Heretic 2. Your thoughts, opinions, and insights.

[SuperSomariDX]

(Unaware if a discussion about this exists elsewhere on this other other forums. If there was one, please inform me of such.)

As some of you are aware (or perhaps some of you aren't.) Heretic 2 does exist. But it's movement to an Action Adventure game seems puzzling to me. Perhaps it was a take to cash in on a game like Tomb Raider back in the day, or maybe it was just a weird idea that popped into the development team's heads, as we're all aware of Hexen 2 as well. But yeah, what do you feel about this movement in gameplay style, or even just the game in general in comparison to other games of the time, games from it's own series and etc?

Also, is there any documentation or modding notes on the game as well or like the so while this discussion is up?

[Ghastly]

I think it was a pretty great idea that just wasn't implemented correctly. Also, some story retcons that were pretty stupid and don't make sense in the context of the other games. Never finished the game because of stability issues; any time I went back to a map I've already been on, it crashed to desktop.

[Snarboo]

It's okay, but the game never really picks up as you get further into it, and the ending is infuriating. Kind of a shame, because the weird dark fantasy setting was pretty cool. Not sure if anything today compares to it.

[leileilol]

Shiny Corvus elf butt

Also, is there any documentation or modding notes on the game as well or like the so while this discussion is up?

C compiled into DLLs in Visual C++ 98 - standard idtech2 modding fare.

[BouncyTEM]

Wasn't impressed by Heretic 2 back in the day; liked Raven's other games more. Distinctly remembering going back to Mageslayer after playing Heretic 2.

Did want to give it another go but my copy's gone to the dark voids of eternal damnation, never to be found again, so, welp.

[Kinsie]

Would I have to do something weird to get this to run on modern Windows?

[Hisymak]

I once tried demo version, but... I still like playing the original Heretic.

[Snarboo]

Would I have to do something weird to get this to run on modern Windows?

A quick search says "no", but it seems the game uses a 16-bit installer. There is a workaround, however! The game can even be run widescreen if that's your thing.

[SamVision]

I have to say that I liked it better than the first Heretic. H1 was basically fantasy Doom with some additional bells and whistles, wheres H2 feels mostly like its own thing despite looking like fantasy Tomb Raider. I still feel that the combat and level design were fun enough on their own, though the mobility could have used some work. The biggest issue with H2 for me besides the ending is that I think the game ran out of ideas half way through and began repeating itself too much.

[ETTiNGRiNDER]

Not a big fan. I gave it another try a few months ago, figuring I'd give it another chance despite hating it back in the day, and at first the Sidhe city part made me think "well, this actually is pretty decent after all, I guess I was just irritated by where they took the lore". Then I got to Darkmire Swamps and remembered that I had entirely other reasons than just lore for hating this game, i.e. the awkwardly-controlling platforming sections with instadeath. I also remember the assassin enemy as being completely infuriating, but I gave up before I got that far again. So, at best, game with potentially good elements but some level design and possibly control/physics problems that sap my interest in seeing it through (I also still am not a big fan of the element of "let's try to find a cure for the plague victims, but also they are hostile, so blast them into meaty gibs anyway" that the lore brings in. From a roleplaying perspective it would make more sense to play the game pacifist, but that's not much fun. Then again, given that Corvus is plagued too I suppose it could be seen as him slowly, or perhaps quickly, going nuts too, or hell, maybe he's already nuts from being in exile so long, but now I'm thinking into it more than it probably deserves.) I'm not really surprised that they stopped making Heretic/Hexen after this, if they do revive it though, I'd hope to see Hexen 3 rather than Heretic 3.

I will still hold up Enclave and Severance: Blade of Darkness as games I think are better for something third person action with a dark fantasy sort of mood. Enclave even feels like it nods to Hexen 2 what with the one boss fight where you're fighting a big demon and firing a ballista at his power source.

Would I have to do something weird to get this to run on modern Windows?

Yes, but how much depends some on which Windows you're thinking of as "modern" and your hardware setup. You probably, at the very least, have to edit/replace one of the DLLs in addition to the installer issues.

[Ixnatifual]

I liked it enough to complete it, but it didn't leave much of a lasting impression on me. It's not something I return to replay as I do with Heretic 1.

[Amuscaria]

I enjoyed the game quite a bit. I liked the environments back then, especially the bug-race city. The story was a bit meh-ish, but me and my friends had a blast in the co-op mode. I definitely didn't like the damn swamp level where you call into the water and it sucks you in.

[Kinsie]

Would I have to do something weird to get this to run on modern Windows?

Yes, but how much depends some on which Windows you're thinking of as "modern" and your hardware setup. You probably, at the very least, have to edit/replace one of the DLLs in addition to the installer issues.

By "modern" I mean Windows 10 and a GTX670. Got any instructions on what DLLs I'd need to replace?

[SuperSomariDX]

If I presume correctly. It's probably quake2.dll

http://s000.tinyupload.com/index.php?fi ... 6259114678

See if this'll help ya, Kinsie.

Oh, and to set it up. Just go into the setup directory. That installer works fine. It's simply just the autorun that doesn't work.

And to confirm it for you. I used said modified dll and it's working for me right now. Windows 8.1 x64 currently. I don't have Windows 10, so I cannot confirm anything there.

[neoworm]

I think the more acrobatic and melee focused gameolay with high verticality is generaly better suited for any fantasy game - including Jedi Knight / Outcast / Academy games which Heretic II is direct precursor. But I really hated the design of everything except barechested Corvus. It was the standart early 3D goulash of weird creatures for weird sake, because we can do them in 3D more convincingly than humans. But nice lore, I think most of the background names and stuff for Heretic comes from this game.