Editing Quake II (section)

==Release==
''Quake II'' released on December 9, 1997, in the United States and on December 12 in Europe.<ref name="BluesNovEURelease" /> Despite the title, ''Quake II'' is a sequel to the original ''Quake'' in name only. The scenario, enemies, and theme are separate and do not fall into the same continuity as ''Quake''. id initially wanted to set it separately from ''Quake'', but for legal reasons (most of their suggested names were already taken), they decided to use the working title.<ref>{{cite web|author-last1=Lawrence|author-first1=Nathan|website=IGN|url=https://www.ign.com/articles/2016/01/02/doom-vs-quake-which-has-the-greater-legacy|title=Doom vs. Quake: Which Has the Greater Legacy?}}</ref>''Quake II'' was adopted as a name to leverage the popularity of ''Quake'' according to [[Jennell Jaquays]].<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.planetquake.com/q2faq/#IV.1 |title=The Unofficial Quake II FAQ |date=October 10, 1998 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090412121802/http://q2faq.planetquake.gamespy.com/#IV.1 |archive-date=April 12, 2009 |url-status=dead |access-date=November 15, 2017}}</ref> ''Quake II'' has been released on [[Steam (service)|Steam]], but this version does not include the soundtrack. The game was released on a bonus disc included with ''Quake 4'' Special Edition for the PC, along with both expansion packs. This version lacks the soundtrack. ''Quake II'' is available on a bonus disc with the Xbox 360 version of ''Quake 4''. This version is a direct port featuring the original soundtrack and multiplayer maps.

In 2015, ''Quake II: Quad Damage'', a bundle containing the original game with the mission packs has been released at GOG.com, but unlike the previous releases, this one contains a new customizable launcher and the official soundtrack in OGG format which was made possible to play in-game, making it the only digital release at the time to include music.

The game has been included in the following official compilations:

* ''Quake II: Quad Damage'' – contains ''Quake II'' and all three official expansion packs.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.mobygames.com/game/quake-ii-quad-damage |title=Quake II: Quad Damage |date=1999 |publisher=[[MobyGames]] |access-date=November 15, 2017}}</ref>
* ''Quake II: Colossus'' – a compilation for Linux that contains ''Quake II'' and both mission packs.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.mobygames.com/game/quake-ii-colossus |title=Quake II: Colossus |date=1999 |publisher=MobyGames |access-date=November 15, 2017}}</ref>
* ''Ultimate Quake'' – a compilation including the original ''Quake'' trilogy.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.mobygames.com/game/ultimate-quake |title=Ultimate Quake |date=September 25, 2001 |publisher=MobyGames |access-date=November 15, 2017}}</ref>

===Ports===
[[Porting|Ports]] of ''Quake II'' were released in 1999 on the [[Nintendo 64]] (ported by Raster Productions) and [[PlayStation (console)|PlayStation]] (ported by [[HammerHead (company)|HammerHead]]) video game consoles.<ref>{{Cite web |author=I. G. N. Staff |date=1999-10-16 |title=Quake II |url=https://www.ign.com/articles/1999/10/16/quake-ii-2 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230813151836/https://www.ign.com/articles/1999/10/16/quake-ii-2 |archive-date=August 13, 2023 |access-date=2023-12-16 |website=IGN |language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |author=I. G. N. Staff |date=1999-07-01 |title=Quake II |url=https://www.ign.com/articles/1999/07/01/quake-ii-5 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231216104142/https://www.ign.com/articles/1999/07/01/quake-ii-5 |archive-date=December 16, 2023 |access-date=2023-12-16 |website=IGN |language=en}}</ref> In both cases, the core gameplay was largely identical; however, changes were made to the game sequence and [[Split screen (computer graphics)|split-screen]] multiplayer replaced network or Internet play. A Macintosh port was developed by Logicware and released in July 1999. ''Quake II: Colossus'' (''Quake II'' with both official add-ons) was ported to [[Linux]] by id Software and published by [[Macmillan Publishers|Macmillan Digital Publishing]] in 1999.<ref>{{Cite web |date=1999-06-17 |title=Macmillan Says 'Let the Linux Games Begin!'; Market Leader in Linux Software & Books Offers 'Quake' & 'Civilization' |url=https://www.thefreelibrary.com/Macmillan+Says+'Let+the+Linux+Games+Begin!'%3B+Market+Leader+in+Linux...-a054913355 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160305020245/https://www.thefreelibrary.com/Macmillan+Says+'Let+the+Linux+Games+Begin!'%3B+Market+Leader+in+Linux...-a054913355 |archive-date=2016-03-05 |access-date=2018-03-03 |website=[[Business Wire]]}}</ref> [[Be Inc.]] ported ''Quake II: Colossus'' to [[BeOS]] to test their OpenGL acceleration in 1999, and provided the game files for free download at a later date—a Windows, Macintosh, or Linux install CD was required to install the game, with the add-ons being optional.

[[File:Q2psx.jpg|thumb|left|''Quake II'' on the PlayStation]]

The PlayStation version contains abridged versions of Units 1, 3, 6, 7, 8, and 10 of the PC version, redesigned to meet the console's technical limitations.<ref name="exclusive-interview">{{cite web |url=http://www.ign.com/articles/1998/11/26/exclusive-quake-ii-interview |title=Exclusive Quake II Interview |date=November 25, 1998 |first=Douglass |last=Perry |website=[[IGN]] |access-date=November 15, 2017}}</ref><ref name="real-interview">{{cite web |url=http://www.ign.com/articles/1998/12/31/the-real-quake-ii-interview |title=The Real Quake II Interview |date=December 30, 1998 |first=Douglass |last=Perry |website=IGN |access-date=November 15, 2017}}</ref> For example, many short [[airlock]]-like corridors were added to maps to provide loading pauses inside what were contiguous areas in the PC version. In addition, part of the first mission of the N64 port is used as a prologue. Some enemy types were removed and two new enemies was 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 and at mid-level checkpoints where the game loads, while in the PC version the game could be saved and loaded at any time. The game supports the [[PlayStation Mouse]] peripheral to provide a greater parity with the PC version's gameplay. The music used in this port is a combination of the ''Quake II'' original music score and tracks from the PC version's mission packs, while the opening and closing cut-scenes are taken from the Ground Zero expansion pack.

The PlayStation version uses an engine developed by [[HammerHead (company)|HammerHead]] for their future PlayStation projects<ref name="real-interview" /> and runs at a 512x240 resolution at 30 frames per second.<ref name="exclusive-interview" /> The developer was keen to retain a visual parity with the PC version and avoid tricks such as the use of environmental fog. Colored lights for levels and enemies, and yellow highlights for gunfire and explosions, are carried across from the PC version, with the addition of [[lens flare]] effects located around the light sources on the original lightmaps. There is no [[Skybox (video games)|skybox]]; instead, a flat [[Gouraud shading|Gouraud]]-textured purple "sky" is drawn across the ceiling. The game uses [[particle system|particles]] to render blood, debris, and rail gun beams analogously to the PC version.

There is a split-screen [[Multiplayer video game|multiplayer]] mode for two to four players (a four player game is possible using the PlayStation's Multi-tap). The only available player avatar is a modified version of the male player avatar from the PC version, the most noticeable difference being the addition of a helmet. Players can only customize the color of their avatar's armor and change their name. The twelve multiplayer levels featured are unique to the PlayStation version, with none of the PC multiplayer maps being carried over.

The Nintendo 64 version has different single-player levels and multiplayer maps, and features multiplayer support for up to four players. This version has new lighting effects, mostly seen in gunfire, and uses the [[Nintendo 64 accessories#Expansion Pak|Expansion Pak]] for extra graphical detail. This port features a new soundtrack, consisting mostly of [[dark ambient]] pieces, composed by [[Aubrey Hodges]].<ref>{{Cite web |title=Quake - Nintendo 64: Official Soundtrack, by Aubrey Hodges |url=https://aubreyhodges.bandcamp.com/album/quake-nintendo-64-official-soundtrack |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230605112245/https://aubreyhodges.bandcamp.com/album/quake-nintendo-64-official-soundtrack |archive-date=June 5, 2023 |access-date=2023-12-16 |website=Aubrey Hodges |language=en}}</ref>

A port of ''Quake II'' was included with ''[[Quake 4]]'' for the [[Xbox 360]] on a bonus disc. This is a direct port of the original game, with some graphical improvements.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.eurogamer.net/articles/digitalfoundry-2015-quake-2-on-xbox-360-the-first-console-hd-remaster |title=Quake 2 on Xbox 360: the first console HD remaster |first=John |last=Linneman |website=[[Eurogamer]] |date=February 15, 2015 |access-date=November 15, 2017}}</ref> The port allows for 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.

=== Enhanced version ===
An "enhanced" version of ''Quake II'' developed by [[Nightdive Studios]] was released for [[Nintendo Switch]], [[PlayStation 4]], [[PlayStation 5]], [[Microsoft Windows]], [[Xbox One]], [[Xbox Series X and Series S|Xbox Series X/S]] on August 10, 2023, during [[QuakeCon]]. It collects the full single-player campaign alongside all previously released official expansions and multiplayer maps. It is the first console version of the game to be presented in native widescreen at a resolution of 1080p and 60 frames-per-second performance on the eighth-generation platforms, while the PlayStation 5, Xbox One X, Xbox Series X/S and Windows releases are able to support native 4K (3840x2160) resolution and up to 120FPS with compatible displays. The Xbox Series X/S and Windows releases also support 8-player splitscreen. This version of the game also introduces a new single-player expansion, ''Call of the Machine'', which was designed exclusively for the enhanced version by Bethesda studio [[MachineGames]], comprising 28 additional levels and a new [[Deathmatch (video games)|Deathmatch]] map. The [[Nintendo 64]] version of ''Quake II'' is also bundled with the enhanced version as a bonus.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Skrebels |first=Joe |date=2023-08-10 |title=Quake II Reintroduces the Legendary FPS to Xbox |url=https://news.xbox.com/en-us/2023/08/10/quake-ii-enhanced-xbox/ |access-date=2023-08-10 |website=Xbox Wire |language=en-US}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=Quake II returns! Play the enhanced release TODAY |url=https://bethesda.net/en/article/6ucW3H8R8mYDWrn3ndqgYX/quake-ii-enhanced-release |access-date=2023-08-10 |website=bethesda.net |language=en}}</ref>