Police Quest 2: The Vengeance

aka: PQ2, Police Quest II
Moby ID: 147
DOS Specs

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: 71% (based on 21 ratings)

Players

Average score: 3.8 out of 5 (based on 80 ratings with 11 reviews)

A worthy sequel and an exciting adventure.

The Good
Jim Walls' main skill as a game writer, besides making you feel like you ARE a police officer (through his experience), is giving the gamer great characters and a great setting with which to base his game upon. While elements of the game's theme may lack originality, it holds up well under the memorable people that you meet and interact with, and the environment of Lytton.

PQII is more forgiving than PQI. You don't lose the game on the spot when you accidentally leave a print un-dusted.

The soundtrack, composed and performed by Mark Siebert, is very nice. The music is appropriate and atmospheric, and some of the tunes will stay in your mind for a long time. There isn't enough of it, however! A good deal of the game is played in silence.

PQII is quite exciting. There is a little more action than in PQI, and parts will quite honestly have you on the edge of your seat.

I enjoyed the game's graphics. Sierra did some great stuff with 16 colors, and PQ2 is no exception. The colors are bright and defined, and the close-ups and in-game graphics are as nice to look at in 1999 as they were in 1988.

The Bad
Lacks the gritty realism of PQI. For its time, PQI was a very 'mature' game, not to be played by young children. PQII is a little more appropriate for kids - and while still quite exciting, as I mentioned, some of the original 'feel' is lost.

PQII is more forgiving than PQI. You can draw your gun anywhere you please, and even take a pot shot or two in the park.

The skyjacking scene. It simply doesn't belong.

The Bottom Line
Police Quest II is definitely worth your time, and I bet that Sonny Bonds will be one of your favorite game heroes by the time you're through playing.

DOS · by Eurythmic (2663) · 1999

Best of the series! Loved underwater diving, overall great adventure game!

The Good
It was a great game from Sierra, I really enjoyed the Police Quest series of adventure games and this was one of the better stories. Not too hard but kept u interested the whole time. Classic game here people.

The Bad
For its time it did everything well and achieved what you were trying to do in an adventure game. They scrapped the driving from the other games but i actually liked it.

The Bottom Line
Classic piece of adventure gaming history. This game makes you wonder where the good ol games have gone.

DOS · by Jay Gand (4) · 2003

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

[ View all 11 player reviews ]

Discussion

Subject By Date
About PC-98 version's 16 color mode Infernos (44016) 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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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.