Incline Which game should Hexen 2 replace on the Codex's Top 101 PC RPGs?

[Falksi]

Having just returned to playthrough Hexen 2 for the first time in years, I still can't believe how enjoyable an experience it is, and how much it captures the feel & essence of dark fantasy RPGs.

Furthermore, it's fucking incredible that flakey, RPG-lite shite such as the likes of Oblivion make the Codex's top 101 PC RPG's list, yet Hexen 2 isn't featured on there.

So which game does it need to replace for the Codex to hang on to it's credibility?

I've added my choices. Will add any further suggestions if I can be arsed.

 

[Gregz]

Pathfinder: Kingmaker

 

[Daidre]

It is embarrassing that people need validation from some list on internet to admit that they like the games they actually like.

 

[Falksi]

It is embarrassing that people need validation from some list on internet to admit that they like the games they actually like.

On the contrary, it's embarrassing that we've created a society so full of slack jawed faggots that so many are willing to allow the mass consumer decline enablers seep into the Codex so much with their stank foulness.

Games like Oblivion & Undertale should be crushed underfoot by Codexers for quality such as Hexen 2.

 

[Sykar]

So is Hexen 2 a RPG?

 

[Eirinjas]

Tyranny. If Tyranny were a book I'd create the fourth Reich just to burn every copy.

 

[Jvegi]

You mean the list which has DA:O, PoE1&2 and Kotor 1 higher than KotC?

Who cares about a list like that?

 

[Devastator]

I played that thing on some crappy PC when it came out. I barely remember it, other than it overall seemed pretty good at the time. I guess you get some attributes, skills, and such without Oblivion's nonsense in the form of dialogue, mini-games, etc.

 

[North Gibraltarian Dog]

Of course, the current list isn't enough incoherent, let's include other 20 shooters, action games, jrpgs and visual novels to replace shitty or mediocre rpgs or some equally dubious non-rpgs.

 

[gurugeorge]

Hexen 2 is a great game, it was the second PC game I majorly got into (first being Descent). Even though it really is a shooter first and foremost, IIRC the RPG-ish elements are reasonably impactful.

 

[rusty_shackleford]

Gothic 2

 

[samuraigaiden]

Deus Ex HR

 

[RuySan]

Back in the day I was really hyped for the first hexen, but then the game had bullshit design with lots of hidden switches and stuff. Does hexen 2 share the same issue?

 

[CappenVarra]

where's "all of the above" as a poll option?

 

[Falksi]

Back in the day I was really hyped for the first hexen, but then the game had bullshit design with lots of hidden switches and stuff. Does hexen 2 share the same issue?

Yes, but I don't find it an issue.

I love the level design, and fact that to progress you actually have to do some serious digging. There is some bullshit, the Egypt level has a bit too much interlacing & 2 bullshit puzzles in particular, but overall I think it's a cracking game.

Even if the puzzles are too much for you, it's worth playing the first 2 levels anyway, which are fairly straight forward.

If they released a modern-day sequel, they'd likely have to keep the puzzles as simple as the ones during the first level.

 

[Lurker47]

It is embarrassing that people need validation from some list on internet to admit that they like the games they actually like.

Must be new here.

 

[Zep Zepo]

Heretic/Hexen's were just doom reskin shooters.

If you call them RPGs you need to self eject from the rpg kotex.

Zep--

 

[I'm Big Into Anal]

never played it; best place to get it lads?

 

[Falksi]

never played it; best place to get it lads?

£3 on Steam. Absolute bargain

 

[Eirinjas]

never played it; best place to get it lads?

£3 on Steam. Absolute bargain

Also apply the ultimate Steam patch to get the expansion, CD music, etc.:https://steamcommunity.com/sharedfiles/filedetails/?id=504304725

 

[Great Deceiver]

I bought Hexen 2 on release and played the hell out of it, including multiplayer, which was a ton of fun. I miss games like these. Every once in awhile I go back to it, though I think Heretic has aged better.

 

[Harthwain]

So is Hexen 2 a RPG?

Indeed. I don't think many people would call it an RPG in the past. More like an FPS with some RPG elements (classes, experience, etc.). Even more so because it's essentially Quake with a twist. Then again, nowadays anything that has RPG elements is marketed as an RPG, so I guess at this point it becomes merely a matter of perspective.

 

[Eirinjas]

As Falksi is a man of clearly refined taste, I thought I would share these. Back in 2008 there were a few open source port engines in the works for Hexen 2, and I was overly hopeful for a MP scene resurgence around the game. So, I created 8 MP maps and submitted them to the Hammer of Thyrion project. One is a version of Doom's e1m1, one is an arena map with traps, and the other six were conversions of Quake's DM1-6 w/ minor tweaks. I was pleasantly surprised to find these maps included in the 'The Ultimate Steam Patch for Hexen 2', including the original readme w/ my old email address on it ( I still own the email, I just don't use it. ). If you have it installed you can check them out by opening the console in-game by pressing tilde key, then typing map mapname and pressing enter.

Map names:
e1m1
cthulhu
dm1
dm2
dm3
dm4
dm5
dm6

Screenshots:

E1M1

Deja Vu:

I made good use of Heretic and Hexen textures:

This is an addition to the level - some items, a couple of switches, and a couple of portals:

There are two items locked in the floor of this room - the grates are opened from elsewhere on the map:

If you dare dip in the lava you're rewarded:

I'm very fond of the clock:

If you dip in the icy water you're rewarded:

Every stain-glass window in the map can be broken:

Cthulhu

There is an elevator in the center of the room to ride up. The bottoms of moving platforms can be seen protruding from the fiery ceiling. You can aim above them and maybe hit some asshole riding one:

There is an elevator that can be taken to the control room on the second level:

The levers trigger emitters that fire on players riding the moving platforms, but the control room is also clearly trapped:

Suitably diabolical looking:

How can player haz? :

I heart Raven's textures:

Something on a wall somewhere has to be shot to open that:

Emitters can be triggered from the control room to damage / knock players off moving platforms, but buttons can be shot at on the walls that trigger spike traps in the control room.

DM1

Meso texture set, and custom LIT:

Only minor map changes were made, mostly to account for the difference in physics between Quake & Hexen 2:

I hear 'Seasons In The Abyss' in my head whenever I see the portal skulls:

What a great family room this would make:

DM2

Egyptian texture set:

Raiding some tombs:

MP games are all cotton candy-colored tranny havens anymore. Just look at this glorious dark atmosphere:

I don't remember Indiana Jones dodging lava:

DM3

I spent a lot of time tweaking this map:

That rug really ties the room together:

Fort with an indoor moat. It's all the rage with the nobles this season:

In hindsight I could have added even more furnishings to this map:

Alas, poor Yorick! I knew him, Horatio, a fellow of infinite jest, of most excellent fancy:

Warehoused goods:

I added windows and attempted force-perspective scenes w/ trees and grass slopes to make it seem like a real place one might live in:

That looks cozy down there:

DM4

Meso w/ custom LIT:

Are you there god? It's me, Margaret:

Spooky:

I want your skull:

DM5

Greco-Roman texture set w/ custom LIT. Minor map alterations (a trap was added):

I like what the new owner has done with the place:

Even has a luxurious indoor bath:

I don't like the look of this, Scoob:

DM6

Greco-Roman w/ custom LIT:

View to a kill:

Nice place:

It's amazing what a different texture set can do to changing the feel of a map:

 

[Falksi]

As Falksi is a man of clearly refined taste, I thought I would share these. Back in 2008 there were a few open source port engines in the works for Hexen 2, and I was overly hopeful for a MP scene resurgence around the game. So, I created 8 MP maps and submitted them to the Hammer of Thyrion project. One is a version of Doom's e1m1, one is an arena map with traps, and the other six were conversions of Quake's DM1-6 w/ minor tweaks. I was pleasantly surprised to find these maps included in the 'The Ultimate Steam Patch for Hexen 2', including the original readme w/ my old email address on it ( I still own the email, I just don't use it. ). If you have it installed you can check them out by opening the console in-game by pressing tilde key, then typing map mapname and pressing enter.

Map names:
e1m1
cthulhu
dm1
dm2
dm3
dm4
dm5
dm6

Screenshots:

E1M1

Deja Vu:

I made good use of Heretic and Hexen textures:

This is an addition to the level - some items, a couple of switches, and a couple of portals:

There are two items locked in the floor of this room - the grates are opened from elsewhere on the map:

If you dare dip in the lava you're rewarded:

I'm very fond of the clock:

If you dip in the icy water you're rewarded:

Every stain-glass window in the map can be broken:

Cthulhu

There is an elevator in the center of the room to ride up. The bottoms of moving platforms can be seen protruding from the fiery ceiling. You can aim above them and maybe hit some asshole riding one:

There is an elevator that can be taken to the control room on the second level:

The levers trigger emitters that fire on players riding the moving platforms, but the control room is also clearly trapped:

Suitably diabolical looking:

How can player haz? :

I heart Raven's textures:

Something on a wall somewhere has to be shot to open that:

Emitters can be triggered from the control room to damage / knock players off moving platforms, but buttons can be shot at on the walls that trigger spike traps in the control room.

DM1

Meso texture set, and custom LIT:

Only minor map changes were made, mostly to account for the difference in physics between Quake & Hexen 2:

I hear 'Seasons In The Abyss' in my head whenever I see the portal skulls:

What a great family room this would make:

DM2

Egyptian texture set:

Raiding some tombs:

MP games are all cotton candy-colored tranny havens anymore. Just look at this glorious dark atmosphere:

I don't remember Indiana Jones dodging lava:

DM3

I spent a lot of time tweaking this map:

That rug really ties the room together:

Fort with an indoor moat. It's all the rage with the nobles this season:

In hindsight I could have added even more furnishings to this map:

Alas, poor Yorick! I knew him, Horatio, a fellow of infinite jest, of most excellent fancy:

Warehoused goods:

I added windows and attempted force-perspective scenes w/ trees and grass slopes to make it seem like a real place one might live in:

That looks cozy down there:

DM4

Meso w/ custom LIT:

Are you there god? It's me, Margaret:

Spooky:

I want your skull:

DM5

Greco-Roman texture set w/ custom LIT. Minor map alterations (a trap was added):

I like what the new owner has done with the place:

Even has a luxurious indoor bath:

I don't like the look of this, Scoob:

DM6

Greco-Roman w/ custom LIT:

View to a kill:

Nice place:

It's amazing what a different texture set can do to changing the feel of a map:

Nice work, I really like the look of some of those!

I'd love to see a sequel to it. Yeah I accept in today's day & age the puzzles would have to be a bit less convoluted, alongside other tweaks, but the foundation for a real quality 3rd installment is definitely there.

 

[Eirinjas]

Hexen 2 Remastered (includes Portal of Praevus):
https://yadi.sk/d/1po3CJUmkerez