This is what
Quake II is all about, and this game has gameplay in spades. There’s the one player game, where you can play an altered version of the original
Quake II missions. An interesting addition to the game is corridors between level sections where the game loads -- somewhat annoying, but it keeps the game playable with the very limited PlayStation texture RAM. Once again, it’s Hammerhead doing the best they can with aging hardware. The single-player game is quite enjoyable, but this is not the reason to get
Quake II.
The reason to get Quake II is very simple... four-player Deathmatch. This is, without a doubt, some of the most fun I’ve had with a couple of friends on the PlayStation... ever. The gameplay in the Deathmatch levels (and there are quite a few, more than the usual six or so) is fast and furious, with players blowing the ever-loving crap out of each other with all the weapons we know and love. Sure, it’s not the full screen blow-em-up you get on a computer with a LAN party, but Quake II for the PSX is so much easier to set up -- throw on a multitap, take out a few more controllers, and you’re set. This game, quite simply, rocks.
There are a few balance issues (for example, Quad respawns WAY too fast for my tastes), but overall, the Deathmatch is a total blast. The ability to adjust the gravity makes for an interesting change of pace, but generally we found it plenty satisfying to keep it at the normal level and just let the creativity of the level designers fuel our games. It helps that the game’s control scheme is tight, once you know what you’re doing with it. Some friends and I have been playing this and Crash Team Racing, and I’ve got to say, Quake II ranks as the best multiplayer experience I’ve ever had on the PlayStation. It’s a great way to piss off your friends, and in general, have a good time. And there’s not just old-school Deathmatch -- you can do Team Deathmatch, which pits two vs. two. Fun stuff.
Put simply, this game rocks.
