Police Quest 2: The Vengeance
Description official description
Little time has passed since the events of Police Quest, when Sonny Bonds climbed the ranks of the Lytton police department and became the key element in the arrest of Jesse Bains, the notorious drug lord. After the trial, Sonny's application to the Homicide division was accepted and proposed to Marie, who had her prostitution charges dropped and started a new life away from the streets. Life was good - until Bains escaped, taking advantage of a low-security prison and an inexperienced correctional officer. Sonny is now in danger from a vengeful Bains and is saddled with his new chain-smoker partner Keith. Sonny goes to the field again to capture Bains, but things are about to get awfully personal...
Using Sierra's new SCI engine, the graphics are more vibrant than in the first game, but gameplay remains basically the same, with the player ordering Sonny to move to a place in the scene (either using the directional keys or the new mouse interface) and a parser interface to interact with the game world. Game sequences are more varied, and include a shooting range, an underwater search or searching the inside of an escape vehicle. The driving sequences are gone, and the player can relax while reading the chatter between Sonny and Keith as they move from location to location. The approach to the game, however, is radically different. While the first (for a large part) is based on street police work, this sequel is oriented into forensics field work such as collecting evidences that link Bains into the happenings of the game.
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Credits (DOS version)
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Reviews
Critics
Average score: 72% (based on 22 ratings)
Players
Average score: 3.8 out of 5 (based on 80 ratings with 11 reviews)
Best Police Quest ever! Excellent game from Mr. Walls.. a must play!
The Good
I about wore this game down to the bone. It made me feel as though I really was a cop, I loved the way I had to go in and sight in my weapon, I got my own cop car to drive anywhere I wanted... this game was just awesome. In addition to the new and improved graphics and sound from the first Police Quest, the plot is much more complex and entertaining. This game left me always waiting for my next big break on where I could find Bains... If I remember correctly, the driving sequence was greatly improved from PQ1's driving sequence. I loved everything about this game and will probably replay this great title sometime in the near future. Another timeless adventure from the great people at Sierra.
The Bad
There wasn't really anything I didn't like about this game. Of course the annoying copy protection at the beginning but thats understood and excepted by me.
The Bottom Line
Another excellent adventure from Jim Walls, a must play for the classic PC adventure fans! Definitely try this great game, you won't be disappointed!
DOS · by OlSkool_Gamer (88) · 2004
Nearly 16 Years on, and its still one of the best yet!!!
The Good
THE STORYLINE. What a riveting story line. Even as a 9 near old back in 1992, I could understand and become excited by the storyline.
An all-time classic. This game was nearly responsible for me becoming a police officer. Nostalgia galore, I put this up there with the Tupac albums that could have been, the Bruce Lee Flicks we should have seen. It actually makes me depressed that no-one has made a police "quest" game in years. I take personal pride in the fact that (especially since I'm a computer science undergraduate myself) such a dated and "unpretty" game.....is still one of the greatest ever written by humanity. In terms of story, playability and entertainment....it has only been matched by Monkey Island 2 or perhaps GTA3 Vice City.
The fact that by the age of 11, I could type at a rate of 32wpm at least and had a reading age of 17-- SOLELY DUE TO THIS GAME!!! It is fair to say that modern day computer game are abusive to concentration span and perhaps intellectual development, but this game proved that it doesn't have to be like that.
The Bad
The fact that it took me one full year when I was a kid to leave the police station!, because I didn't know you had to press F3 to get into the car and make your partner keith enter the car also!!!!! LMAO This was the biggest puzzle in the game. I still never have seen it written in the manual. (just like in police quest 1 the VGA version, I was stuck in the final scene for 6 months because I didn't know the number for the taxi - and still don't know where I was supposed to get it)
Well of course, they're are many features which may be unbearable to users nowadays.
The graphics are extremley dated.
The input system means you must use exactly the correct "keyword" or "phrase" at times, even when you know the correct course of action.
The Bottom Line
If I were to be honest, I would have to admit that only a very patient person or a diehard fan could sit down and play this game today.
Its simply too dated(and possibly too complex) for modern users.
Modern computer players don't like to think, they just hit the fire button.
However, if I've just managed to convince you, yes YOU, well you can download the game absolutley free at any abandonware site, and it would nearly fit on your mobile phone these days.
DOS · by kubakuba (9) · 2003
Harder, Better and Darker than PQ1 - 5 stars!
The Good
I was hanging out for PQ2 to be released, after absolutely loving the first game. And after playing it for a couple of days it was apparent that it was an even better game than the first.
The graphics were higher resolution and a step up from the first game - the EGA version used dithering to give the impression of a lot more than 16 colours. The artwork was great - each location was lovingly put together with a great diversity of styles - from the lagoon/diving section to the sewers to the police station it was excellent for its time.
The sound was a huge step up, being the first in the series to support the Adlib and Roland sound cards - some great tunes and themes. No decent sound effect support, but it still was very good for PC games of the time.
The storyline/plot and puzzles are the best part of the game. Continuing on from the first game it details the events following the escape from prison of Jessie Bains, the "Death Angel".
As before, the plot escalates in intensity, excitement and difficulty to a perfect scale with a great conclusion to the game. The different things that you have to do in the game are great - the shooting range at the PD is cool, the diving section is fun, and having to investigate crime scenes and put all the clues and evidence together (such as dusting for prints etc) to work out what to do next gives a great sense of achievement, as well as being lots of fun.
Whereas, in PQ1 you were kind of led along by the procedures manual and rather obvious clues, this game requires you to do a lot more conclusive thinking for yourself, making it difficult for non-adventure fans, but a truly classic time for those who love the genre. The story is darker and moodier than PQ1, which was kind've light hearted, but is all that much better as a result. There is still a lot of humour in there too, especially from your partner.
The length of the game - from memory it took me several months to finish (I was 12 at the time) without any hints whatsoever. The sense of satisfaction in doing so was rewarding.
The Bad
Playing it in CGA originally some sections were hard (such as the diving) as the colours were all blue and red and some obvious clues were hidden as a result. There's not much else wrong with this game, another true classic for Sierra.
The Bottom Line
A classic adventure that is the best game in the Police Quest series - the subsequent titles were actually pretty average. An engaging story with characters that you believe in and make you want to keep playing just to see how everything turns out. If you love Sierra games, then play PQ1 AGI and this through without walkthroughs, and you'll love every moment!
DOS · by Anthony Bull (24) · 2003
Discussion
Subject | By | Date |
---|---|---|
About PC-98 version's 16 color mode | Infernos (44329) | May 25, 2023 |
Trivia
Easter Eggs
- If you're clever enough to "hack" into the office computers, you discover that Laura Watts, Sonny's narcotics partner from PQI, was found out to be the "Gremlin" that antagonized Dooley. She quietly retired from the force after she was caught.
- Look around in the airport, and you will see Larry Laffer (and hear a quick rendition of 'For Your Thighs Only').
- Take a second look at the Victor Simms picture from the manual. Remind you of anything? ("Get your stinkin' paws off me, you damned dirty ape!")
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Police Quest 2: The Vengeance Soundtrack
Police Quest 2: The Vengeance Soundtrack available for download (for free).
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Contributors to this Entry
Game added by Andy Roark.
Amiga added by POMAH. PC-98, Atari ST added by Terok Nor.
Additional contributors: Alaka, Echidna Boy, formercontrib, Picard.
Game added May 29, 1999. Last modified January 29, 2024.