Incorporates some ideas from Keen Dreams and improves on the core gameplay a bit from the first trilogy, but I still don't think it's a particularly spectacular platformer.
Now these are the Keen games I truly love, being this was the first game I tried out. The graphics from Keen Dreams coupled with Keen's classic arsenal makes for a perfect experience. The platforming in these games, and this one in particular feel more precise than in the previous trilogy. While I did find those games fun, it was hard sometimes to dodge projectiles. Here, you have the freedom of movement that wasn't possible the time the original was created. The addition of the "impossible pogo-jump" along with ledge grabbing is a game-changer for the platforming genre. Something that the Mario franchise didn't do until Mario 64, 5 years later. I can't wait to revisit Keen 5, which is my favorite of the entire franchise.
This is the Keen that holds up! Replaying it, I was really surprised with how good the jumping and platforming feels. The ability to vault adds so much to traversal feeling as satisfying as it is.
The shooting could be better. Granted I was playing on Hard and I think this game's offensive vocabulary works better for fewer enemy encounters. There's a wind up to Keen's firing animation that I had to contend with when jumping to shoot a slug on a platform or jumping over a foe and shooting down. Wish there was some kind of slight homing mechanic or the collision box for the blaster was bigger.
The music's good even if the music is repetitive. That "Oasis" theme is one of the earliest pieces of music I ever liked and it needs to be said, this is a real nostalgia title. I think this was one of the first games I ever played and might have been the first that involved some kind of action. Not an easy game for a kid but just looking at screenshots gets me nostalgic, especially ones in the first few levels with the grasses and trees and the slopes.
If someone has to play any Commander Keen, it should be this one.
The shooting could be better. Granted I was playing on Hard and I think this game's offensive vocabulary works better for fewer enemy encounters. There's a wind up to Keen's firing animation that I had to contend with when jumping to shoot a slug on a platform or jumping over a foe and shooting down. Wish there was some kind of slight homing mechanic or the collision box for the blaster was bigger.
The music's good even if the music is repetitive. That "Oasis" theme is one of the earliest pieces of music I ever liked and it needs to be said, this is a real nostalgia title. I think this was one of the first games I ever played and might have been the first that involved some kind of action. Not an easy game for a kid but just looking at screenshots gets me nostalgic, especially ones in the first few levels with the grasses and trees and the slopes.
If someone has to play any Commander Keen, it should be this one.
Much better than what I've played of the early Commander Keen episodes. Nice music, fun exploratory platforming gameplay, and fun cartoony vibe. Glad I got the chance to play through this
This one is actually pretty great, but remarkably frustrating and obtuse in many ways. Being unable to replay levels to find secrets is a pain. Love the graphics, characters, and enemies. Introduces us to the legendary Dopefish.
I only had and kept playing this as a kid. Nostalgic and fun!
Fantastic DOS era platformer. No notes.
I not only cosplayed Keen at my first convention but the love I got from said cosplay blew my mind.
#14 of top 50
I not only cosplayed Keen at my first convention but the love I got from said cosplay blew my mind.
#14 of top 50