Difference between revisions of "Commander Keen IV: Secret of the Oracle"
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[[Image:Commander Keen 4 - DOS - USA.jpg|thumb|256x256px|US box art.]] | [[Image:Commander Keen 4 - DOS - USA.jpg|thumb|256x256px|US box art.]] | ||
| − | '''''Commander Keen IV: Secret of the Oracle''''' is an action platformer game developed by [[id Software]] and published by [[Apogee Software]] for [[DOS]] in 1991. Although it is numbered as the fourth game, it's actually the fifth game in the [[Commander Keen (Universe)|series]]. | + | '''''Commander Keen IV: Secret of the Oracle''''' is an action platformer game developed by [[id Software]] and published by [[Apogee Software]] for [[MS-DOS]] in 1991. Although it is numbered as the fourth game, it's actually the fifth game in the [[Commander Keen (Universe)|series]]. |
I first encountered this game because a special shareware version was included with the [[Gravis GamePad]] I bought around 1992. It had added support for the four-button controller making the game much easier to play than with the keyboard or a two-button controller. | I first encountered this game because a special shareware version was included with the [[Gravis GamePad]] I bought around 1992. It had added support for the four-button controller making the game much easier to play than with the keyboard or a two-button controller. | ||
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==Review== | ==Review== | ||
* '''Overall:''' 5/10 | * '''Overall:''' 5/10 | ||
| − | * '''Best Version:''' DOS | + | * '''Best Version:''' MS-DOS |
===Good=== | ===Good=== | ||
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===Bad=== | ===Bad=== | ||
| − | * Like most DOS games, the EGA colors were way out of date compared to the consoles of the day. | + | * Like most DOS games, the [[Enhanced Graphics Adapter|EGA]] colors were way out of date compared to the consoles of the day. |
* Large sections of the maps, indeed a couple of the levels entirely, are not needed to win the game and only exist for increasing the player's score. This was poor design. | * Large sections of the maps, indeed a couple of the levels entirely, are not needed to win the game and only exist for increasing the player's score. This was poor design. | ||
* Movement with the pogo stick is pretty clunky and difficult to control, especially if you're using the keyboard. | * Movement with the pogo stick is pretty clunky and difficult to control, especially if you're using the keyboard. | ||
Revision as of 19:41, 6 February 2018
Commander Keen IV: Secret of the Oracle is an action platformer game developed by id Software and published by Apogee Software for MS-DOS in 1991. Although it is numbered as the fourth game, it's actually the fifth game in the series.
I first encountered this game because a special shareware version was included with the Gravis GamePad I bought around 1992. It had added support for the four-button controller making the game much easier to play than with the keyboard or a two-button controller.
Status
I own the special Gravis release of Keen IV on 3.5" floppy, and have beaten every map on easy difficulty, except the secret map.
Review
- Overall: 5/10
- Best Version: MS-DOS
Good
- The game is both fun and challenging.
- The graphics and animation are well-drawn and the music and sound effects are great.
- The story is pretty funny.
- The game is quite large with a lot of levels to play.
Bad
- Like most DOS games, the EGA colors were way out of date compared to the consoles of the day.
- Large sections of the maps, indeed a couple of the levels entirely, are not needed to win the game and only exist for increasing the player's score. This was poor design.
- Movement with the pogo stick is pretty clunky and difficult to control, especially if you're using the keyboard.
Ugly
- Nothing.
Box Art
Since this episode of the game was released as shareware, there aren't any professionally made boxes for the game. Instead, we see various cheap covers like this, with just a screenshot.
Maps
Shadowlands.
Bean-With-Bacon Megarocket.
Border Village.
Slug Village.
The Perilous Pit.
Cave of the Descendents.
Chasm of Chills.
Crystalus.
Hillville.
Sand Yego.
Miragia.
Lifewater Oasis.
Pyramid of the Moons.
Pyramid of Shadows.
Pyramid of the Gnosticene Ancients.
Isle of Tar.
Isle of Fire.
Well of Wishes.
Pyramid of the Forbidden.
