New features, new content and updated visuals at a great price.
Like every id Software release before it, Quake 2 made history.
These include major improvements to the light map system, liquid rendering, animation, and more.
The PC version allows you to customise the CRT simulation, including an additional shadow mask setting.
While differences do exist per platform then, the game is in great shape regardless.
It’s simply the case that newer machines allow higher fidelity and performance, as you’d expect.
Bethesda posteda comprehensive blog covering these changes, so let’s discuss some of these improvements.
The first major enhancement stems from the way lighting is handled.
Liquid materials, such as water or lava, are also properly lit now.
Animated water has also been improved.
Then there are the dynamic lights.
These real-time projected shadows help to further ground dynamic objects in the game world.
This is further enhanced by the addition of light volumes, which were introduced inQuake 3 Arena.
This is basically a 3D grid which samples light maps during the compilation process.
By referencing this light grid, dynamic objects can now be appropriately lit and coloured.
Two additional atmosphere-enhancing features are glow maps and height fog.
Glow maps are basically a texture mask which defines whether a surface should glow or not.
According to Sam, this technique was derived froma method outlined by Inigo Quilez.
It looks excellent and adds a lot of atmosphere to the maps.
Specifically, the game now supports the skeleton-based MD5 model format.
With low vertex precision, models such as weapons and enemies exhibit noticeable warbling when in motion.
It still feels appropriately 1997 and right at home in Quake 2.
It’s not just the dynamic objects that have received a boost either.
Artists have combed through every level and added additional geometric flourishes where appropriate.
For longtime Quake 2 fans, it’s a real treat to discover new areas hidden within the game.
Considering that everything here was basically eyeballed and recreated, I’d say he did a remarkable job.
No matter which version you play then, there’s a lot of love poured into the new presentation.
Furthermore, new features such as split-screen have been added to the mix.
Thanks to the id archives however, these cut behaviours and improved path-finding have been added to the game.
The AI can now navigate more complex rooms, climb stairs, follow you through doors and more.
By traversing multiple rooms and finding novel ways to get to you, it really mixes things up.
It’s just packed with intricate geometry and towering structures.
The level designs are also extremely nuanced and enjoyable to explore.
What’s especially wild is the number of enemies thrown at the player.
This mission pack is so good that it could easily have been sold as a standalone game.
Seriously, this is a masterclass in Quake 2 level design.
Of course, the addition of Nintendo 64 version of Quake 2 is also welcome.
There are also some actual bugs, including keyboard and mouse support on consoles.
At the very least, it’s an important piece of gaming history that should be experienced by all.
