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)

Another Sierra Classic

The Good
I purchased this game the day I got my first true PC, it was a 286 Tandy TL2. One my favorite memories of this game was the first time I booted up a game on that system I saw the opening to this title.

Ok now that we have walked down memory lane lets discuss why this is a classic! First of all the graphics were first rate for its time. Sierra's use and blending of colors and graphics were always great and in Police Quest it shows. Second Sierra during this time really knew how to weave a story. The way the story progresses is just right. I never felt that it dragged or got boring. I was always glued to the screen to find out what would happen next. Third there were some heart stopping moments when you thought that sonny's life might end. (and sometimes it did too!)

Sound was ok, but back then you couldn’t ask for much. and generally there weren’t any stupid or dumb moments in the game. It all felt real or as real as a PC game gets. ..... One last thing, I really felt as if I was a cop after playing PQ2. I had to do things just right or of course the game would tell me otherwise .

The Bad
Well at one moment of the game you have to do some scuba diving. Some of the objects are almost impossible to see. While the scene is fun and enjoyable it took an experienced PQ2 player to help me though that part. Also the game could be a tad rigid. If you didn’t do things just right you couldn’t even get into your car. Now I know cops don’t do all of those things every time they get into a squad car. Come on!

The Bottom Line
One of the top games in Sierra's past.

DOS · by William Shawn McDonie (1131) · 2001

As if One Police Quest isnt enough....

The Good
Well the graphics look about the same as they did it the first Police Quest. The controls are easy to use, and it is a good adventure game it true Sierra Style. This is a classic, which doesn't get the credit that it deserves, many people have played the first one, and this one is just as good as that.

The Bad
Come On now, a second police quest, Somebody at sierra must have had a friend in the force.

The Bottom Line
If you have played the First Police Quest, play this one. It is a typical 80's Sierra adventure game that is fun and will make you keep coming back for more.

DOS · by NotTwoQuick (18) · 2000

Police Quest goes from procedural to cop movie

The Good
Police Quest 2 starts off with a bang. Jessie 'the Death Angel' Bains escapes from jail & goes on a murder rampage through the city. Sonny Bonds, the player character, has been promoted to detective & must hunt down the murderous Bains & put him away -or down- for good. Many improvements have been made over its predecessor. Graphics are more detailed & the music helps establish that 80s Miami Vice vibe. You even have a partner who cracks wise but essentially does nothing. You must collect all the evidence on your perp. The strict adherence to procedure that was present in the first game has been abandoned. Now you are on your own to act as a homicide detective. Doing things wrong means getting reamed out by your stereotypical police captain or worse, death!

The Bad
SPOILERS This game breaks down towards the final act. In closing in on the bad guy, the story takes a few twists that contradict the series reliance on following police rules. In an airplane sequence you must kill 2 hijackers & defuse a bomb. After that you must corner the Death Angel, who has apparently gone full supervillain, in his hidden underground lair. Once again lethal force is the only solution. This seems strange considering that up to this point the game encourages you to avoid killing by following the proper rules of engagement. The whole hijacker plot seems to be there to pad out the game time as well. These sequences are jarring compared to the rest of the game.

The Bottom Line
Police Quest 2 is a good game that makes players feel like they are in a buddy cop movie but without the real-life routine of a police officer.

DOS · by Grumpy Quebecker (612) · 2023

[ 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.