History Characters / QuakeII

* DistinctiveAppearances: Compared to the Stroggs in Quake 2 and Quake 3's Tank Jr. Bitterman looks nothing like them: His head has been unnaturally enlarged, he has green lime like skintone, compared to the corpse like pale tones of the Strogg. He doesn't seem to have cybernetic limbs of any kind (unless they are external) and his outfit doesn't really match the armor either, looking like stylized pants. His only Strogg like trait is his dreadlock like cables.

* Transhuman: Bitterman apparently was Stroggofied but he has a human personality compared to someone like Tank Jr. Implying he is a Strogg that was removed before brainwashing. To quote his character description: "''This hero of the Strogg War may also be its most tragic victim. While a captive on Stroggos, vile experiments transformed his flesh into something both far more and far less than human."''

* DeepSouth: In ''III'', after dying in a lava pit:
-->''"This is like an Alabama August!"''
His voice on the intro has hints of an [[{{SouthernFriedPrivate}} texan accent.]]

* LifesavingMisfortune: In the intro for the main game, his ship gets hit by another marine pod, prompting him to fall earlier to Stroggos. This turned out to be a blessing in disguise, as the rest of the marine force was wiped out by the Big Gun. Now everything's up to him.

* ShellShockedVeteran: A survivor of the Strogg invasion and the posterior strike on Stroggos.

* ZombieApocalypse: They are even [[NinjaPirateZombieRobot cyborg zombies]].

A coalition of Earth's forces who invaded Stroggos' space in retaliation after the Strogg failed to conquer Earth. ''VideoGame/EnemyTerritoryQuakeWars'', the game that details the Strogg invasion of Earth, establishes its previous name as EDF (Earth's Defence Force), with ''VideoGame/QuakeIV'' later renaming them to GDF (Global Defence Force) with a specific subdivision being named SMC (Space Marine Corps). For tropes on the SMC, check [[Characters/QuakeIVSpaceMarineCorps their own page]].

A coalition of Earth's forces who invaded Stroggos' space in retaliation after the Strogg failed to conquer Earth. ''VideoGame/EnemyTerritoryQuakeWars'', the game that details the Strogg invasion of Earth, establishes their previous name as EDF (Earth's Defence Force), with ''VideoGame/QuakeIV'' later renaming them to GDF (Global Defence Force) with a specific subdivision being named SMC (Space Marine Corps). For tropes on the SMC, check [[Characters/QuakeIVSpaceMarineCorps their own page]].

* RedshirtArmy: More than 90% of them doesn't make it out alive from Stroggos.

* CommandingCoolness: "The Machine" is in charge of sending the troops to collect the data discs, and is also the one to face the Strogg Maker head on at the end.

* RankScalesWithAsskicking: The Commander that dispatches the Marines to their missions in ''Call of the Machine'' is the same one to fight the final boss.

For tropes about his default appeareance (Grunt) in ''VideoGame/QuakeIIIArena'', go [[Characters/QuakeIIIArena here]].

* GratuitousSpanish: Has a habit of sprouting "Amigo" each 4 or 5 lines in ''III''.

* SergeantRock: Subverted. While a squad leader, he doesn't get to spend any time fighting alongside his men due to his aforementioned LifesavingMisfortune. His only way of helping his marines in game is by providing them with a MercyKill.

* TheGoomba: They're only armed with low-tier weaponry in the base game with health in the 20-40 hitpoint range, meaning even two shots from your blaster is enough to kill them.

* {{Expy}}: They're the game's only aquatic enemy, they have only a weak bite attack, and they are easily dealt with on their own but frequently appear in groups, just like the Rotfish of the first ''Quake''.

* ThreateningShark: An hostile aquatic shark that won't hesitate to charge at you at lightning speed and it's usually found on big water bodies. Sometimes behind walls or secret doors.

* ArtificialBrilliance: Not only did the 2023 remaster gave him the ability to jump, but it also gave him two attacks that were previously cut: a running strike with his hammer and a GroundPound. This means he no longer needs to catch you in order to attack you, as he has the GroundPound to inflict serious damage, and he can now attack while moving.

* SmashMook: They rush up to you and try to pummel you with their cybernetic arms. They can't do much else.

* DualWielding: Each of its wings has a laser blaster.

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* EliteMook: Sports 400 HP, their Railgun shot deals 50 HP, and they're ''everywhere'' between the Jail, Power, Hangar and City units. They're also surrounded by other units.

* PrepareToDie: [[InvokedTrope Said verbatim by them]].

A flying Strogg with no arms. Shoots lasers from their feet.

* MyRulesAreNotYourRules: Shoot their hyperblaster beams in a steady, faster stream than the player's own Hyperblaster once the two "scout" shots are fired.

* ShootTheMedicFirst: Medics can quickly resurrect fallen Strogg so long as the corpse hasn't been gibbed, meaning the player can end up wasting a lot of ammo killing repeatedly-resurrected foes if they refuse to prioritise killing the Medic. The 2023 Remaster's new tutorial level even includes a demonstration of the Medic's Strogg-reviving capabilities to hammer this point home.

A quadrupedal Strogg that attacks by sucking out the life of its foe.

* HellIsThatNoise: Their screeching and skittering noises, as they are always a pain in the ass.
** They make a distinctive rhythmic tapping sound with a foot before they're alerted to the player's presence.
* LeftStuckAfterAttack: The 2023 remaster adds a weakness to their draining attack. If you manage to dodge the Parasite's tongue near a wall, then it will get stuck and spend a few seconds trying to pry its tongue loose.
* {{Nerf}}: In the original 1997 release, the Parasite's "tongue" was guaranteed to hit the player if it was given the opportunity to attack. In the 2023 remaster, it's now a speedy projectile that the player can dodge with the right timing.
* VampiricDraining: They attack you with a really long tongue-like appendage which is implied to suck your blood. Unlike most examples, doing this doesn't heal the parasite.

** In their regular forms Sport 750 and 1000 HP respectively, each of their rockets deal 50 HP, each of their blaster bolts deal 30 HP and even their Machinegun shots deal 20 HP (so a lot of cover is required, woe to you if you're forced to fight one of these in a corridor without any cover), have an attack suite on par with the Makron itself, and can be found ''everywhere'' (Tanks are scattered across the different units, while Tank Commanders are ''everywhere'' in the City unit).

A floating BrainInAJar which attacks with beam blasters and a grip.

* AirborneMook: One of the few.

* PostDefeatExplosionChain: After defeating the Jorg, it falls to the side as it's peppered by a bunch of small explosions. A final, larger explosion engulfs the machine, the Makron himself leaping out unscathed to face down the player themselves.

* AdaptedOut: There are no instances of these in ''Call of the Machine''.

* MyRulesAreNotYourRules: Can fire their Phalanx Mag Slugs in steady streams of three shots. The player can only fire two slugs per shot, at a slower pace.

* PintSizedPowerhouse: They're roughly child-sized, but are as tough as EliteMooks like Gunners and Iron Maidens. This remains true even in the 2023 remastered edition of the game, helped by the {{nerf}} imposed to the Railgun, one of the main tools used to destroy them.

* {{Nerf}}: Turrets were quite sturdy in the original ''Ground Zero'', being able to tank three rockets or two Railgun shots while surprising players with their warningless shots. In the 2023 remastered version, they were given a laser indicating players where they're coming from, considerably reducing the surprise factor. Their damage output and durability was also hit hard, with a single rocket taking them down instantly and their hits dealing less damage.

* Nerf: In the original 1997 release, the Parasite's "tongue" was guaranteed to hit the player if it was given the opportunity to attack. In the 2023 remaster, it's now a speedy projectile that the player can dodge with the right timing.

* PintSizedPowerhouse: They're roughly child-sized, but are as tough as EliteMooks like Gunners and Iron Maidens.

* TurnsRed: The enhanced Tank Commanders you face at the end of the "Command Core" level in the N64 version turn red after they took some beating. This means that they're close to defeat and will attack even more aggressively than before.

* DoesThisRemindYouOfAnything: They look awfully a lot like generic kitchen blenders.

* AuthoritySoundsDeep: Speaks and laughs in a deep, reverberating and heavily-distorted voice, befitting of the Strogg's leader.
* BalanceBuff: In the 2023 remaster, the Jorg battle suit receives a ''massive'' buff to its health in order to compensate for the player's ability to use Quad Damage against it. As an [[AntiFrustrationFeatures Anti-Frustration Feature]], a Quad Damage is dropped by the teleporter that leads to the final boss arena, so if you didn't save one from before you'll still have one on hand to use against the Jorg and his massive health pool.

* TookALevelInBadass: The original Brains was very slow and had no ranged attacks, essentially making it a sitting duck. The Beta Class Brains has both EyeBeams and, even worse, a CombatTentacles attack with a ''very'' long reach (about 30 feet or so) which also pulls you towards the Brains and drains your health, meaning if you get into its range [[InstantDeathRadius it's pretty much lights out]]. Furthermore, the Beta Brains ''doesn't'' have its own skin.

* DamageSpongeBoss: It's basically the same as the normal Super Tank but with more hp (about 2500) meaning you just have to strafe and shoot for a while (using a QuadDamage or Dualfire Damage powerup will definitely help).

* ArtificialBrilliance: They can dodge projectiles such as rockets by jumping from floor to ceiling or vice versa. Unlike with other Strogg, you can't really compensate for this by adjusting your aim, since they're actively dodging instead of just ducking.

* UndergroundMonkey: An Icarus with Power Screen and extra health.

The Elite of the Elite, Gunners equipped with ETF Rifles and Power Shields and have more powerful melee attacks.

* BossInMookClothing: They are the EliteMook to the EliteMook, and are larger then normal Gunners to match.

[[folder: '''Spoiler mook''']]
!! [[VideoGame/QuakeI The Shambler]]

The only returning enemy class from ''VideoGame/QuakeI'', Shamblers make their presence as a mook towards the end of ''Call of the Machine'', with some even being elevated to boss rank.

For tropes on them, check [[Characters/QuakeI the first Quake's character sheets]].
[[/folder]]

[[folder: '''Spoiler character 1''']]
!! Modir
An ancient evil awoken by the Strogg in an ancient temple dedicated to the Great Black Goat. Fought at the end of ''[[Recap/QuakeIICallOfTheMachineOperationDarkestDepths Operation: Darkest Depths]]''.

* KingMook: Modir is a Shambler that is truly enormous in size.
* MeaningfulName: Its name is a middle-English form of "Mother", and it certainly looks large enough to be the mother of a Shambler.
* PuzzleBoss: Is defeated in the same manner as Chthon. Unlike Chthon, Modir ''does'' take damage from normal weapons, but it has ''so much'' health that you're unlikely to have enough ammo to kill it unless you've been hoarding it.
* ShockAndAwe: Attacks primarily by channelling electricity between its claws to fire at you.
* StationaryBoss: Like Chthon, it remains stuck in a pit of magma as it takes potshots at you darting between columns in its room.
[[/folder]]

[[folder: '''Spoiler character 2''']]
!! Masters of the Machine
A pair of Shamblers who command the Strogg in the power vacuum caused by the defeat of several Strogg masterminds. Fought at the very end of ''Call of the Machine'' itself.
----

* EnemySummoner: They'll periodically summon mutants when they take enough damage.
* HijackedByGanon: Forces of the Great Black Goat are revealed to be controlling the comparatively newer and seemingly unrelated Strogg.
* MeaningfulName: Aside from the more obvious example of commanding an army of cyborgs, they're introduced in the ''Machine'' Games Re''master'' of ''Quake II''

* MidBoss: Appears right after Stepchild destroyed the Big Gun, and fights on its own.

* EliteMook: They are the EliteMook to the EliteMook, and are larger then normal Gunners to match.

* EliteMook: They are the EliteMook to the EliteMook.

* SmallRoleBigImpact: The marine who crashed Bitterman's pod in the intro of the main game of ''II''. By crashing Bitterman on Stroggos, the marine inadvertently saved Bitterman's life, at the cost of his own when the interplanetary defence systems wiped out the rest of the TCM forces. Weren't it for his HeroicSacrifice, Earth would have surely lost the battle against the Strogg.

* SergeantRock: Subverted. While a squad leader, hedoesn't get to spend any time fighting alongside his men due to his aforementioned LifesavingMisfortune. His only way of helping his marines in game is by providing them with a MercyKill.

* RecurringBoss: ''Thrice'' in the main game ("The Big Gun", "Inner Hangar" and "Comm Satellite"), once at the PSX version ("Defence Command" after getting the Gravity Booster), ''twice'' in the Nintendo 64 version ([[spoiler:"Command Core"]]), and another in ''Call of the Machine'' ("The Death Gate") as the MidBoss "Gate Warden".

** In ''The Reckoning'', they're hidden in a passage when going to the third outer area (near the explosive barrels and a secret) of "Outer Compound", or they await the player when ''en route'' to the laser wall room.
** In ''Ground Zero'', there's one near the Super Shotgun and the entrance to "Eastern Warehouse" in "Lower Mines" which can be fought when the player only has a Shotgun.

** In ''Ground Zero'', the first is found with the Berserker in "Lower Mines".

** If the player didn't or is playing the [=PlayStation=] version, returning to the Blue Key door area after completing the main objective and retrieving the Blue Key [[TeleportingKeycardSquad will spawn three of them]] in the outside area.
** In ''The Reckoning'', they can be found in the second outer area of "Outer Compound" right after picking up the Data CD from the fallen soldiers.
** In ''Ground Zero'' one awaits the player at the very beginning of "Lower Mines".

* WeCanRebuildHim: An improved version of the Hornet in every sense of the word: in addition to the Machinegun and 4-Rocket launch attacks, it has a Railgun, a Grenade Launcher, and [[MookMaker the ability to summon Flyers]] (or Stalkers in one instance in ''Call of the Machine'').

** The Nintendo 64 version has two guarding the Core in the last level which TurnsRed when enough damage has been dealt to them.

* RecurringBoss: ''Thrice'' in the main game ("The Big Gun", "Inner Hangar" and "Comm Satellite"), once at the PSX version ("Defence Command" after getting the Gravity Booster), and another in ''Call of the Machine'' ("The Death Gate") as the "Gate Warden".

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%%[[caption-width-right:302: Bitterman’s default look in Quake II]]

* DecompositeCharacter: In ''II'' Grunt was the default skin for multiplayer games and the assumed appearance for Bitterman. In ''III'', both Bitterman and Grunt were given separate character slots (with Major, also a selwctable character in ''II'', being {{Gender Bende|r}}d as a female combatant), with Bitterman being given a brand new appearance.

[[quoteright:302:https://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/503218c0_5976_4f3b_ab8c_915296648489.jpeg]]
[[caption-width-right:302: Bitterman’s default look in Quake II]]

* "Surgubbe", "C.J.", "Brickslayer", "Positivity" and "Eriksson", plus one unnamed marine and the group's Commander (''Call of the Machine'').

Near the end of the Stroggos campaign, a group of six marines was dispatched from an orbital base to various conflict zones with the goal of seeking out Strogg Data Discs and uploading the contents, all to determine the identity of the Strogg Maker, the newest leader of the Strogg forces, with their commanding officer remaining behind to monitor their progress.

* BackFromTheBrink: They're the only space marines who survive past their respective intros.
* FeaturelessProtagonist: All of them can take a lot of appearances, usually related to the game's multiplayer skins, including female and cyborg.

* HeroicSacrifice: [[spoiler:Surgubbe doesn't make it out alive after transmitting his data disc.]]
** Averted for the Marine sent to [[spoiler:the Darkest Depths, but he [[FateWorseThanDeath probably would have preferred it]]]].
** The Commander's reward for defeating the Masters of the Machine from the same campaign is to be [[spoiler:trapped in an infinite void]].

* LetsSplitUpGang: The marines that protagonize ''Call of the Machine'' take a mission each, with their Commander taking the fight to the final boss.

* SilentProtagonist: They speak quite a lot in their intro cinematics (and in Joker and Stepchild cases' also their ending cinematics), but are completely silent during the games themselves.

sh[[WMG:[[center:''VideoGame/{{Quake}}'' [[Characters/{{Quake}} Character sheets]]\\

[[WMG:[[center:''VideoGame/{{Quake}}'' [[Characters/{{Quake}} Character sheets]]\\

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** ''Call of the Machine'' introduces an even harder version of the Tank Commander, armed with a Power Shield and firing [[HomingProjectile homing rockets]]. One of these is even a FinalBoss, at the tail end of ''[[Recap/QuakeIICallOfTheMachineOperationWasteland Operation: Wasteland]]'', called simply "Commander".

A giant tank that guards key areas of Stroggos. Like its regular namesake, it contains a Rocket Launcher, but unlike it, it eschews the Machinegun and Blaster for a more damaging Chaingun. Fought at the "Grid Control" and "Power Plant" levels.

A giant flying monstrosity that, like the Tank, also guards important areas. It fights using a multi-rocket launcher and a pair of chainguns. Fought at the "Big Gun", "Comm Satellite" and "Inner Hangar" levels.

[[labelnote:Click here to see the Makron himself.]]https://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/q2_makronf2makron.png '''"Not good enough!"'''[[/labelnote]]]]

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Returning from your darkest nightmares, Shamblers make their presence as a mook towards the end of ''Call of the Machine'', with some even being elevated to boss rank.

An ancient evil awoken by the Strogg in an ancient temple dedicated to the Great Black Goat.

A pair of Shamblers who command the Strogg in the power vacuum caused by the defeat of several Strogg masterminds.

[[caption-width-right:846:[[VideoGame/{{Madagascar}} Aw jeez, giant spiders!]] Though I guess that's better than [[Recap/QuakeScourgeOfArmagonEpisode1FortressOfTheDead giant scorpions]].]]

* BunnyEarsLawyer: Do not let his goofy mannerisms fool you, this guy is ''anything but dangerous''.

Returning from turning Ranger's mission into nightmares, the Shamblers make their presence as a mook in ''Call of the Machine'', with some of them even being elevated to boss rank.

[[caption-width-right:846: [[VideoGame/Madagascar Aw jeez, giant spiders!]] Though I guess that's better than [[Recap/QuakeScourgeOfArmagonEpisode1FortressOfTheDead giant scorpions]].]]