Recap pages are Spoilers Off by default, so in all these pages all spoilers are unmarked. Proceed with caution. You Have Been Warned
The second episode of Quake has the Ranger searching the Realm of Black Magic for the second rune. New enemies introduced are the Enforcer, Death Knight, Rotfish and Vore.
The episode is composed of six levels, plus a Secret Level: "The Installation", "The Ogre Citadel", "The Crypt of Decay", "The Ebon Fortress", "Wizard's Manse" and "The Dismal Oubliette".
This episode shows examples of:
- Adaptation Expansion: Rather "Re-Release Expansion". The cut exterior part of "E2M6: The Dismal Oubliette"note was re-added to the game in the 2021 remaster.
- Astral Checkerboard Decor: "E2M5 Wizard's Manse" has this.
- Beneath the Earth: "E2M7: The Underearth" takes place beneath the ground.
- Brutal Bonus Level: "E2M7: The Underearth" is extremely difficult and will probably eat up all of your ammo by the time you finish it.
- Cosmetic Award: The 2021 remaster offers the following achievements for this episode:
- Finding the Secret Level entrance earns you "Nevermore".
- Finding the Easter Egg (see below) earns you "The Well of Wishes".
- Completing the episode earns you "Bottom of the Well".
- Dual Boss: The end-level boss is a pair of Vores.
- Dungeon Bypass: "E2M1: The Installation" can be beaten in less than a minute by simply running to the hall where you unlock a door with the Gold Keycard and jumping to the other side, no skill is required.
- Easter Egg: The Dopefish appears in a well-hidden secret room in "E2M3: The Crypt of Decay".
- Elevator Action Sequence: The final part of "E2M6: The Dismal Oubliette", consists of an elevator with plenty of monsters appearing along the way.
- George Lucas Altered Version: The 2021 rerelease quietly alters "E2M6: The Dismal Oubliette". It has a new opening area, an actual oubliette which the player must fight their way through before rising upward into the original start of the map. This section was designed by John Romero in 1996 at the same time as the rest of the level, but was cut out due to space constraints; it was eventually released for free download on Romero's website years later as a separate level ("E2M10: Lost Entrance of the Dismal Oubliette"), but was never re-implemented into its intended spot until the anniversary version.
- Haunted Castle: "E2M2: The Ogre Citadel" and "E2M4: The Ebon Fortress" are two of these. Fittingly, the first example is filled with Ogres.
- Mook-Themed Level: "E2M2: The Ogre Citadel" is filled with Ogres.
- Secret Level: "E2M7: The Underearth", accessible by hitting a switch in "E2M3: The Crypt of Decay" and returning to a previously explored area in order to check an area previously closed with bars.
- Spike Shooter:
- "E2M2: The Ogre Citadel" features it in the entrance segment.
- "E2M3: The Crypt of Decay" features a bunch of these in a hallway accessible from an elevator near the end of the level.
- "E2M6: The Dismal Oubliette" features it halfway during the Elevator Action Sequence.
