HeXen II

One of the screenshots on this store page shows you the final boss. Instant 10/10.

[h1] HeXen II [/h1] [h3] Positives: [/h3] + Retro and nostalgia feel + Good graphics (for its time) + Ok sounds and atmospheric dark music (if you bother to fix the missing soundtrack) + A lot of abilities and items to use + 4 different classes to choose from + Some cool weapons + A lot of nicely detailed environments + Some parts are actually quite enjoyable + There are walkthroughs available online (thank God!) [h3] Negatives: [/h3] - The most complex, confusing and labyrinthy level-design I have ever encountered from the 90s - Some way too hidden items, confusing puzzles and crazy things you must do to progress - You'll most likely get stuck many times during your playthrough - Almost no hints on where to go or what to do next to progress - No objective tab or in-game map - You have to do everything in exact order (which you have to guess yourself) - A lot of back and forth - You can go to multiple levels making it even harder to know what to do next - A lot of wandering around frustrated without knowing what small thing you have overlooked - A lot of bugs and glitches - The game is unstable (even with the Hammer of Thyrion Source port) - Gets grindy and repetitive - Hard difficulty in general (with difficulty spikes) - Not enough ammo or health potions - The fun of playing disappears way too fast - Almost unplayable out of the box without fixes - The Mission Pack Portal Of Praevus is not included [h3] Conclusion: [/h3] [b] Hexen 2: [/b] I played this game as a little kid when it was released in the 90s, but didnt get past the first level. Thought it would be better now that Im older, but man I understand why I struggled so much with this game. Luckily there are walkthroughs online, or else I would have given up on the game for the second time in my life. Why isnt there an objective tab or in-game map? With such confusing labyrinthy level design it should have been included. And the puzzles and things you must do to progress sometimes makes little to no sense. So would I play this game ever again? Thats a no. Are there people who would like this game even with all its problems? Sure. If any of the above dosent scare you away, just go ahead. [b] Mission Pack Portal of Praevus: [/b] After playing the original, I also played the not included Mission Pack to see if it was any different. And man am I glad I did, its so much better than the original game. First and foremost the confusing labyrinthy levels of the original is toned down to a more simplified and understandable design. The game is more linear and straight forward, making progress way more joyful and entertaining. And also there is an objectives tab this time around (finally!). The graphics feel crisper and better, the level themes and textures are better, so the overall feel is better. Its also less dark and more mysterious. And in my opinion, thats a nice way to go. The new class Demoness has a ranged starting weapon with infinite ammo, a major upgrade from the original melee weapons. So yeah, do yourself a favor and play the Mission Pack as well. [h3] Hexen 2: 4/10 [/h3] [h3] Portal of Praevus: 7/10 [/h3] [h1] Total Score: 5/10 [/h1] [b] PS! Here are some fixes and tips for playing this game: [/b] 1. Download the Hammer of Thyrion Source port from this link (for windows 64-bit): https://sourceforge.net/projects/uhexen2/files/Hammer%20of%20Thyrion/1.5.9/Win64/hexen2-1.5.9-win64.zip/download/ 2. Unzip the files and copy them (overwriting existing files) into the steam game locations folder (usually C:/programfiles(x86)/steam/steamapps/common/hexen2/) 3. Open "glh2.exe" to start the game 4. If the game freezes, hangs or exits make a shortcut to the "glh2.exe" file and add this in the target field under the shortcut properties: -window (this will make the game start in window mode, and you can change it back to fullscreen in the options menu if you like) 5. Set options for mouse/mouse look to "on", and adjust the graphics to you liking under OpenGL Features and Video Modes (It can make the game look quite amazing for a 90s game) 6. Choose Necromancer (the best class) and Sorcerer or Dark Servant as difficulty level (unless you want an even harder playthrough) 7. To fix the field of view open the console command with "|" (the key next to "1") and type FOV 120 (or values to your liking from 60-170) Remember to do this every time you start the game (or the FOV will be at the standard 80) 8. If the game suddenly hangs or gets major framedrops, either force close the game and restart, or tab in and out of the game (Its also more stable if you play it in window mode rather than in fullscreen) 9. If you get stuck for a longer period of time (trust me, you most likely will!) be kind to yourself and use online walkthroughs I reccommend this one from steam: https://steamcommunity.com/sharedfiles/filedetails/?id=2449541759 [b] NB! If you want to play the Mission Pack Portal of Praevus you can do the following: [/b] 1. Find a site that has the original files if you dont have them yourself (a quick google search will give you two safe options) 2. Download and unzip the files 3. Search for the "Pak3.pak" file and copy it to the steam game locations folder portals (usually C:/programfiles(x86)/steam/steamapps/common/hexen2/portals) 4. Make a shortcut to the "glh2.exe" file and add this in the target field under the shortcut properties: -portals 5. Start the game, choose new game and select Demoness class (its the new one) and Larva or Spawn as difficulty level (unless you want it harder) [b] To change class in-game during your playthrough do this: [/b] (Remember you can only use these commands if your level is at least 3) 1. Open console with "|" (the key next to "1") 2. Type impulse followed by one of these numbers: 171 for Paladin 172 for Crusader 173 for Necromancer 174 for Assasssin 3. Press enter (no restart or reload needed) Enjoy!

HeXen II stands as one of Raven Software’s most ambitious attempts to push the boundaries of the 1990s first-person shooter, merging dark fantasy, RPG progression, and nonlinear exploration into a single experience that still feels distinct decades later. Built on an enhanced version of id Software’s Quake engine, the game embraces a deeply atmospheric world shaped by ancient myth, occult forces, and the shadow of the Serpent Riders. From the moment you step into its foreboding environments, it becomes clear that HeXen II is not content to be just another fast-paced shooter; instead, it aims to immerse players in a sprawling, interconnected world filled with danger, puzzles, and eerie mysticism. The game’s tone is grim and haunting, with each hub drawing from different mythological or historical inspirations, giving the journey a uniquely eclectic yet cohesive dark-fantasy identity. One of the game’s strongest features is its class system, which dramatically alters the feel of each playthrough. Rather than offering cosmetic differences, HeXen II builds four entirely distinct paths: the Paladin with his raw durability and crushing melee strength; the Crusader, a disciplined hybrid fighter with holy-themed gear; the Assassin, light, fast, and deadly from the shadows; and the Necromancer, whose focus on spells and energy-driven attacks creates an entirely different pacing. This variety encourages replayability and allows players to approach challenges in radically different ways. Combat itself mixes the immediacy of an action FPS with the methodical considerations of an RPG. You do not simply collect weapons; you build a kit that matches your class’s identity, and as you level up, your functionality and survivability evolve, adding a sense of personal growth uncommon in shooters of the era. Exploration forms the backbone of the game’s structure. Rather than guiding the player through linear corridors, HeXen II uses a hub-based layout where several interconnected maps influence one another. Progress often requires solving puzzles, activating mechanisms across multiple zones, or revisiting earlier areas with newly acquired items. This design creates the feeling of navigating a massive, ancient labyrinth rather than a series of combat arenas. At its best, this interconnected world fosters a strong sense of discovery, rewarding curiosity with secret chambers, shortcuts, and environmental storytelling. At its worst, it can become disorienting; the lack of a modern map system or clear directional markers means players can easily lose track of objectives, sometimes wandering through the same halls repeatedly trying to trigger the next progression point. The game demands patience, memory, and a willingness to approach it with an almost old-school dungeon-crawler mindset. The atmosphere — oppressive, brooding, and often unnerving — is one of HeXen II’s most enduring qualities. The game’s hubs transport players to locations such as a plague-ridden medieval city, a deadly Egyptian desert, a cursed Roman fortress, or lush but treacherous Amazon jungles. Each location feels handcrafted, with evocative lighting, rich textures for its time, and an underlying sense of unease. The enemy designs complement this mood: grotesque monstrosities, undead warriors, ancient guardians, and the looming threat of the Four Horsemen who ultimately serve the final Serpent Rider, Eidolon. The world feels hostile not merely in terms of gameplay difficulty, but in atmosphere — a place where dark magic has rotted civilizations from within. Combined with its grim score and eerie ambient audio, HeXen II captures a foreboding tone few shooters of its generation attempted. However, the game’s ambition also exposes its rougher edges. Combat can feel uneven across classes, with certain weapons lacking feedback or impact. Some puzzles veer into cryptic territory, requiring trial-and-error or external guidance. The movement and aiming, built on early Quake-era sensibilities, can feel stiff or imprecise by modern standards. Modern versions also suffer from issues such as missing CD audio and scaling quirks, making it advisable for players to use community patches or source ports for a smoother experience. Yet none of these issues erase the game’s intrinsic charm; rather, they highlight the experimental nature of a title created during a transitional time for FPS design, when developers were still discovering how far the genre could stretch. Ultimately, HeXen II endures because of its willingness to be something more than a corridor shooter. It blends fantasy role-playing, dark atmospheric storytelling, and exploration-heavy design into a hybrid experience that remains memorable and unmistakably unique. For players who appreciate complex level design, moody world-building, and a fusion of action and puzzle-solving, HeXen II offers a rewarding journey into a world steeped in occult dread. Though time has weathered some aspects of its mechanics, its ambition and identity shine through, preserving its status as a cult classic that captured a creative chapter in PC gaming history. Rating: 7/10

Hexen 2, like the rest of the games in the series, is a begrudging recommendation. I remember the first time I played the game - I'd never seen graphics like this before. Fully 3D melee weapons, multiple classes with different skills and completely different weapon rosters that totally changed the feel of play. But I never got beyond the first level. I was almost going to write a review defending and praising the game, but then I ran into the fact that the only way to progress to the end of the first level was to find a potion to transform a wall hidden underwater in an underground moat that can only be accessed via a single window squirrelled away in an innocuous and disconnected corner of the level. The second level requires you to find a shovel hidden behind a locked door that can only be opened by pushing a lever hidden behind another door that sits far above eyeline in the rafters of a multilayered and labyrinthine stable. If you miss that door you're softlocked. If you miss the hidden buttons that open other secret passageways you're soft-locked. If you can't intuit that the sand you pick up needs to be smelted into glass you're soft-locked. The game is a series of rube-goldberg puzzles in which 90% of the essential items required for progression are hidden behind fake walls in unintuitive locations. It utterly fails as a puzzle game as it often requires you to be less skilled with logic and more skilled at searching for needles in hay-stacks. Levels are littered with hard-as-nails damage-sponge enemies that seem designed more to be avoided than fought as you run out of ammo even on lower difficulties and they'll absolutely shred you as soon as you need to close the distance. If you do avoid them, then the level is littered with obstacles that can corner and kill you in seconds and never go away. Hard difficulty has the right amount of enemies but is a constant struggle, and medium difficulty feels sparse. The high-level design of the game is fun, and was, for the time, quite gorgeous. The levels are sumptuous, if cloistered and overly complex in their layout. Playing with the different characters is a joy, especially as you gain more weapons and more skills. But the time investment in order to do that - especially if you wish to get there without someone else telling you what to do - is a hard sell. On a moment-to-moment level, the game is a frustrating slog that will have you reloading, backtracking, and beating your head against a brick wall before giving up and seeking a walkthrough. The Hammer of Thyrion mod is essential to playing in the modern age. I very slightly recommend it because of its distinctive visuals, atmosphere, fun classes, and interesting genre experiment. Once again though, nostalgia cannot save this series from itself.

[h3] Минусы: [/h3] - Сдаюсь тыркать каждый миллиметр, каждую стенку, чтобы найти этот ключ от замка. И это только первый эпизод. Естественно, нет желания сидеть десятки часов ради сомнительного пиксельхантинга. Это уже новая ступень, а не какие-то жалкие поиски ключей в Doom'e. - Техническая часть отвратительная, нужно ставить патчи. Мини-ремастеред лень сделать. - Сеттинг не очень. Нужно что-то не такое мрачное, по типу Painkiller, идеальный баланс атмосферы мрака и контрастности. - 72 фпс для 144 гц боль. [h3] Плюсы: [/h3] + Звуки подбора, ломания предметов, выстрелов и другие приятные, правда, они сжатые, опять же, где ремастеред? + Дизайн пушек у некоторых классов: Некромант, Ассасин. Оценка — 4/10.

和一代一样依旧是到处跑图到处找机关、找隐藏、找道具推流程，把主线做成隐藏的游戏目前就只见过这个系列了。

[h1][b] Reseña de HeXen II[/b][/h1] [h2]Resumen del Juego[/h2] HeXen II es ese shooter en primera persona noventero que se levanta de su tumba gótica para recordarte una verdad incómoda: antes los juegos no te daban la mano… te la arrancaban y luego te pedían que resolvieras un rompecabezas con el muñón. Acción rápida, fantasía oscura y un ritmo de “avanza, dispara, explora, te pierdes, vuelves a disparar”. La propuesta es simple y deliciosa: boomer shooter con sabor a mazmorra, con ambientación atmosférica y un toque de rol (más por feeling y progresión que por sistemas modernos). Entras por la puerta buscando adrenalina y sales con PTSD de pasillos idénticos y enemigos que te castigan por existir. Primera impresión: envejeció con dignidad… pero no con paciencia para tu agenda. [h2]Hechizos Prohibidos y Maldiciones del Reino[/h2] Lo Bueno: Acción FPS retro con personalidad: rápido, directo y sin cinemáticas eternas Ambientación gótica/fantasía oscura muy marcada, de esas que te “ensucian” la pantalla mental Tiene multijugador y cooperativo (incluye LAN), ideal para sufrir acompañado Steam Cloud y Préstamo familiar: al menos tus partidas (y tu trauma) viajan contigo Sensación “clásico de ayer”: para quienes extrañan cuando los juegos eran menos terapia y más castigo Lo No Tan Bueno: 0 logros: Steam no te va a validar nada, aunque hayas sobrevivido como campeón Comunidad actual: 1 jugador. Sí, UNO. El multijugador existe, como los unicornios: en teoría Dificultad vieja escuela: a ratos es reto justo, a ratos es “te moriste porque sí” Elementos de rompecabezas/exploración pueden sentirse crípticos si vienes con cerebro moderno Presentación retro: si esperas glamour visual actual, este juego te mira y se ríe en 320x200 [h2]Tabla de Evaluación[/h2] [table] [tr][th]Aspecto[/th][th]Puntuación (0-10)[/th][th]Comentario[/th][/tr] [tr][td]Jugabilidad[/td][td]7[/td][td]FPS clásico sólido: dispara bien, pero no perdona despistes.[/td][/tr] [tr][td]Dificultad / IA[/td][td]7[/td][td]Dura y a veces injusta; “difícil” es parte del paquete.[/td][/tr] [tr][td]Contenido[/td][td]6[/td][td]Cumple como clásico, pero sin extras modernos (y sin logros).[/td][/tr] [tr][td]Gráficos / Video[/td][td]6[/td][td]Retro con encanto; también retro con arrugas.[/td][/tr] [tr][td]Historia[/td][td]5[/td][td]Más atmósfera que narrativa: funciona, no deslumbra.[/td][/tr] [tr][td]Ambientación[/td][td]8[/td][td]Gótica y oscura, muy bien lograda para su era.[/td][/tr] [tr][td]Efectos (VFX)[/td][td]6[/td][td]Cumplidores, con ese sabor antiguo de magia y sangre pixelada.[/td][/tr] [tr][td]Música[/td][td]6[/td][td]Acompaña sin estorbar; no esperes un concierto épico.[/td][/tr] [tr][td]Voces[/td][td]5[/td][td]Presencia limitada; no es un juego de actuación dramática.[/td][/tr] [tr][td]Diversidad[/td][td]5[/td][td]Variedad funcional, pero con mentalidad y estructura de los 90.[/td][/tr] [tr][td]Rendimiento[/td][td]7[/td][td]Como retro, suele ir estable: el tiempo le dio eficiencia.[/td][/tr] [tr][td]Rejugabilidad[/td][td]6[/td][td]Rejugable por reto/nostalgia; el online hoy es casi arqueología.[/td][/tr] [tr][td][b]Total Puntuaciones (Bueno)[/b][/td][td][b]6.2[/b][/td][td]Un clásico duro: brilla por atmósfera y acción, cojea por lo “viejito”.[/td][/tr] [/table] [h2]Conclusión (Bueno)[/h2] HeXen II es “Bueno” en el sentido más honesto: un clásico de acción en primera persona con identidad, oscurito, atmosférico y con ese ritmo de boomer shooter que te obliga a jugar despierto. No intenta seducirte: te reta, te empuja al barro y te dice “a ver si muy gamer”. Lo controversial: su multijugador y cooperativo son una carta de presentación simpática… pero con 1 jugador activo, hoy se siente más como un museo interactivo que como una plaza pública. Aun así, con 547 recomendaciones totales, queda claro que tiene su culto: gente que aprecia el diseño de otra época, con sus virtudes y sus pecados. [h3]Recomendación de Compra (Recomendado con reservas)[/h3] Puntuación Total: 6.2/10 Número de jugadores activos al momento de hacer esta review: 1 Descuento máximo registrado: -90% Veredicto: [i]Cómpralo si amas los FPS noventeros y la fantasía oscura; evítalo si necesitas comodidades modernas y multijugador vivo.[/i] Si buscas un shooter retro con personalidad y no te molesta perderte, sufrir y aprender a la mala, aquí hay una experiencia con carácter. Si lo tuyo es el “progreso medible”, recompensas constantes y comunidad activa, este reino está vacío… y no precisamente por accidente.

asi se ve buenos aires

good oldschool game

The movement is a little wonky, you feel a bit squishy against the bosses, and the areas can be a little cryptic, but it's a great game to play. Highly recommend the whole Heretic/Hexen series in general.