Battlezone 2: Original vs Remaster (1999 vs 2018) Comparison

Today the remaster of Battlezone 2: Combat Commander has been released, so I compare the original and the remaster. The original game from 1999 was a very good mix of RTS and FPS. But unfortunately it wasn't a financial success. The remaster has better textures but is lacking polygons, in my opinion.
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[@TechnicFlow]

I have Battlezone 2 to thank for my career. 10 year old me getting in the map editor and learning to create maps that other people actually played. Learning to create custom ships. Contributing to an overhaul mod. Literally the first steps down my game dev career.

[@vicpinto1970]

I remember a prolific designer for mods at the time. He's screen name was DutchBoy. I too made some ST maps for BZ2 - among them were St. Helenas (which used a topo map of mount Saint Helens for the terrain) , Money Pit, Temple of Doom and others. I went by the name Saint in the {LoC} and [VnB] clans. Man I miss those days.

[@TechnicFlow]

@@vicpinto1970 Ahh wow, I don't really remember much about the names of the map and everything. I went by Sniperfox at the time. I mostly made maps and map assets.

[@themaximusone]

Interested in re-rendering Bat1???

[@TechnicFlow]

@@themaximusone It would be great honestly if I had the time. No way I'd have the tiem to do anythign unpaid right now.

[@DeathSithe92]

@@TechnicFlow not gonna lie I really wish I had friends who played the game I would have loved to do the same thing, prolly would have been a game dev myself had I had the positive interactions with the game back then.

[@TasiaValenzaVoice]

Very cool to find this. I voiced Commander Yelena Shabayev. I've never heard it before so it's very cool to see the game and hear my character.

[@coolersmoke]

Tasia, your voice would sometimes haunt me in my dreams - I spent far, far too much time playing this fabulous game :)

[@DJB3lfry]

Holy shit, that's incredible. I just want you to know, this was my favorite game when I was a kid back in the 00s, and Shabayev was someone I looked up to more than any other game character back then. Like, I can't emphasize just how important of a role model she was for me; she helped form the appreciation I have for awesome female characters, and your voice is burned into my memory forever

[@G4JVideos]

Wow, that is so awesome! Great job! Do you ever do cameos!? :D Modders would love that making new missions.

[@ItalianStallionLouie]

The original game has such a high level of quality for its time. Unreal. So many years ahead of its time. Strategy + first person shooter / vehicles that could transform, could jetpack and parachute, scavange resources etc. Shouldve been more popular. Needed more marketing! That theme song...

[@ivanfojan8859]

I agree. I owned the original and it's aged surprisingly well. I can remember the dialogue like it was yesterday :) I used to love the skirmish more against the ai, rts, base building, resources, sort of like a 3d version of total annihilation! If only they would do a remaster of that :)

[@osvaldoalvarado9250]

i play this game when i have 10 years old (2004 maybe) in a Island in south of chile (not have internet, only i play this game because one friend install on my computer) i love this game !!!

[@bloodymacbeth]

I used to build an army of APC's and go stand on a mountain near the enemies base and watch them drop off bunches of rocket launcher troops and wreck everything

[@Vitaliuz]

Louis Caputo, Good point! My thoughts exactly.

[@PopelPL]

Do we have discord, commanders? o7

[@Stephens-Channel]

I enjoyed the foggy purple colors and softer tones in the original.

[@devin7tm]

BEST GAME EVER MADE!

[@chrisfowler623]

Damn right!

[@pierrepauldufour3685]

Yep ... Still playing games under BZBuzz. Miss so much first years of Team speak friends of that time : Regenerator, Time Virus, Revenge , Pestilence. I 'm even sure to have played with the Robert Brothers from Wing Commander a presently Star Citizen.

[@FALCORZZ]

right next to freelancer

[@clemensdipa4566]

Yeah but the first chapter.. Battlezone 1

[@timmyp6297]

1 not 2. There was an official graphics pack that gave it the same graphics as 2 also.

[@lordterra1377]

I really like the Remastered version but I will say that it looks more bland by comparison. The original had a better use of color which although much older makes the game feel more vibrant despite the lack of fancier effects.

[@LeehuaTsai]

Agreed. I don't really see the need to purchase the remastered version, it's higher detail doesn't really add to the game that much. In fact as you said, the color palette of the original makes it even more appealing.

[@Vitaliuz]

Lord Terra, Totally agreed!

[@paperclip9558]

@@rorychivers8769 well i dunno man, the right use of certain color pallete will certainly strengthen the sense of immersion to the game world and give a distinct identity to the game, and the original did this very well while the remaster feels like 'yet another generic space game'. The same thing happened with Gta san andreas for example, the ps2 version looks amazing with superb color pallete that amplify the atmosphere and setting, but the pc port and remastered version look so generic and uninspired compared to original.

[@angrycapsicum6027]

True, but the terrain looks quite good, I don't have the nostalgia factor for 2 like I do with 98, but I wish that redux had terrain that looks as good as the terrain in this game.

[@ncrvako]

I olny mind the light.

[@claudiucristofan6796]

The feel of the ships...they had weight and momentum.

[@RifetOkic]

Claudiu Cristofan Indeed, it was great back in the 90’s but is still so good. Just smooth and you could really feel your in an anti gravity like ship. Like one from Wipeout :)

[@PFG666]

Whattt, happy to hear they have released a remastered version of what was one of the best games I have ever played. I thoroughly enjoyed both Battlezone 1 and 2. It is a shame they never got recognition. Graphics and gameplay wise both games were untouchable for their time.

[@ulysses2162]

I know your comment is 3 years old now but what the heck, I'll reply anyway. I totally agree 100%. BZ1+2, and also the Ground Control games were my jam back in the day. Still play them from time to time today.

[@GeminiWoods]

Really want a 3rd BattleZone game!

[@joaott1974]

This most underrated game ever . Spent tons of hours playing solo and multiplayer with friends in LAN. We knew this game from a friend who bought a graphics card and the cd game came included. We made several copies e played against eachother. Now im 48 and we still speak about it between us.

[@kevinstevenson9629]

Ahhh the flashbacks :'-) That feeling when I was 9yo on 3rd grade, running back home after school so I can multiplayer with my friends .. fighting on "high and low" map hahahaha...

[@Stephens-Channel]

No way you could multiplayer this sucker?! I had no idea.

[@jerry8405]

@@Stephens-Channel it was too ahead of its time. i wonder if they modernized the networking but i doubt it

[@johanpacheco6506]

i was just looking for the old game to see where I could get it and HOLY SHIT! Remastered bro?! and on Steam?! I'm in!

[@ulysses2162]

I bought it yesterday. I was looking through the Steam summer sale to see what was what and came across it. At first I thought it must be that VR one or a different one all together until I clicked on and was like "F*cking yes!" BZ2 remastered, I'm having that" haha

[@apurvatrivedi5102]

@@ulysses2162 what? I couldn't find battlezone 2 remastered on steam

[@dandominare]

This game absolutely blew me away when it came out, the visuals were like nothing else we'd seen on a home computer at the time.

This hit me straight into my childhood. :S

[@Holy-Rowlo88]

Clarissa explain s it all

[@magnussorensen2565]

Woot. A remastered version of Battlezone 2. I absolutely loved this game when it launched 20 years ago. (Fealing old)

[@lethalnjector4663]

i loved this game growing up. I played it so much my father snapped my disc to it to prevent me from playing. Muahaha little did he know i was smart enough back then even to rip my cd data :D

[@PHeMoX]

The minigun effect in the original looks a bit better though... but apart from that, awesome to see this remastered (something you'll rarely see me say, as I'm fundamentally against 'remastered versions'). Also, Rebellion please do use whatever you earn from this to make a Battlezone III (and no, not the VR crap).

[@ulysses2162]

I know your comment is a year old but I don't care because I agree 1 million % that we need a BZ3.

[@Ethan348]

@@ulysses2162 I know that your comment is a year old now but I don't care either, 100% agree with you.

[@jefflancaster159]

@@Ethan348 I know that you comment is a year old now, but I just gotta agree with you....we need BZIII!!!

[@Ethan348]

@@jefflancaster159 indeed, now that I was supposed to reply to you after a year, I'll be deleting this comment soon

[@metsavend112]

Oh the golden times of my childhood Such sweet memories

[@joethompson4316]

Me too, I played for hours with friends

[@vortexmodeling]

One of the most entertaining and well laid games, play it or you'll miss out! Thank you to whoever worked on the remaster.

[@diegoromero4851]

That music, nostalgic. I remember being hooked on this. Also the more tank looking ships could shot fire balls. And also green energy balls only the alien base could use

[@pierrepauldufour3685]

PS At the time I played , there was this guy: Pastel with the help of a few others, that made a fantastic mode and lots of good maps ... MOD: named Forgotten ennemies. I would still play it if it was part of the remaster version.

[@yugoslavia_operator128]

Now we need same for Battlezone 1. I especially liked Pluto levels. What they did with light, models, it all so fits, makes you feel like you are really on Pluto crusing around in your craft. Cold, silent yet beautifull. Hope to see more battlezone in future!

[@davidrheinhardt4274]

Is it serious that I like the old version more than the remastered

[@vornadopro6502]

Pandemic Studios RIP

[@bryansprecher]

Was wondering if I should buy it. You just convinced me. I always did love this game.

[@crimelord90]

Crimelord here, I definitely miss old school BZ2 LoC clan

[@eriolhiiragizawa729]

I grew up with Battlezone and even played as far as the Forgotten Enemies expansion mod. Now what would be great if Battlezone trekked into Subnautica territory 😏

[@afshanafridi1746]

This brings back sooooo many memories I was nearly about to cry when I saw this I still remember my last ever multiplayer match at ground zero better get that remastered version soon

[@afshanafridi1746]

I still have the original version in my pc

[@cpt.rogers1396]

I feel like the new version has two Major issues. First it removed fog which really reduced the feeling of being in a dark place with it. Second the surface looks far too reflective, it looks almost like the surface of the planet and a lot of objects is made of plastic. Those are the main issues. The secondary issues are a bit more of my own opinion the art styles feel somewhat different in a way that might be negative, for example the original ISDF pilot uniform looked a lot like the one in the intro which I thought was pretty cool, however the new one looks almost like a cosplay of some kind. Some of the vehicles feel a bit different as well from the original maybe slightly too much so. I think it would of been possible to spiff them up but keep to the original art style though. I also felt like the video scenes were a bit awkward, I understand the original videos were recorded in a tiny 640x640 resolution but surely there's a method to touch up the video quality and put it back to full screen. Even if it looks a tad messy it beats having this tiny screen instead. Just my opinion but I really strongly believe the first two issues are serious problems that should be changed as it would greatly improve the overall 'mood' of the game.

[@GirmGent]

This is pretty nostalgic seeing this game remastered, I'm glad it hit the steam store and it's getting its spot in the light once again.

[@FreemanicParacusia]

I never knew they made a battlezone 2! I only ever played the N64 port of the original but I absolutely loved it as a kid.

[@Phnxkon]

Holy shit they remastered it?! Why am I JUST learning this

[@KangoV]

Used to play Battlezone 1/II back in the day. I was in the Vacuum Clan along with blods and keyb ;) The problem is that BZ 2 broke a lot of the good physics in BZ 1 and it lost a lot of players.

[@sureshsteven8669]

dang.. i didn't know they did a remastered version of this awesome game back in 2018. They should market this bigger cause a lot of people don't know this exist.

[@davidrheinhardt4274]

I still play this game

[@openmind2161]

I lost the name of the game & i searched like mad as it was the few childhood game which stuck in my mind & no modern game can cure that Thrust for playing this game again

[@ytwoquake]

Fuck yes. For some reason I was thinking about this game from way back. Decided to watch the playthrough because I have no idea where my old CD's are and found this. Instantly bought it on steam. Can't wait!

[@pierrepauldufour3685]

Yep ... I'm still playing games under BZBuzz. Miss so much first years of Team speak friends of that time : Regenerator, Time Virus, Revenge , Pestilence. I 'm even sure to have played it with the Robert Brothers from Wing Commander presently Star Citizen .

[@Streamcatcher]

What! This looks awesome! Can I download it somewhere?

[@BrainztormProductions]

Wonder if multiplayer is back up and going with people in it

[@RiyuXDs]

I still have the CD for this game an played it so much, yet I still had no idea wth I was doing.

[@DCxALBRECHT]

So buying this game today!

[@firkinflamer8604]

Nice. Graphic was about the only change. AI is dumb in the beginnning and starts learning. But do the scavangers still hump constructions?

[@AleK0451]

yes scavengers still get stuck inside gun towers and power plants

[@SantaWithGuns]

They scavenge faster I'll give them that, they also climb hills better.

[@somefilo]

They put in the features of the 1.3 patches but no MPI And why u no weapon linking

[@vicpinto1970]

Can you run Natty Bump's G66 mod with the remastered version?

[@adrianstealth340]

This needs to be released as a VR compatible title

[@tonysobon4669]

I am guessing this was only released on PC because I never understood how this game didn't get a Battlezone 3 . Do not get me wrong the game had some really bad balance issues but this game when I first played it was so fun I randomly tracked it down in 2010 after remembering how it still might be the best RTS first person shooter I have ever played and was trying to find out if they ever made more of these games since I never met someone who knows about this game. The OG Battlefront 2 Star wars game was maybe the closet I can think of if you played the game modes mainly with vehicle's. I am going to try and find a copy of it and see if I cannot play it , again it's basic and I will play it for like 2 weeks and then forget about it but it still will be a great 2 weeks.

[@kibeardless2455]

That awesome!!! Imagine how BZ3 would look like

[@phxlt1994]

Does the remastered version offer any more games or maps?

[@acewinge2302]

i dont know about u guys i would like to replay the old one.. cause those textures are just nostalgic... played this game when i was 6 on my pc..

[@eiszapfenderwutendenwinde3233]

Battlezone great fun, great franchise. Sadly, the Genre itself was abandoned. Also try Urban Assault from 1998. Its another heavily underrated game.

[@hanansheikh78]

I love this game and enjoyed alot. especially building Gun Towers. i want developers to upgrade this game and come in ground with more functions

[@Bigbacon]

this game amazing. the original graphics definitely still have a great look and charm to them.

[@chrisfowler623]

Did this come out yet?

[@jmanrambo5144]

daaaayaaaam i had this game back in the day

[@axa993]

That voice actress sounds like the one from Ground Control that voices your superior. I'm 90% certain it's the same actress

[@LeehuaTsai]

Question is, can you still hover and ghost? If not, I think the competitiveness of what made the original so enjoyable would be none existent in this one. They may have been unintentional by design by they added so much more complexity to the game that even the developers of the 1.3 patch tried to strip out just for re-enforcing the original game mechanics rather than creating the best parts of playing it.

[@Mad-Professor]

BIG FACTS - excellent question

[@hyperx72]

What's the songs at the beginning and 3:22?

[@ParlonsAstronomie]

I am confused. Battlezone combat comander is a remaster of Battlezone or of Battlezone 2 : combat comander ?

[@user-ze7tl2dw4i]

Hurricane/Knightmare Knight Miss the ol pals - Hailey, Owen (Hellshorse), Stephen (SFN), SP clan

[@ScantaniouslyCombust]

Remastered version looks get! They only thing is that the skybox is a bit weird sometimes. The overlays sometimes float and move in strange ways.

[@-_Nuke_-]

Will we be able to add more mods to this?

[@DCxALBRECHT]

NUKE following

[@Urgrandma-k7z]

Mods use the base game textures. The remastered is basically a mod, which means mods will not take from the remaster unless the modders mod it into their mod.

[@amoeb81]

Is the remaster using the same engine?

[@magicalgirl1296]

Wait there's a remaster of this game?

[@Ethan348]

Could anyone help me out with the 11th campaign mission? I have been trying to escort the recycler to the safe side but no matter what I do, the thin ice breaks and the Recycler goes down.

[@securemindsetofficial]

Stick to the more white spots they are solid. That is a tricky mission

[@Ethan348]

@@securemindsetofficial I figured it out already. Thanks anyway 😇

[@Stephens-Channel]

@@securemindsetofficial I remember playing through the first time when I was a kid I had a hell of a time with that mission too! Flash back! That and the one where you have to shoot out the scion in his ship and try not to get your ass ran over!

[@davidrheinhardt4274]

Where can i get the remastered version ?

[@damien1060]

steam

[@whitecrowg1]

still good game to pick up and play on steam

[@Lelouch79]

Holy crap

[@danielefabbro822]

When I was young, Battlezone was one of my first games, if nit the first. I loved both. I still have both original version perfectly functioning on cd. But I also bought the redux version. Strangely it looks harder than the original. AI also seems works... Worst. 🤣 Whatever. It is still a good game. 😎👍

[@SantaWithGuns]

The AI seems dumber in the remastered version. The gun towers and gun spires shot down bombers and APCs before in the original game. Now they act like they don't even see them. Also you can attack your enemy and they will fight you. The enemy can attack your soldiers and they let themselves be destroyed.

[@damirbabic7403]

I played battlezone and battlezone 2 this looks so great good job rebellion studio grizzly tank my favourite space tank 😀😀😀❤❤❤

[@kilroy987]

It was an interesting enough game to play through, but it lacked the punch of 98. A lot of issues with the multiplayer strategy element from 98 were fixed, at the cost of making it feel very even and by the numbers, so the action has no strong beats or crescendos.

[@mikebroe2553]

i had no issues with the multiplayer

[@fourdee4d]

TLDR: Freespace on a moon, with NMS visuals and 44khz audio? Same shit, different day.

[@mal-avcisi9783]

best sci fi game on the surface of the planet

[@copiusmaximus9696]

How to get the remaster??

[@SiNCry0]

The darker atmosphere might be nice, I'm torn. The darkening of a lot of the textures on ships and others objects is unnecessary. The addition of these weird 'light lines' in bizarre!

[@DeepInsideZettaiRyouiki]

They should make those skyboxes and lighting change depending on mission to balance suspence and tension with vibrant and alien climate. So sometimes looks better and sometimes look worse...but as a remaster and not revision...i would say its a BAD job.

[@IAMMASONDAVIDSONGOBIN]

I LOVE THIS GAME...

[@DmytroBogdan]

ShabayevA - if its a Russian female surname, gosh!

[@amoralunicorn8673]

top game !

[@madfighter77]

somehow the original looks much more vibrant with clear colors, like if you compare the sky for example..

[@hyperkaioken4982]

honestly in my brain as a child it always looked like the remaster lol

[@Stephens-Channel]

Same here!

[@perihelion7445]

Is it just me or does the original Battlezone 2 look better than the new one?

[@reaty05]

i like the textures of the remastered ships better but buildings could tone down a little in brightness the buildings i liked the original better

[@luckydubeinrc5165]

original for my likes, remastered looks a bit on the dark side, but a job welldone

[@user-xc4lq1zq2x]

THERE WAS A REMASTER FOR THIS GAME?!?!?!

[@Nipseyy]

THERE WAS A REMASTER?!?!?!

[@ricudosama674]

*Si que se nota mucho la diferencia LOL*

[@brazilian733]

reminds me of halo somehow

[@Tangogolfaus]

Soo many wasted hours. Especially when i found out there was a map editor! Made soo many crazy maps with tunnels and structures that weren't available to build normally. Like the large cannons and walls. Or random buildings. Well before it's time and idk if there's anything ever been like it again? :(

[@brendanoneill5830]

PLEASE TELL ME THEY MADE A REMASTER FOR THIS GAME!

[@Marduk401]

yes, what do you think this video is?

[@persandrishidev9545]

Anyone knows how do i get this game?

[@Ethan348]

store.steampowered.com/app/624970/Battlezone_Combat_Commander/

[@jimmynolet3752]

steam should do a bz1 vs bz2

[@biohazzeadaf327]

Awesome to is this game remastered. . . To bad all the money goes to a evil cooperation that killed the game developers. This and dark reign were my 2 favorite pandemic games. This and giants of kabuto never got the credit they deserved.

[@biohazzeadaf327]

Nevermind EA isnt even involed is this GREAT! the shots on the site look amazing.

[@darklasco5181]

I had both this and Dark Reign 2 loved them

[@Cincos5555]

Y comoconsigo el Remaster ; :v?

[@SeniorBetro]

RayMG ARC busca en Google, está fácil :v

[@Cincos5555]

Alberto Canseco que requisitos tiene papú v:?

[@SeniorBetro]

Está en steam :V

[@kevinlawson1746]

I like the Original better.

[@SliceOfButter25]

Please 2022 give me a next gen Battlezone Game just give it to me

[@SkrapMetal84]

*isert rave weapon moment*

[@vincentturmel2016]

J’aimerais sa l’avoir sur Nintendo swicht

[@thehmc]

The detail on the remaster is obviously better, but that lighting and color balance is terrible.