Quake II is a 1997 first-person shooter game created by id Software and published by Activision. It is the second game in the Quake series, following the original Quake.
Developed over one year, Quake II was released on December 9, 1997. Unlike the first game, which mixed science fiction and fantasy, Quake II focuses on a war between humans and an alien race called the Strogg. The Strogg are part human and part machine, and their home planet, Stroggos, is the target of a human invasion. The player controls a space marine named Bitterman, who crash-lands on Stroggos. As the last survivor of his team, Bitterman must complete missions to weaken the Strogg and stop their plan to conquer Earth. The game’s story continues in later expansions, including one that connects Quake II with the first game and Quake 4. The game’s soundtrack was composed by Sascha Dikiciyan.
Quake II includes both a single-player mode and a multiplayer system that uses a client/server network, similar to the original Quake. Unlike the first game, which required later updates for hardware acceleration, Quake II had OpenGL support from the start. It was also the first id Software game not to be released for MS-DOS, instead running on Windows 95. Later versions of the game were made for other systems. The source code for Quake II was released by id Software under the GPL license on December 21, 2001.
Quake II was widely praised when it was released and is often considered one of the best video games ever made. In 2023, Nightdive Studios released an updated version of Quake II for Nintendo Switch, PlayStation 4, PlayStation 5, Microsoft Windows, Xbox One, and Xbox Series X/S. This version includes the original game, its two expansion packs, levels from the Nintendo 64 version, and a new episode created by MachineGames.
Gameplay
Quake II is a first-person shooter game where the player controls the main character and shoots enemies from their viewpoint. The way you move and control the character is similar to the original Quake game, but the character moves more slowly and can now crouch. The game keeps four weapons from Quake (the Shotgun, Super Shotgun, Grenade Launcher, and Rocket Launcher), but they look different and work slightly differently. The other four weapons from Quake (the Axe, Nailgun, Super Nailgun, and Thunderbolt) are not in Quake II. Six new weapons are added: the Blaster, Machine Gun, Chain Gun, Hyperblaster, Railgun, and BFG 10K. The Quad Damage power-up from Quake is also in Quake II, and new power-ups include Ammo Pack, Invulnerability, Bandolier, Enviro-Suit, Rebreather, and Silencer.
In the single-player game, changes include mission-based objectives tied to the story, such as stealing a Tank Commander’s head to open a door or calling an air-strike on a bunker. CGI cutscenes show the player’s progress, but they repeat the same short video of the character moving through levels. New characters called captured comrades appear, but they cannot be interacted with because they are driven insane by their captors. Levels are larger with more open areas, and a hub system lets players move between levels to complete tasks. Some textures and symbols are similar to Quake, and enemies show visible wounds after taking damage.
The multiplayer mode is similar to Quake, with options like free-for-all deathmatch, cooperative play, 1 vs 1 matches for tournaments, and Capture the Flag (CTF). Eight new levels designed for deathmatch were added after the game’s release through free patches. Before these levels, players could only use single-player maps for multiplayer, which were not specifically made for deathmatch.
Players can customize their appearance in multiplayer. In Quake, only uniform colors could be changed, but in Quake II, players can choose from three models: a male marine, a female marine, or a male cyborg. Each model has different speech effects, like breathing hard when jumping or groaning when hurt. Skins, which change the model’s look (such as skin color, camouflage, or facepaint), can be selected in the game menu.
Quake II is set in a science fiction world during a war between humans and the Strogg, an alien race that turns captured creatures into cyborgs. In the single-player story, the player controls a Marine named Bitterman during "Operation Alien Overlord," a mission to end the war by attacking the alien planet Stroggos. Most soldiers are captured or killed near the landing zone, but Bitterman survives after a collision during launch. He fights through the industrial Strogg city, destroys key targets, and defeats the Strogg leader, Makron, in an orbital base.
Development
Quake II was originally planned as a new game and a new set of ideas. Early names like "Strogg," "Lock and Load," and "Load" were considered during the early stages of development. However, after many failed attempts, the team at id Software decided to keep the name Quake II and changed the theme from a dark, mysterious horror style to a science fiction setting.
In the 2023 documentary FPS: First Person Shooter, designer Tim Willits shared that Quake II was almost named "Wor" at first. However, legal issues led the team to use the Quake name again, even though the game had no story connection to the original Quake. Willits also mentioned that the game's idea was inspired by the 1961 movie The Guns of Navarone, which showed a mission to destroy a strong fortress with a powerful weapon.
Quake II was developed by a team of 13 people. Activision received the rights to sell the game worldwide in May 1997. Adrian Carmack, an artist and co-owner of id Software, said Quake II was his favorite game in the series because it was unique and well-organized. This was the last id Software game to include American McGee, who left the company shortly after the game was released.
Unlike the original Quake, which needed later updates to support advanced graphics hardware, Quake II included OpenGL support when it was first released. Later updates added support for AMD's 3DNow! technology to improve performance on certain computers. Rendition also created a special version for their V1000 graphics chip. The latest version of the game is 3.21, which includes bug fixes and new levels for multiplayer games. This version is available as source code on id Software's website but does not add new features compared to version 3.20.
Quake II uses an improved client–server model first introduced in Quake. The game's code, which controls weapons, game rules, and other features, can be changed because id Software released the source code for the game. The operating system's shared library feature allows the game to load its code during runtime, enabling mod creators to change gameplay, add new weapons, and more. The full source code for version 3.19 was released under the GNU GPL-2.0-or-later license on December 22, 2001. A version compatible with LCC was released in 2002 by a modder named Major Bitch.
The Quake II engine was used in many other games, including CodeRED: Alien Arena, War§ow, SiN, Anachronox, Heretic II, Daikatana, Soldier of Fortune, Kingpin: Life of Crime, and UFO: Alien Invasion. Valve's Half-Life used the Quake II engine during early development, but the final version used a modified version called GoldSrc.
The soundtrack for Quake II was mostly created by Sonic Mayhem, with some tracks by Bill Brown. The main theme was composed by Bill Brown and Rob Zombie, and one track was by Jer Sypult. The Nintendo 64 version's soundtrack was composed by Aubrey Hodges, who was credited as Ken "Razor" Richmond.
After the source code was released, third-party developers made updates to the game engine. Notable projects include Yamagi Quake II, Quake2maX, EGL, Quake II Evolved, and KMQuake II, which added graphical improvements. The source code also revealed security issues that could affect the game's client and server. Since id Software no longer supports Quake II, most third-party engines include fixes for these problems. An unofficial patch called 3.24 is popular among fans because it updates the original code rather than creating a new version. A widely used server modification called R1Q2 is often recommended as a replacement for the 3.20 release.
In July 2003, Vertigo Software released a version of Quake II for the Microsoft .NET platform, called Quake II .NET. It became an example of how .NET and C++ code can work together. In May 2004, Bytonic Software released a Java version called Jake2, which used JOGL. In 2010, Google adapted Jake2 to run on HTML5 in browsers like Safari and Chrome.
In December 2018, Polish programmer Krzysztof Kondrak released Quake II v3.21 with support for Vulkan, a graphics technology. This version, called vkQuake2, is available under the GPLv2 license.
In March 2019, Nvidia announced a new version of Quake II called Quake II RTX, which was released on Steam for Windows and Linux in June 2019. This version requires a Nvidia RTX or AMD Radeon RX 6000 GPU or higher to use advanced ray tracing features, but a software option is available for other hardware. The source code is free, and it includes the original demo levels. It can be used to play the full game if the data files are available. Ray tracing is used for lighting and reflections because Quake II has low hardware requirements.
Release
Quake II was released on December 9, 1997, in the United States and on December 12 in Europe. Even though it shares the name "Quake," it is not a true sequel to the original Quake game. The story, enemies, and themes of Quake II are separate and not connected to the original game. id Software initially wanted to make Quake II a completely different game, but they had to use the name "Quake II" because other names they suggested were already taken. According to Jennell Jaquays, they chose the name to use the popularity of the original Quake game.
Quake II was later released on Steam, but this version does not include the original soundtrack. The game was also included on a bonus disc with the PC version of Quake 4 Special Edition, along with both expansion packs. This version also lacks the soundtrack. A bonus disc with the Xbox 360 version of Quake 4 includes Quake II, but this version has the original soundtrack and multiplayer maps. In 2015, a bundle called Quake II: Quad Damage was released on GOG.com. This version includes the original game and mission packs, a new customizable launcher, and the official soundtrack in OGG format, which can be played in the game. This was the first digital release to include music.
Quake II has been included in several compilations: Quake II: Quad Damage (includes Quake II and all three expansion packs), Quake II: Colossus (a Linux version with Quake II and both mission packs), and Ultimate Quake (a compilation of the original Quake trilogy).
Ports of Quake II were released in 1999 for the Nintendo 64 (developed by Raster Productions) and PlayStation (developed by HammerHead). The core gameplay was similar to the PC version, but changes were made to the game sequence, and split-screen multiplayer replaced network or Internet play. A Macintosh version was released in July 1999 by Logicware. Quake II: Colossus (Quake II with both mission packs) was ported to Linux by id Software and published by Macmillan Digital Publishing in 1999. Be Inc. ported Quake II: Colossus to BeOS to test their OpenGL technology in 1999. They later provided the game files for free download, but a Windows, Macintosh, or Linux install CD was needed to install the game, with add-ons being optional.
The PlayStation version includes shorter versions of some levels from the PC version, redesigned to fit the console’s technical limits. For example, short airlock-like corridors were added to maps to allow for loading pauses. Some enemies were removed, and two new enemies were added: the Arachnid (a human-spider cyborg with twin railgun arms) and the Guardian (a bipedal boss enemy). Saving the game is only possible between levels or at mid-level checkpoints, unlike the PC version, where players could save and load at any time. The PlayStation version supports the PlayStation Mouse peripheral to improve gameplay similarity to the PC version. The music combines the original Quake II soundtrack and tracks from the PC version’s mission packs, with opening and closing cut-scenes from the Ground Zero expansion pack. The PlayStation version uses a custom engine developed by HammerHead, runs at 512×240 resolution with 30 frames per second, and avoids tricks like environmental fog. Colored lights and yellow highlights for gunfire and explosions are carried over from the PC version, with lens flare effects added. A flat purple "sky" is used instead of a skybox. Particles are used to render blood, debris, and rail gun beams, similar to the PC version. Split-screen multiplayer supports two to four players, with four-player games possible using the PlayStation’s Multi-tap. The only player avatar is a modified version of the male avatar from the PC version, with a helmet added. Players can customize the color of their armor and change their name. The twelve multiplayer levels are unique to the PlayStation version.
The Nintendo 64 version has different single-player levels and multiplayer maps, supports up to four players in multiplayer, and features advanced lighting effects, improved animated skybox and water, and uses the Expansion Pak for smoother performance and hi-color depth. This version has a new soundtrack composed by Aubrey Hodges, consisting mostly of dark ambient pieces.
A port of Quake II was included on a bonus disc with the Xbox 360 version of Quake 4. This is a direct port of the original game with some graphical improvements. It supports System Link play for up to sixteen players, split-screen for four players, and cooperative play in single-player for up to sixteen players or four players with split-screen alone.
An "enhanced" version of Quake II, developed by Nightdive Studios, was released on August 10, 2023, during QuakeCon for Nintendo Switch, PlayStation 4, PlayStation 5, Microsoft Windows, Xbox One, and Xbox Series X/S. This version includes the full single-player campaign, all official expansions, and multiplayer maps. It is the first console version to support native widescreen at 1080p and 60 frames per second on eighth-generation platforms. The PlayStation 5, Xbox One X, Xbox Series X/S, and Windows versions support native 4K (3840×2160) resolution and up to 120FPS with compatible displays. The Xbox Series X/S and Windows versions also support 8-player split-screen. This version includes a new single-player expansion called Call of the Machine, designed exclusively for the enhanced version by Bethesda studio MachineGames. This expansion adds 28 new levels and a new Deathmatch map. The Nintendo 64 version of Quake II is also included as a bonus with the enhanced version.
Additional content
Quake II Mission Pack: The Reckoning is the first expansion pack, released on May 27, 1998. It was developed by Xatrix Entertainment. First announced in January 1998, it includes eighteen single-player levels, six deathmatch levels, three weapons (the Ion Ripper, Phalanx Particle Cannon, and Trap), one power-up, two enemies, seven modified versions of existing enemies, and five music tracks. The storyline follows Joker, a member of an elite squad of marines on a mission to infiltrate a Strogg base on one of Stroggos' moons and destroy the Strogg fleet, which is preparing to attack. Joker crash lands in the swamps outside the compound where his squad is waiting. He travels through the swamps, bypasses the compound's outer defenses, and enters through the main gate, finding his squad just in time to watch them get executed by Strogg forces. Next, Joker escapes on his own to the fuel refinery, where he helps the Air Force destroy all fuel production. He then infiltrates the Strogg spaceport, boards a cargo ship, and reaches the Moon Base, destroying it and the Strogg fleet. The section of the game that takes place on the Moon Base has low gravity, a feature previously used in one secret level of the original Quake. The Reckoning received mixed reviews. It holds a score of 69.50% from Gamerankings and a score of 7.4/10 from GameSpot.
Quake II Mission Pack: Ground Zero is the second expansion pack, released on September 11, 1998. It was developed by Rogue Entertainment. It includes fourteen single-player levels, ten multiplayer maps, five additional music tracks, five enemies, seven power-ups, and five weapons. In the expansion's story, the Gravity Well has trapped the Earth Fleet in orbit above the planet Stroggos. One of the marines who managed to land, Stepchild, must now make his way to the Gravity Well to destroy it, free the fleet above, and disable the entire defenses of the planet.
Ground Zero received average to mixed reviews. It holds a score of 65.40% from Gamerankings. Patrick Baggatta of IGN gave the expansion a score of 7.5/10, describing it as similar to the original but noting occasionally confusing map design. Elliott Chin of GameSpot gave the game a score of 7.9/10, citing it as decent for an expansion and praising the monsters and enhanced AI. Johnny B. of Game Revolution rated the expansion D+, noting bad level design and few additions to the original game, and stating that the multiplayer power-up gameplay was the only fun feature. Quake II Netpack I: Extremities includes, among other features, 11 game mods and 12 deathmatch maps. The fourth mission pack, Call of the Machine, was released as part of the enhanced version of Quake II released on August 10, 2023.
Two unofficial expansions were released on CDs in 1998: Zaero, developed by Team Evolve and published by Macmillan Digital Publishing, and Juggernaut: The New Story, developed by Canopy Games and published by HeadGames Publishing.
As with the original Quake, Quake II was designed to allow players to easily create custom content. A large number of mods, maps, graphics such as player models and skins, and sound effects were created and distributed to others free of charge via the Internet. Popular websites such as PlanetQuake and Telefragged allowed players to access custom content. Another improvement over Quake was that it was easier to select custom player models, skins, and sound effects because they could be chosen from an in-game menu.
Mods for the game include Action Quake from 1999. PC Gaming World's Simon Quirk wrote of the game, "The Action Quake team fancied a multiplayer-only total conversion of Quake II where strategy, accuracy, and cool-looking fights would dominate."
Reception
Quake II received very positive reviews on all platforms. Next Generation reviewed the PC version and said, "id should be praised for improving its technology and single-player level design, but mod designers will need to add features to make the multiplayer game stand out from Quake." GamePro stated the game "lives up to its very high expectations." They praised its connected levels, new weapons, enemy designs, soundtrack, and the option to play as a female character in multiplayer mode, which they called "an overdue recognition of QuakeGrrls." They gave it a perfect 5.0 out of 5 in all four categories: graphics, sound, control, and fun. On GameRankings, the PC version had an 87% score, the Nintendo 64 version had 81%, and the PlayStation version had 80%. AllGame editor Michael L. House said, "the strength of Quake II is its multiplayer feature." GameSpot editor Vince Broady called Quake II "the only first-person shooter to make the original Quake completely outdated." Daniel Erickson reviewed the N64 version for Next Generation and said it was "a good first-person shooter with a great multiplayer mode; GoldenEye is no longer the only game in town."
At the Academy of Interactive Arts & Sciences' first Interactive Achievement Awards, Quake II won "PC Action Game of the Year" and was nominated for "Computer Entertainment Title of the Year" and "Interactive Title of the Year." It won Macworld's 1999 "Best Shoot-'Em-Up" award. The magazine's Christopher Breen wrote, "In single-player or multiplayer mode, for fast-paced action, Quake II is a must-have." It also won Computer Gaming World's 1997 "Action Game of the Year" award. The editors said, "for intense, exciting action, Quake II is the best." In 1998, PC Gamer ranked it as the third-best computer game ever, calling it "id's gun-happy masterpiece, the most exciting and refined shooter ever, and one of the best games of any type." In 1999, Next Generation listed Quake II as number 5 on their "Top 50 Games of All Time," saying, "Quake 2 is the standard for multiplayer shooting, and no game has yet replaced it."
Quake II entered PC Data's monthly computer game sales rankings at #2 for December 1997, behind Riven. By the end of 1997, it sold 240,913 copies in the United States alone, making it the 22nd-best-selling computer game that year. In 1998, it ranked fifth on PC Data's charts for January and February, then dropped to #8 in March and #9 in April. It stayed in the top 20 for two more months before leaving in July. By April 1998, it sold over 850,000 copies, and by June, over 900,000. During January–November 1998, it was the 14th-best-selling computer game in the United States. For the full year 1998, it sold 279,536 copies and earned $12.6 million. In January 1999, GameDaily reported U.S. sales had reached 550,000 units, rising to 610,000 by December 1999. Worldwide, Quake II sold over 1 million copies by 2002.