Editing Hexen II

{{Short description|1997 video game}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=April 2025}}
{{Infobox video game
| title = Hexen II
| image = hexenIIbox.jpg
| developer = [[Raven Software]]
| publisher = [[id Software]]
| director = Brian Raffel
| producer = Steve Stringer
| designer = Eric C. Biessman
| programmer = Rick Johnson <br> Ben Gokey
| artist = Brian Pelletier
| composer = Kevin Schilder
| engine = Modified [[Quake engine|''Quake'' engine]]
| platforms = [[Microsoft Windows|Windows]], [[Classic Mac OS|Mac OS]]
| released = '''Microsoft Windows'''<br />{{vgrelease|NA|September 11, 1997<ref>{{cite magazine|url=http://www.pcgamer.com/news/news090897.html|title=Releases and Mastering|author=Staff|date=September 11, 1997|magazine=[[PC Gamer]]|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/19971012044841/http://www.pcgamer.com/news/news090897.html|archive-date=October 12, 1997|url-status=dead|access-date=December 5, 2019}}<br>"...Hexen II is out..."</ref>|EU|September 19, 1997<ref>{{Cite news |date=September 19, 1997 |title=PC World - Latest Games Now Available |pages=14 |work=[[Daily Record (Scotland)|Daily Record]] |url=https://www.newspapers.com/image/833965875/?terms=%22hexen%20ii%22&match=1 |access-date=December 11, 2023 |quote=''Hexen II'' - Out Today}}</ref>}}''Portal of Praevus''<br />{{vgrelease|NA|March 20, 1998|EU|1998}}'''Macintosh'''<br />{{vgrelease|NA|July 2002<ref>{{Cite web |title=MacPlay announces Value Series lineup |url=https://www.macworld.com/article/154664/macplay-8.html |access-date=2023-12-11 |website=Macworld |language=en |archive-date=2023-12-11 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231211172728/https://www.macworld.com/article/154664/macplay-8.html |url-status=live }}</ref>}}
| genre = [[First-person shooter]]
| modes = [[Single-player video game|Single-player]], [[Multiplayer video game|multiplayer]]
}}

'''''Hexen II''''' is a [[dark fantasy]] [[first-person shooter]] (FPS) video game developed by [[Raven Software]] and published by [[id Software]] in 1997. It is the third game in the ''[[Hexen: Beyond Heretic|Hexen]]''/''[[Heretic (video game)|Heretic]]'' series, and the last in the ''Serpent Riders'' trilogy. Using a modified [[Quake engine|''Quake'' engine]], it features single-player and multiplayer game modes, as well as four [[character class]]es to choose from, each with different abilities. These include the "offensive" [[Paladin (character class)|Paladin]], the "defensive" Crusader, the spell-casting Necromancer, and the stealthy Assassin.

Improvements from ''[[Hexen: Beyond Heretic]]'' and ''[[Quake (video game)|Quake]]'' include [[destructible environment]]s, mounted weapons, and unique [[Level up (video gaming)|level up]] abilities. Like its predecessor, ''Hexen II'' also uses a hub system. These hubs are a number of interconnected [[level (video games)|level]]s; changes made in one level have effects in another. Furthermore, the Tome of Power artifact makes a return from ''[[Heretic (video game)|Heretic]]''.

==Gameplay==
The [[Game mechanic|gameplay]] of ''Hexen II'' is very similar to that of the original ''Hexen''. Instead of three classes, ''Hexen II'' features four: Paladin, Crusader, Assassin, and Necromancer, each with their own unique weapons and play style.<ref name=EGM94>{{cite magazine |title=Protos: Hexen II|magazine=[[Electronic Gaming Monthly]]|issue=94|publisher=[[Ziff Davis]]|date=May 1997|page=40}}</ref>

''Hexen II'' also adds certain [[role-playing video game]] elements to the mix. Each character has a series of statistics which increase as they gain [[Experience point|experience]].<ref>{{cite magazine |author=Boba Fatt |title=PC GamePro Preview: Hexen II|magazine=[[GamePro]] |issue=110 |publisher=[[International Data Group|IDG]] |date=November 1997|page=110}}</ref> This then causes the player character to grow in power as his or her [[Hit points|HP]] and [[Mana (gaming)|mana]] increases.

==Plot==
Thyrion is a world that was enslaved by the Serpent Riders. The two previous games in the series documented the liberation of two other worlds, along with the death of their Serpent Rider overlords. Now, the oldest and most powerful of the three Serpent Rider brothers, Eidolon, must be defeated to free Thyrion. Eidolon is supported by his four generals, themselves a reference to the [[Four Horsemen of the Apocalypse]]. To confront each general, the player has to travel to four different [[continent]]s, each possessing a distinct theme ([[Middle Ages|Medieval European]] for Blackmarsh, [[Mesoamerica]]n for Mazaera, [[Ancient Egypt]]ian for Thysis, and [[ancient Greece|Greco-Roman]] for Septimus). Then, finally, the player returns to Blackmarsh in order to confront Eidolon himself inside of his own dominion Cathedral.

==Development==
What was originally supposed to be the final game in a trilogy, the sequel to ''Hexen'' was originally titled ''Hecatomb'' but was abandoned after [[John Romero]] left [[id Software]] in 1996. [[Activision]], the distributor at the time, pressured [[Raven Software]] to split development of Hecatomb into two different games, ''Hexen II'' and ''[[Heretic II]]''. Activision felt that the previous entries in the series, Heretic and Hexen, were different enough from one another that they should treat them as separate entities going forward, instead of just one final game to complete a trilogy. Only a select few ideas of Romero's from ''Hecatomb'' would ultimately make their way into what became ''Hexen II'' and ''Heretic II''.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://rome.ro/news/2016/6/3/so-busy-and-yet-more-birthdays?rq=hecatomb|title=So Busy and Yet More Birthdays|date=24 February 2003|access-date=15 March 2019|archive-date=16 March 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230316081108/https://rome.ro/news/2016/6/3/so-busy-and-yet-more-birthdays?rq=hecatomb|url-status=live}}</ref>

''Hexen II'' was based on an enhanced version of the ''Quake'' engine.<ref name=EGM94/> ''Hexen II'', by way of the ''Quake'' engine, uses [[OpenGL]] for 3D acceleration. However, due to the prevalence of [[3dfx]] hardware at the time of release, the Windows version of the game installs an OpenGL [[installable client driver|ICD]] (opengl32.dll) designed specifically for 3dfx's hardware. This driver acts as a [[Adapter pattern|wrapper]] for the proprietary [[Glide API]], and thus is only compatible with 3dfx hardware. Custom OpenGL drivers were also released by [[PowerVR]] and [[Rendition (company)|Rendition]] for running ''Hexen II'' with their respective (and also now defunct) products. Removal of the ICD allows the game to use the default OpenGL system library. Much of the music in this game is remixed versions of the soundtracks of ''[[Hexen: Beyond Heretic|Hexen]]'' and ''[[Heretic (video game)|Heretic]]'' to match the hub themes.

Activision acquired the rights to publish versions of the game for the [[PlayStation (console)|PlayStation]] and [[Sega Saturn]].<ref name=EGM94/><ref>{{cite magazine |title=Hexen 2 Announced for Saturn!|magazine=[[Sega Saturn Magazine]]|issue=19|publisher=[[Emap International Limited]]|date=May 1997|page=8}}</ref><ref>{{cite magazine|title=Hexen 2 Saturn bound? |url=https://archive.org/details/Saturn_Power_Issue_01_1997-06_Future_Publishing_GB/page/n9 |magazine=[[Saturn Power]] |issue=1 |publisher=[[Future plc|Future Publishing]] |date=June 1997 |page=11}}</ref> Neither port was released.

''Hexen II'' was made available on [[Steam (service)|Steam]] on August 3, 2007.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://store.steampowered.com/news/1141/ |title=Legendary id Software games now on Steam |author=John Keefer |publisher=GameSpy |access-date=5 September 2011 |archive-date=1 December 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191201003224/https://store.steampowered.com/news/1141 |url-status=live }}</ref>

===''Siege''===
A [[Game mod|modification]] titled ''Siege'' was created and released by Raven Software in 1998 using updated [[QuakeWorld]] architecture, aptly dubbed "HexenWorld". The production concept was to eliminate a normal deathmatch environment in favor of a teamplay castle siege. The basic premise was to divide the players into two teams—attackers and defenders—with each side either assaulting or protecting the castle respectively. At the end of the time limit, whichever team controlled the crown was declared victorious. The mod featured appropriate objects used in the single-player portion of the game, namely catapults and ballistae. The classes were drastically altered with new weapons and abilities, reflecting the departure from the normal deathmatch experience presented in ''HexenWorld''.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.planetheretic.com/siege/siege.html|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090202013157/http://www.planetheretic.com/siege/siege.html |archive-date=2009-02-02|title=Siege Information Overview|access-date=5 September 2011}}</ref>

===Source release===
Following the tradition from ''Heretic'' and ''Hexen'', Raven released the [[source code]] of the ''Hexen II'' engine on November 10, 2000. This time the source was released under the [[GNU General Public License|GNU GPL-2.0-only]], allowing [[source port]]s to be made to different platforms like [[Linux]] and the [[Dreamcast]].<ref>{{cite web |url=http://archive.gamespy.com/news/november00/hexen2/|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20091221020510/http://archive.gamespy.com/news/november00/hexen2/ |archive-date=2009-12-21 |url-status=dead|title=Hexen 2 source released|publisher=GameSpy|access-date=5 September 2011}}</ref>

==''Portal of Praevus''==
An [[expansion pack]] called ''Hexen II Mission Pack: Portal of Praevus'' was released on April 1, 1998.<ref>{{cite web |date=April 1, 1998 |title=News for April 1, 1998 |url=http://ogr.com/news/news0498.html |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20001204080100/http://www.ogr.com/news/news0498.html |archive-date=December 4, 2000 |access-date=December 6, 2019 |website=Online Gaming Review}}<br />"April 1, 1998: "Several new games will be hitting stores today: ...Hexen 2 Mission Pack from Activision..."</ref> It features new levels, new enemies and a new playable character class, The Demoness. It focuses on the attempted resurrection of the three Serpent Riders by the evil wizard Praevus, and takes place in a fifth continent, Tulku, featuring a [[China|Sino]]-[[Tibet]]an setting. Unlike the original game, the expansion was not published by id Software, and as such is not currently available via digital re-releases.

The expansion features new quest items, new enemies, and new weapons for the Demoness. She is the only player class to have a ranged starting weapon (similar to the Mage class in the original ''Hexen''), whereas all other characters start with melee weapons. It also introduced minor enhancements to the game engine, mostly related to user interface, level scripts, particle effects (rain or snow), and 3D objects. ''Portal of Praevus'' also features a secret (easter egg) skill level, with respawning monsters. The only released patch for the expansion added respawning of certain items (such as health and ammo) in Nightmare mode, so that it would be slightly easier for playing.

==Reception==
{{Video game reviews
| GR = 84%<ref>{{cite web |title=Hexen II for PC |url=http://www.gamerankings.com/pc/39790-hexen-ii/index.html |website=[[GameRankings]] |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191209001357/http://www.gamerankings.com/pc/39790-hexen-ii/index.html |archive-date=December 9, 2019}}</ref> <br> 65% (''Portal of Praevus'')<ref>{{cite web |title=Hexen II Mission Pack: Portal of Praevus |url=http://www.gamerankings.com/pc/89273-hexen-ii-mission-pack-portal-of-praevus/index.html |website=[[GameRankings]] |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191209001628/http://www.gamerankings.com/pc/89273-hexen-ii-mission-pack-portal-of-praevus/index.html |archive-date=December 9, 2019}}</ref>
| Edge = 8/10<ref name=Edgerev/>
| GSpot = 7.3/10<ref name=GSrev>{{cite web |url=https://www.gamespot.com/reviews/hexen-ii-review/1900-2537637/ |access-date=2017-09-02 |title=Hexen II Review |first=Ron |last=Dulin |date=1997-09-22 |website=[[GameSpot]] |archive-date=2020-10-17 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201017064300/https://www.gamespot.com/reviews/hexen-ii-review/1900-2537637/ |url-status=live }}</ref> <br> 8.6/10 (''Portal of Praevus'')<ref>[http://asia.gamespot.com/hexen-ii-mission-pack-portal-of-praevus/ Hexen II Mission Pack: Portal of Praevus – GameSpot<!-- Bot generated title -->] {{webarchive|url=https://archive.today/20130629190809/http://asia.gamespot.com/hexen-ii-mission-pack-portal-of-praevus/ |date=2013-06-29 }}</ref>
}}

Upon its release, ''Hexen II'' received generally positive reviews. ''[[Edge (magazine)|Edge]]'' praised the game for being different from other [[Quake engine|''Quake'' engine]]-based games, highlighting its inventive and interactive levels, enemy variety, and [[Artificial intelligence (video games)|artificial intelligence]]. The magazine also credited the game's diversity of weapons and spells for offering different combat strategies.<ref name=Edgerev>{{cite magazine |title=Hexen II |magazine=[[Edge (magazine)|Edge]] |publisher=[[Future Publishing]] |issue=51 |pages=90–91 |date=November 1997}}</ref> ''[[GameSpot]]'' summarized, "''Hexen II'' is a game with many strengths – its design is superior to the original ''Hexen'', it has a significant payoff for single players winding through its twisted corridors, and visually it is without equal in the action genre. But the game's attempt to break from the standard first-person shooter mold has some nasty side effects, and the end result is a confusing and often frustratingly difficult experience." The reviewer elaborated that while the lush, detailed environments and astoundingly animated bosses make ''Hexen II'' "one of the most beautiful games ever made", the actions needed to progress are so obscure that they are comparable to what is required to find optional secret areas in most games, forcing the player to undertake frustrating, exhaustive searches of the game's environments.<ref name=GSrev/> ''[[GamePro]]'' praised the high speed of the multiplayer sessions, the selection of character classes, and the high detail present when graphical acceleration is used. They concluded, "For replay value and sheer fun, ''Hexen II'' is going to be hard to beat; you could spend days playing through all four characters in single-player mode without even entering multiplayer battles."<ref>{{cite magazine |author=Don St. John |title=PC GamePro Review (Win 95): Hexen II|magazine=[[GamePro]] |issue=111 |publisher=[[International Data Group|IDG]]|date=December 1997|page=112}}</ref>

According to Erik Bethke, ''Hexen II'' was commercially unsuccessful, with sales slightly above 30,000 units.<ref name=bethkesales>{{cite book | author=Bethke, Erik | title=Game Development and Production | page=16 | date=January 25, 2003 | publisher=Wordware Publishing | isbn=1556229518 }}</ref>

{{Clear}}

==Reviews==
*''[[:fr:Backstab|Backstab]]'' #6<ref>{{cite web | url=https://archive.org/details/backstab-magazine-french-06/page/n39/mode/2up | title=Backstab Magazine (French) Issue 06 }}</ref>

==References==
{{Reflist}}

==External links==
*[https://web.archive.org/web/20120324053828/http://ravensoft.com/games/hexen-2/view-game/ Official ''Hexen II'' website at Raven Software] (archived)
*[https://web.archive.org/web/20061116165231/http://www.idsoftware.com/games/vintage/hexen2/ Official website from id Software] (archived)
*{{moby game|id=/hexen-ii}}

{{Raven Software}}
{{Id Software}}
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{{DEFAULTSORT:Hexen Ii}}
[[Category:1997 video games]]
[[Category:Activision games]]
[[Category:AmigaOS 4 games]]
[[Category:Cancelled PlayStation (console) games]]
[[Category:Cancelled Sega Saturn games]]
[[Category:Classic Mac OS games]]
[[Category:Commercial video games with freely available source code]]
[[Category:Cooperative video games]]
[[Category:Dark fantasy video games]]
[[Category:First-person shooters]]
[[Category:Heretic and Hexen]]
[[Category:Id Software games]]
[[Category:Multiplayer and single-player video games]]
[[Category:Quake engine games]]
[[Category:Raven Software games]]
[[Category:Video game sequels]]
[[Category:Video games about magic]]
[[Category:Video games featuring female protagonists]]
[[Category:Windows games]]
[[Category:Video games developed in the United States]]