Heretic II: Information from Answers.com

Platform: IBM PC Compatible
Release Date: November 23, 1998
Genre: Action
Style: Third-Person 3D Action
Similar Games: Heretic (Macintosh), Heretic (IBM PC Compatible), Tomb Raider (Sega Saturn), Tomb Raider (PlayStation), Hexen II (IBM PC Compatible), Tomb Raider (IBM PC Compatible), Quake II (IBM PC Compatible), Quake II (Nintendo 64), Quake II (PlayStation), MDK 2 (IBM PC Compatible), Tomb Raider Starring Lara Croft (Game Boy Color)

Game Description

For those familiar with the original Heretic, the changeover to a third person perspective may come as a surprise. Powered by the distinctive Quake II engine, Heretic II is a continuation of the deep storyline introduced in Heretic. Corvus, the Sidhe, has survived the hideous curse cast upon him by the dying D'sparil who exiled him to the bleak Outer Worlds. Now, aided by the Tome of Power, he once again must face the evils unleashed upon the world of Parthoris.

In Heretic II, Corvus has a powerful arsenal of nearly a dozen offensive and defensive magic spells to complement his weapons of war. Through the essence of mana, Corvus can invoke deadly spells such as fireballs, firewalls, thunder blasts and the Sphere of Annihilation. The powerful Tome of Power can imbue nearly any spell or magic item with properties far beyond normal effects at the cost of serious mana-drain. Other defensive abilities include the Ring of Repulsion, Meteor Swarm, a teleportation spell and the temporary but potentially deadly Morph Ovum incantation that turns any target into a chicken.

As Corvus, the player wields a mix of armament ranging from staffs to wicked long-range bows. Through a system of shrines, Corvus's health can be restored, his abilities enhanced and extra powers acquired such as a vaporous appearance. Parthoris is well populated with a myriad of races including Sidhe, Ssithra, T'chekrik, Ogles, Caurthorians and the mysterious and ancient Seraphs.

~ Michael L. House, All Game Guide

Roots & Influences

Heretic II is a sequel of sorts to Heretic but uses a 3rd person perspective unlike the original. The game is heavily influenced by Quake II as it utilizes the engine that powered Quake II.

~ Michael L. House, All Game Guide

Review: Overall

When I first loaded Heretic II onto my computer, I was excited. The graphics were stunning, and I prepared myself for a great adventure. The early reviews on Heretic II were very good, and as I was a fan of the original Heretic, I was afraid that my opinion might be so biased that my review would be too glowing. Unfortunately, that was not true.

I rushed through the tutorial to pick up Corvus' basic moves so I could sink my teeth into the game. At first, I thought I was getting everything I had hoped for, but then I played for a few hours. I got nowhere.

Maybe I am missing something. Maybe third-person action is not my specialty. I love and excel at games like Diablo and Delta Force, but Heretic II threw me for a loop. Maybe there is simply something is wrong with Heretic II, or else there is something very wrong with me.

I kept going in circles. I would see the same dark hallways, the same sewer grates, and the same blocked doors. Why couldn't I find the exit to the next level? Where was it? To be honest, after four hours of playing on all three skill settings, I still have no idea.

Whenever I got lost, I would glance at the manual. No help. I would glance at the city map. Well, if I knew where I was relative to the map, I could probably negotiate a path to the red circle which marks the exit of this level and entrance to the next level. I didn't know where I was on the map, however, so I couldn't make it to the next level.

I want to make it clear that I simply didn't give up playing Heretic II. I played it for several hours over a period of three days. I just didn't get it, and thus, I just didn't enjoy it.

Graphically, Heretic II is very good. The animated sequences are amazing, and so are the game sequences. Corvus moves well and so do the monsters coming after him. In keeping with the theme of the game, everything is dark and gloomy. This made me tired and didn't help the frustration I experienced going around in circles.

Heretic II's sound is understated, and that is fine. Corvus utters a few phrases now and again, and the music is almost inaudible. The sound is definitely more noticeable when you kill all the monsters and decide to chase your tail for a while. The aural presentation -- like the visual presentation -- keeps the game gloomy.

I wish I could say that I enjoyed Heretic II, but I didn't. I salivated as I played the tutorial, because I got to experience the range of weapons and magic that Corvus has at his disposal. As I never made it past the first level, I will probably never know what it is like to grab those power-ups.

Overall, Heretic II disappointed me. The animated opening and the tutorial led me to believe that I was about to experience video game nirvana, but I didn't. Instead, I wound up frustrated and annoyed.