1997, it was only "okay". Not a bad game, but just kind of boring.
Nightdive's incredible remaster fixes that and them some. There's more content here even compared to the QUAKE 1 remaster they did for 2021, and that was already a great package.
Combat has been completely rebalanced from the ground up to be much more challenging and engaging, via simple visual overhauls and reintegrating cut enemy attacks. New additions as well like a separate weapon wheel for inventory items are genius and just make this port the best one if you ask me, and that's not even going into everything else.
More multiplayer customization options, all of the Q264 content (pre-packed in the game by default as well, not an add-on this time!), mission pack-exclusive multiplayer maps working out of the box, and even some new ones from MG, on top of restored playable cut content via the "id vault" such as E3 test showcase maps.
If Q2 wasn't your cup of tea when you first played it, give it a shot again with this new port. It's absolutely incredible and I honestly find it the better game compared to Q1 in some aspects. This raises the bar not only for Nightdive's remasters (something they have emphasized a lot in interviews for future projects), but remasters in general. If games got as much care and respect in re-releases as this one, the world would be a lot better.