DESCRIPTION

Coming almost two years after the massively successful PC version, Quake II has finally arrived for the PlayStation console with 19 levels of non-stop carnage! Taking place throughout six different areas located on the alien Strogg planet, players must infiltrate large warehouses, military complexes, and research facilities while disarming security doors, destroying research information, and taking transmission satellites out of commission.

Infiltrating and destroying may sound easy on paper, but there's a third thing that every Space Marine must practice — survival! Because the Strogg are trying to destroy the planet Earth, they're not taking your terrorism and sabotage missions lightly. Players will be met with heavy resistance along the way ranging from Light Guards and the muscle-bound Enforcer to massive Tanks that wield laser-blasters, rockets, and machine guns.

Needless to say, finding heavy-artillery weapons is essential for survival. While players start off with a dinky Blaster, there are a variety of attack weapons scattered throughout the planet including the Super Shotgun, Rocket Launcher, Grenade Launcher, and the end-all BFG10K. There is also some helpful items including health kits, three different types of armor (Flak Jacket, Combo Suit, Body Armor), armor shards, a bandoleer for storing more ammunition, and the destructive Quad Damage (increases your weapon's damage by four).

Quake II features three different skill levels including easy, medium, and hard. For new players getting used to the first-person shooter genre, the easy setting is recommended until the controls and gameplay have been learned. Medium is for the average-minded player — it's not too hard, but it's not too easy with a steady in-between balance. Finally, the hard mode is for the truly cocky, seasoned veterans. If you think you are really something special, try it on hard — we'll see how long you last.

Players are given a few other options such as the ability to increase or decrease the music and sound effects volume. If you're getting a headache from all those roars and bullets whizzing by your head, this option is for you. There's also an option to disable the crosshair; unless you're feeling very, very gutsy, I wouldn't recommend it.

The reason Quake II became such a success on the PC was the result of it's many multiplayer modes and custom-made modifications. Fortunately, the PlayStation version comes with a variety of multi-player games including Deathmatch, Team Deathmatch, and the Versus mode.

Deathmatch is an every-man-for-himself battle to the finish — whoever's left standing at the end of a level, wins. Team Deathmatch involves a two-on-two, two-on-one, or three-on-one team-play option. Finally, the Versus mode is a round-based competition with no health or item pick-ups — once a player is killed in action, they'll have to sit out until the other players are finished fragging each other.

Quake II comes with Multi-Tap compatibility (for up to four-player deathmatch) and works with the PlayStation's Mouse. Additionally, it supports the Dual Shock Analog Controller and utilizes the various vibration functions. ~ Mark Kanarick, All Game Guide