Heretic II

Raven Software

Company type	Video game developer
Industry	Video games
Founded	1990 (1990)
Headquarters	Madison, Wisconsin , United States
Area served	Worldwide
Products	Heretic II, Hexen series, others
Owner	Activision
Number of employees	Approximately 20 (during Heretic II development) (1997)
Parent	Activision
Website	www.ravensoftware.com

Heretic II is an action-adventure title released in 1998, developed by Raven Software and distributed by Activision for the Microsoft Windows platform. As the fourth installment in the Hexen and Heretic franchise, it continues the narrative of Corvus, the original protagonist from Heretic. Although earlier entries were published by Id Software, the rights to Heretic II belong to Activision via Raven Software.

The game utilizes a customized version of the Quake II engine and introduces a third-person perspective combined with first-person shooter elements, delivering a distinctive gameplay experience at the time of release. This change from the series' traditional first-person viewpoint was met with mixed reactions among longtime fans. The musical score was composed by Kevin Schilder, while Gerald Brom provided conceptual designs for characters and creatures. Unlike previous titles, this installment has no direct affiliation with id Software aside from its licensed engine use.

Ports of Heretic II were later developed for Linux by Loki Software, for the Amiga by Hyperion Entertainment, and for Macintosh through MacPlay.

Plot

Upon returning from exile, Corvus finds Parthoris afflicted by a strange plague that causes madness or death in those infected. Corvus, the lead character from the original Heretic, escapes his hometown Silverspring after contracting the illness himself. Possessing one of the Tomes of Power slows the disease’s progression, but he must seek a cure to survive.

His quest leads him across varied locations—including urban settings, swamps, a jungle palace, desert canyons, insect hives, mines, and a mountain fortress—where he faces Morcalavin, an ancient Seraph who desires eternal life through collecting seven Tomes of Power. Morcalavin’s insanity and the plague stem from his use of a counterfeit tome. Ultimately, Corvus triumphs by replacing the false tome with his genuine one, restoring Morcalavin’s sanity and halting the epidemic.

Gameplay

Departing from earlier first-person perspectives in the Heretic/Hexen series, players now control Corvus from a third-person viewpoint positioned behind him. Combat integrates both melee and ranged attacks using three weapons that consume distinct ammunition types, complemented by offensive and defensive spells fueled by separate green and blue mana reserves. The Tome of Power functions as a defensive spell that temporarily boosts damage output while unlocking new weapon and spell capabilities.

Melee encounters are more engaging, allowing multiple bladestaff strikes and incapacitating foes by severing limbs. Throughout levels, magical shrines grant various bonuses such as silver or gold armor enhancements, temporary health regeneration, or permanent upgrades to the bladestaff.

Set within dark fantasy medieval environments, the third-person 3D design enables acrobatic maneuvers including ledge climbing, back-flips, and pole vaulting—features made possible by the sophisticated Quake II engine (id Tech 2), contrasting with the original game's simpler Doom engine. This gameplay evolution earned Heretic II positive critical reception for its innovative approach.

Development

Development began in November 1997 with a team of approximately 20 members at Raven Software. Drawing inspiration from the Tomb Raider franchise, they employed the Quake II engine to craft a third-person action experience. Gerald Brom’s concept artwork played an essential role during early stages. Within one month, programmers had implemented the camera system. After Activision approved a playable demo, Raven targeted completion by Christmas but ultimately launched shortly before Thanksgiving. Additionally, they created a software renderer to support users with 16-bit graphics cards, primarily catering to European markets.

Corvus’s animations featured realistic spinal movement and included around 1,600 frames created mainly using Autodesk Softimage. Simpler animations and static objects were produced with Autodesk 3ds Max. The engine was capable of rendering up to 4,000 polygons simultaneously on screen.

Following ZeniMax Media’s acquisition of id Software in 2009, ownership rights became divided: Activision retained development control over the series while id maintained publishing rights.

Reception

Although critics generally responded favorably to Heretic II, it did not achieve commercial success. Data from PC Data shows that by April 1999, sales in the United States reached only 28,994 copies. Steve Felsen of Activision attributed this underperformance to the game's third-person viewpoint, which alienated fans of first-person shooters—the primary demographic the game aimed to attract.

The PC edition received a three-star rating out of five from Next Generation, which acknowledged that while the game held its own against major competitors, it underscored the necessity for innovation across all design elements to truly differentiate itself.

Edge commended Heretic II for successfully combining platforming with shoot 'em up mechanics, setting it apart from both first-person shooters like those developed by id Software and third-person franchises such as Tomb Raider. The game was shortlisted for Computer Gaming World's 1998 "Best Action" award, ultimately won by Battlezone. Editors highlighted that the title demonstrated the adaptability of the Quake II engine for third-person gameplay and featured a spell-casting elf protagonist who added unique appeal.

External links

• Official website via Internet Archive