I’m not sure how many times I’ve bought Quake 2 over the years. I actually have a few copies of the original disc gathering dust at my parents house in a bookshelf somewhere right next to Redneck Rampage and Duke Nukem 3D: Atomic Edition. …I should really clean out that bookshelf. While I’ve owned it pretty much since release in various forms, before this playthrough I’d probably only put maybe an hour or two into it at most. The short attention span of younger me was a bit of a blessing in disguise, because now I get to go back and play all of these unreal classic shooters. Seriously though, I should have had a proper crack at Quake 2 sooner, it’s actually a banger game with an even more banger soundtrack and I had an absolute blast all the way through. The main campaign was maybe a touch short, but otherwise it’s been a fantastic experience.
Quake 2 was originally released by id Software in 1997 and while it shares the same name and… uh, features the number 2(heh), it’s not a direct sequel to the original Quake in any meaningful way. The original went for that dark gothic horror style, while Quake 2 pushes a full blown sci-fi war with a lone marine taking the fight to the alien homeworld known as Stroggos. The story is still not really the main focus point here, it’s definitely more grounded and cohesive than the original, but it’s still just kinda… there. It unfolds through mission briefings and environmental factors, both of which themselves are pretty brief. Nightdive Studios released an enhanced version in 2023 which pushes the game into the modern era without messing with its already established identity. It really just gives us modern conveniences, touched-up visuals and excellent performance all while keeping the core experience intact. It’s Quake 2 as you remember it, just smoother and more accessible.
It’s no secret that Quake 2 is noticeably faster than the original and you’ll notice that right off the bat. That speed carries through to both combat and the overall flow of each level. The Strogg enemies feel generally fair, but they’re aggressive and seem to push you into making deliberate movements and to prioritise which enemy to target first. Combat never really feels cheap or overwhelming and instead feels consistently enjoyable. There’s a pretty satisfying rhythm to enemy encounters where positioning and awareness matter just as much as raw reflexes. A massive part of the whole experience of Quake 2 is the soundtrack, Sonic Mayhem’s industrial-style metal score absolutely nails the dark sci-fi tone and constant forward momentum. It feels like it’s absolutely driving the game, it hits heavy and purposeful in a way that mirrors the Strogg aesthetic and continues to drive you forward even if you’ve turned everything on the screen into a red pulp. Honestly, when it comes to classic boomer shooter soundtracks I feel Quake 2 is underrated. The music isn’t just background noise, it has this relentless, atmospheric feel to it and ends up doing a hell of a lot of the heavy lifting to make the combat feel as intense as it does.
I’ve heard a lot of criticism about the weapons in Quake 2, specifically their firing and reload speeds. I just can’t help but think this is to make them feel deliberate rather than sluggish. The super shotgun in particular feels chunky and pretty satisfying, it seems to reward good positioning instead of mindless rushing. If anything, complaints about weapon speed may translate more to a play-style mismatch than an actual flaw. Supplies are handled pretty well too, it feels like you’re given just enough ammo, health and armour. Having just enough at any one time works to keep you honest so you can’t just brute force your way through the game. This encourages you to conserve resources and plan ahead, which adds some tension without being overly frustrating. I gotta say, the level design is genuinely excellent throughout the entire game. We’ve got strong layouts that feature light environmental puzzles and plenty of optional secret areas to explore. You rarely feel lost and when you do, the levels are structured in such a way that you can naturally loop back and re-orientate yourself.
While I definitely believe it’s fair to call Quake 2 a boomer shooter, it’s also clearly part of the shift that was happening in late ’90s first-person shooter design. Like Half-Life, it has clear objectives and structured progression rather than pure arena-style levels and I think that change absolutely works in its favour. Quake 2 improves on the original in speed, weapon feel and overall coherence while maintaining solid level design throughout. The shift toward objective-driven gameplay gives the game a clearer sense of purpose, which works hand-in-hand with the speed and momentum the game brings. It’s clearly a big reason it still holds up so well today. It doesn’t abandon the boomer shooter genre, it’s clearly still a boomer shooter at heart but you can really feel the genre evolving and starts dipping its toes in that interesting space between old school shooters and the story-driven first-person shooter games that followed.
Coming back to Quake 2 now feels like revisiting a turning point for the genre rather than just another classic shooter. It definitely delivers on the speed, aggression and simplicity that defines the boomer shooter genre, but it shows glimpses of where first-person shooters were headed by the end of the ’90s. Having specific, defined objectives with excellent level design, deliberate combat pacing and pairing all that with an ALL-TIME soundtrack? It holds up far better than I ever expected going in. The 2023 release by Nightdive Studios only reinforces that sentiment, smoothing out the rough edges without pulling back what makes the game special. I might have owned Quake 2 for decades without ever giving it a proper go, but after I finally gave it the time of day it deserves, it’s easy to see why it remains such a beloved and influential first-person shooter.
Verdict:
Quake 2 remains a confident classic and its still genuinely fun to play even decades later. Its speed, strong level design and all-time soundtrack combine with an early shift toward objective-driven FPS design allow it to hold up incredibly well. Thanks to Nightdive’s remaster, there’s never been a better time to give it the proper playthrough it deserves.
Deck Compatibility: 10/10
Overall Game Rating: 9/10 – Quake 2 Rules
Dad with a Deck 
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