Review of Quake 2, PS5 – The Strogg is the only survivor

id Software is more known today for their work with DOOM, but many people still recall the old days when they played Quake until the wee hours of the morning, whether it was to take on the Strogg in their home territory or show their friends how dominant they were over LAN games. id Software hasn’t forgotten Quake. They remastered it for consoles modern in 2021. Quake 2 is now available, and for those who love the boomer-era shooters of recent years, you will enjoy this nostalgic trip.

This remastered version of Quake 2 is billed as the definitive edition. It includes many updates in terms of gameplay and control, which allows this console classic to work better. The addition of weapon and equipment wheels and the slowing down of time while choosing your weapon allows those who prefer controllers to keyboards and mice, the ability to enjoy Quake without losing its fast-paced nature.

Quake’s original gameplay has held up well over the years. However, the boomer-style shooters such as Warhammer 40K, Ultrakill, and DUSK have helped to revive the classic game’s popularity. Quake 2 is a game that people crave. They want blocky levels with strong enemies and levels full of secrets.

The game includes all the levels from the base Quake 2 campaign. For those who want more, the collection also contains the mission packs The Reckoning, and Ground Zero. These two missions pack also have a large library of enemies and tasks to kill. There’s also a new campaign called “Call of the Machine” which includes a new set of MachineGames levels and the N64 ports of Quake 2.

The remaster of Quake 2 is a slick and polished homage to the original game. It includes campaign co-op and multiplayer, as well as crossplay and a collection of concept art, background stories, and behind the scene content. Quake’s remaster is a far cry from other HD rereleases, with id Software, Bethesda, and others treating this as a way to celebrate and preserve everything Quake 2. Quake 2, unlike other rereleases, which simply add a few new lights and then call it quits, feels more like a well-intentioned effort, particularly considering the low price of the game.

The best thing about Quake 2, is that you can jump right in and play your favourite levels from all five campaigns. You don’t need to replay the whole game if you want to revisit a favorite level or moment from Quake 2. Likewise, you do not have to go through all the levels to experience the same memories.

This game’s only flaw is that, despite the many modern updates and trappings, the majority of Quake’s campaign levels rely heavily on manual saving to keep track of progress. For newcomers, this can be a real pain, as they’ve grown accustomed to checkpoints. Call of the Machine is the only level that does not follow this rule. This makes them ideal for beginners, since regular levels can lead you to feel frustrated if you lose 15 minutes of progression because of an instant-kill laser.

This is a minor criticism of what remains a fantastic package, both in terms of value and celebrations for a classic retro game. This remaster is a must-have for any Quake 2 fan, or even a novice who wants to know what all the hype is about. You can learn from my mistake and use quicksave. Often.

PR provided a copy of Quake 2, on PS5, for this review.