To further compatiblity and bugs fixes improvments, you need 3DFX emulation wrapper. OpenGL render is broken. Well, in any way, in original game Software have unique features not present even in PowerVR\3DFX renders (and also PS1 port have new effects).
Or some tweaks in console\autoexec.cfg.
So install better some source-posrt mods.
- 3.21 compiled Win update (from MarkShan The Sin Raven) - it have 3.21 dll for all 3 Q2 games
- 3.21 dll from MH (DirectQ2 mod (old one D3D9, not current D3D11 github source-only-release) author, bundled in v.1 release) - and so DirecQ2 source-port mod v.1 relese.
- Facelift mod sourceport and bundled stackhackfix for exe (it did change 3.21 exe file) - most important - it did change how opengl renser work restored some things from Software and 3DFX.
this one exclude autoexec-console tweaking
- (optional) optionally a little bit further upscaled textures
Further improvments is widescreen support. You already have v.1 DirectQ2 release, but it only for another 3.21 dll varint. Now downlaod DirectQ2 v2 release and use it to make widescreen.
Copy-paste Q2Laucnher.ini and Link file. Rename to DirectQ2Launcher and edit Link file. Edit ini file quake main executable string to use new exe.
Even more improvments - Yamagi source-port mod. Another copy-paste of Q2Launcher, another ini editing for new exe yamagiq2.exe. Copy music to new folder (in readme file).
There is optional far more upscaled texture pack for Yamagi.
Some even more graphics imrovments - Quake2XP source-port mod.
It did add flashlight, but it stil llcoser to original atmosphere.
More changes to gameplay and graphics make it less Quake2 and more like Doom\Quake4 - Berserker or any else sourceport mods. Berserker is original mod where flashlight implemented, but its because it too much darker mod. There is also a lot of gameplay changes.
Quake 2 RTX source-port remaster is new further improvments, based on few community projects (q2xp, q2pro, q2max, q2vpk). Available on Steam o as DRM-free on GOG (outdated currently 1.5) and GitHub (v.1.6 update released half a year ago).
Also, Quake 2 BEFORE 3.10 is differ in difficulties. But i cant find anything early than 3.10 and v.1.0(3.05) is broken saving system - same move pointer error when you travel betwean hub-sub-levels. You should do saves before whole mission end. Load is wrkning, but next time you pass level-door it corrupt current save and autosave.
Also, DirectQ2 v.2 is harder to find.
I try now to put all links here...
http://www.markshan.com/thesinraven - link to 3.21 compiled dll, exture pack from someone else (no author) and something else, as well as all 3.20 patches variants (3.20-full link is half-broken)
http://github.com/mhQuake/DirectQII - link to MH new DirectQ2 d3d11 (i use d3d9 v2)
there is few mirrors to old d3d9 v1 and v2 with his dll file
http://www.chebmaster.com/q2facelift/index.html link to Facelift mod
Or you can dowanlod my archive
http://disk.yandex.com/d/qCcsi3h5Oj3zZA (there is a 3.20-full-ctf +exe fiels backup, still better use alternative folder!)
This my archive installed on GOG version (and only on GOG) is enough to play original game in most authentic way.
It is Facelift mod fixed OpenGL original render as well as d3d9 alternative render and GOG laucnher Q2launcher.ini file edited for DirectQ2 exe
its still better use some nowadays OpenGL render instead of d3d9\11\any else. So YamagiQ2 a little bit better. Or Vulkan render - YamagiQ2 separate version experimental or some else source-port-mod's.
Here is YamagiQ2 link
http://www.yamagi.org/
Yamagi without any texture packs is also most authentic way to play - but require additional tweak step for music (GOG music). Facelift is improved OpenGL General (broken initially) render with no any else changes, DirectQ2 is just single exe file and they both - not affect anything technically or gameplay. They can be compatible with any music solution if such solutions not depand on source-mods (GOG vanilla release - GOG music can be used on any source-port, and as i know no one share same simple music solution, they all based on some source-port mods).
For more graphics there is a lot of texture packs. Best texture packs are here
http://steamcommunity.com/sharedfiles/filedetails/?id=2286921814 or here (first linked variant also partially used)
http://www.moddb.com/games/quake-2/addons/quake-2-the-reconing-ground-zero-hi-res-texture-pack This ones is for YamagiQ2.
There is Quake2XP mod and 3rd party texture packs for it (Q2Max or some else). Here is link to Q2XP
http://www.moddb.com/mods/quake-2-xp This one if for best graphics possible.
If need even more - there is official source-port-remake Quake 2 RTX by Nvidia and Bethesda. it use newest OpenGL and Vulkan renders (require top RTX card and in rtx mode on ultra there is no hardware allow to play in stable 120, even 60 FPS).
