Digital Foundry specialists have released a review of the Quake II remaster, statedthat this game is a true example of how classic games should be remastered.
The creation of Nightdive Studios, id Software and Machine Games can please players with a wide range of improvements, new content and various additional features – all for a very modest price. The remasters included absolutely all the content that has ever been released for the game: the original version, the N64 version, as well as level packs and a completely new episode created by Machine Games.
Quake 2 Remaster gives you the ability to fine-tune the visual component: for example, you can turn on the CRT filter, turn on monochrome light, or turn off texture filtering. Console versions of the game at the same time work with the following indicators:
PS4, Xbox One, Switch: 1080p, 60 FPS;
PS4 Pro, Xbox One X; 4K, 60 FPS;
PS5, Xbox Series X: 4K, 120 FPS;
Xbox Series S: 1080p — 4K, 60 — 120 FPS;
The game runs at dynamic resolution (Switch version, for example, can “drop” to 540p), but it almost always produces the highest possible resolution and frame rate. Quake 2 looks better than ever, thanks to improved lighting, updated shading, better fluid materials and water animations, and dynamic lighting. The remaster also introduced muzzle flash textures when firing weapons, which was not the case before.
Of the innovations, it is worth noting the id Software archives discovered by the developers, where there was data on previously unfinished (and therefore unreleased) zones – they were completed and included in the remaster. Thanks to this, for example, a new location appeared at the very first level of the game. But there is no ray tracing in this version of the game – despite the existence of Quake 2 RTX, they decided not to include ray tracing in the remaster so as not to violate the “original artistic vision” of the game.
Quake 2 2023 not only changes the visuals – the behavior of enemies, animations and even sound have been changed for the better. In addition, new features have been added, such as split-screen multiplayer. Players can play with up to eight people at the same time (on the PlayStation – no more than four players).
To sum up, Digital Foundry was quite pleased with the remaster – as well as all the improvements, as well as new content. The game, according to them, is definitely worth buying for all fans of the shooter, as well as those who are interested in the classics.