QuakeCon surprise: Heretic and Hexen enhanced remasters are now available

[Daniel Sims]

What's Included: For the fourth time in as many years, id Software and Nightdive Studios have shadow-dropped an enhanced port of one of id's classic first-person shooters during QuakeCon. This time, it's Hexen, with modern engine enhancements, cross-platform multiplayer, new quality-of-life features, and two new level packs.

Like the improved versions of Doom and Quake released during previous QuakeCon events, the new $14.99 combo pack, titled Heretic + Hexen, is a free update for anyone who previously owned the titles on Steam or GOG. The original DOS versions are also included for users who still prefer unofficial source ports.

The package includes Heretic: Shadow of the Serpent Riders, Hexen: Beyond Heretic, and Hexen: Deathkings of the Dark Citadel. Nightdive and id also included two new episodes: Heretic: Faith Renewed, and Hexen: Vestiges of Grandeur. Furthermore, an in-game browser allows players to install additional free levels that modders have created over the decades since Heretic and Hexen's initial launch in the '90s.

An enhanced graphics engine with multithreaded rendering enables gameplay at up to 120Hz in 4K with widescreen support. Users can also toggle a remixed soundtrack by Andrew Hulshult and optional game balance adjustments.

Quality-of-life features include modern controller support, an updated user interface, screen adjustments, improved text, quick save, and text-to-speech. Nightdive and id also introduced text support for 12 additional languages: French, Italian, German, European Spanish, Latin American Spanish, Brazilian Portuguese, Polish, Russian, Japanese, Korean, Traditional Chinese, and Simplified Chinese.

Players who log into a Bethesda account can access new online multiplayer features, such as cross-platform co-op and deathmatch with up to 16 players on 120 maps. Offline multiplayer is also supported, with split-screen and LAN deathmatch and co-op for up to eight players. Unlike many other games that lock split-screen to consoles, Heretic + Hexen enables the feature on PC.

Other additions include development art and numerous bug fixes.

Raven Software originally released Heretic in 1994 and Hexen the following year, using an enhanced version of the engine id created for the original Doom. Heretic mostly felt like a fantasy-themed total conversion of Doom, but Hexen introduced a unique, nonlinear gameplay structure with larger maps. The new release brings Hexen to consoles for the first time since the Nintendo 64 version released 28 years ago, and Heretic to consoles for the first time ever.

Raven also released Hexen II in 1997 and Heretic II in 1998. Although both are available on digital storefronts, they might receive remasters at a future QuakeCon.

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QuakeCon surprise: Heretic and Hexen enhanced remasters are now available

 

[VitalyT]

"Enhanced Remasters" without ray tracing? That's a lazy remastering. Why not make a proper remastering like it was done for Quake II? The reason people love playing it is because the ray tracing makes all the difference.

 

[yukka]

"Enhanced Remasters" without HDR? That's a lazy remastering. Why not make a proper remastering like it was done for Quake II? The reason people love playing it is because the HDR makes all the difference.

That’s hilarious. You speak for everyone? Reason I like the Quake 2 remaster is for the RTX and the nostalgia of playing a game I bought at release with a cdrom that came in a massive cardboard box that Amazon deliveries would have been proud to have called their own.

These games were using the wolfenstein/doom engine so the pseudo 3D style. They don’t need HDR to be enjoyable. Hexen 2 was awesome and I would play a remaster happily and that can have RTX and HDR as that was proper 3D graphics with the quake engine.

 

[wiyosaya]

I liked Heretic back in the day. I wouldn't mind playing a remaster, if I had the time.

 

[ScottSoapbox]

I love free upgrades!

Edit: Boo. I don't own these on steam, must have been on long lost discs.

 

[MakeMSGreatAgain]

"Enhanced Remasters" without ray tracing? That's a lazy remastering. Why not make a proper remastering like it was done for Quake II? The reason people love playing it is because the ray tracing makes all the difference.

While the tech is cool, and does make the game look arguably better, it does change the original feel of the game because the lighting looks different - thereby changing the atmosphere you sense in the game. Those of us who played it originally may not be okay with that being changed.

I do appreciate these old games still getting love today. Though what I would appreciate more would be more content. The new map packs we got with Quake were great! I want more of that. Yes it would be nice to see an entire remaster keeping the original content, and adding more... but just more content in general is always a huge welcome. I'd even pay a little for the content to be honest.

 

[dznmdrwutmynamiz]

I understand the technical and stylistic reasons for not adding free look, but after decades of OpenGL ports, I don't think I can go back. Still good to see these games getting love for those who don't mind though, and the price seems reasonable.

 

[yukka]

These are releasing on console too so a whole generation of players who never played any of the pc versions get to experience some history with a little polish thrown in.

 

[BogdanR]

Would love to see an “RTX” treatment to those, much like the one for Quake 2. Doom and Wolfenstein should too.

 

[llamapanda]

I love free upgrades!

Edit: Boo. I don't own these on steam, must have been on long lost discs.

Get out of my head I didn't get the GOG versions since I already own the original CDs. Tempting to now hoover up all the old classics for a buck a pop while I can in case they also get the Nightdive treatment in future. If they don't, there's no shame in supporting GOG regardless.

 

[bviktor]

That’s hilarious. You speak for everyone? Reason I like the Quake 2 remaster is for the RTX and the nostalgia of playing a game I bought at release with a cdrom that came in a massive cardboard box that Amazon deliveries would have been proud to have called their own.

These games were using the wolfenstein/doom engine so the pseudo 3D style. They don’t need HDR to be enjoyable. Hexen 2 was awesome and I would play a remaster happily and that can have RTX and HDR as that was proper 3D graphics with the quake engine.

It's just that the "improvements" are you minuscule there's simply no point in these "remasters".

And btw. that Quake 2 RTX version is just for the first 3 shareware levels, so once again, useless.

 

[yukka]

It's just that the "improvements" are you minuscule there's simply no point in these "remasters".

And btw. that Quake 2 RTX version is just for the first 3 shareware levels, so once again, useless.

If you are only considering PC gamers then yes I get that but these are also out on all the consoles so there’s a load of players who can experience these for the first time.

 

[Q Wales]

Great games

Best I remember from the late 80's, I had 2 old 486 Pc's with a seriel port laplink cable connecting them and used to play this against my brother . We had a right laugh turning each other into chickens and bouncing each other off the walls with various spells.

Backing noises in the single player used to be quite scary too.