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 [[MS-DOS]] in 1991. Although it is numbered as the fourth game, it's actually the fifth game in the [[Commander Keen ( | + | '''''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, originally as [[shareware]]. 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. | ||
==Status== | ==Status== | ||
| − | I own the special Gravis release of Keen IV on 3.5" floppy, | + | I used to own the special Gravis release of Keen IV on 3.5" floppy, but I have no idea where is is. I have beaten every map on easy difficulty, except the secret map. |
==Review== | ==Review== | ||
* '''Overall:''' 5/10 | * '''Overall:''' 5/10 | ||
* '''Best Version:''' MS-DOS | * '''Best Version:''' MS-DOS | ||
| + | |||
| + | {{Spoilers}} | ||
===Good=== | ===Good=== | ||
* The game is both fun and challenging. | * The game is both fun and challenging. | ||
| − | * The graphics and animation are well-drawn | + | * The graphics and animation are well-drawn. |
| + | * [[Bobby Prince]]'s music and sound effects are great. | ||
* The story is pretty funny. | * The story is pretty funny. | ||
* The game is quite large with a lot of levels to play. | * The game is quite large with a lot of levels to play. | ||
| Line 21: | Line 24: | ||
* Like most DOS games, the [[Enhanced Graphics Adapter|EGA]] colors were way out of date compared to the consoles of the day, although the great art style makes up for it. | * Like most DOS games, the [[Enhanced Graphics Adapter|EGA]] colors were way out of date compared to the consoles of the day, although the great art style makes up for it. | ||
* Large sections of several maps, and even a couple of levels entirely, do not need to be entered in order to win the game. This is poor level design. | * Large sections of several maps, and even a couple of levels entirely, do not need to be entered in order to win the game. This is poor level design. | ||
| − | * Far too much of the game is based on | + | * Far too much of the game is based on expecting the player to collect treats to accumulate points for no reason. |
* 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. | ||
| Line 31: | Line 34: | ||
<gallery> | <gallery> | ||
Commander Keen 4 - DOS - USA.jpg|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. | Commander Keen 4 - DOS - USA.jpg|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. | ||
| + | </gallery> | ||
| + | |||
| + | ===Documentation=== | ||
| + | <gallery> | ||
| + | Masters of Doom - Hardcover - USA.jpg|''[[Masters of Doom]]''. Describes the development process. | ||
</gallery> | </gallery> | ||
| Line 54: | Line 62: | ||
Commander Keen 4 - DOS - Map - Well of Wishes.png|Well of Wishes. | Commander Keen 4 - DOS - Map - Well of Wishes.png|Well of Wishes. | ||
Commander Keen 4 - DOS - Map - Pyramid of the Forbidden.png|Pyramid of the Forbidden. | Commander Keen 4 - DOS - Map - Pyramid of the Forbidden.png|Pyramid of the Forbidden. | ||
| + | </gallery> | ||
| + | |||
| + | ===Screenshots=== | ||
| + | <gallery> | ||
| + | Commander Keen 4 - Secret of the Oracle - DOS - Screenshot - Title.png|Title. | ||
</gallery> | </gallery> | ||
| Line 66: | Line 79: | ||
==Links== | ==Links== | ||
| − | + | {{Link|MobyGames|http://www.mobygames.com/game/dos/commander-keen-4-secret-of-the-oracle}} | |
| − | + | {{Link|Wikipedia|https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Commander_Keen_in_Goodbye,_Galaxy}} | |
| − | + | {{Link|VGMPF|2=http://www.vgmpf.com/Wiki/index.php?title=Commander_Keen_IV:_Secret_of_the_Oracle_(DOS)}} | |
| − | + | {{Link|ModdingWiki|http://www.shikadi.net/moddingwiki/Commander_Keen_4-6}} | |
| − | + | {{Link|TCRF|https://tcrf.net/Commander_Keen_Episode_4:_Secret_of_the_Oracle}} | |
[[Category: Games]] | [[Category: Games]] | ||
[[Category: Video Games]] | [[Category: Video Games]] | ||
| + | [[Category: Video Game Prime Order - Action, Adventure, Strategy]] | ||
| + | [[Category: Video Game Genre - Platformer]] | ||
| + | [[Category: Video Game Genre - Platform Shooter]] | ||
| + | [[Category: Video Game Genre - Shooter]] | ||
| + | [[Category: Media Theme - Science Fiction]] | ||
[[Category: DOS Games]] | [[Category: DOS Games]] | ||
[[Category: Action]] | [[Category: Action]] | ||
| − | |||
[[Category: Games I've Beaten]] | [[Category: Games I've Beaten]] | ||
[[Category: Humor]] | [[Category: Humor]] | ||
[[Category: 4-bit Color Graphics]] | [[Category: 4-bit Color Graphics]] | ||
| + | [[Category: Software Distribution Model - Shareware]] | ||
Revision as of 14:19, 25 November 2019
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, originally as shareware. 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.
Contents
Status
I used to own the special Gravis release of Keen IV on 3.5" floppy, but I have no idea where is is. I have beaten every map on easy difficulty, except the secret map.
Review
- Overall: 5/10
- Best Version: MS-DOS
— This section contains spoilers! —
Good
- The game is both fun and challenging.
- The graphics and animation are well-drawn.
- Bobby Prince's 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, although the great art style makes up for it.
- Large sections of several maps, and even a couple of levels entirely, do not need to be entered in order to win the game. This is poor level design.
- Far too much of the game is based on expecting the player to collect treats to accumulate points for no reason.
- Movement with the pogo stick is pretty clunky and difficult to control, especially if you're using the keyboard.
Ugly
- Nothing.
Media
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.
Documentation
Masters of Doom. Describes the development process.
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.
Screenshots
Title.
Videos
- youtube.com/watch?v=iKHUOKVzo0Q - Longplay.
- youtube.com/watch?v=XUbKZ-xIbqY - Speedrun, hard, any %, no glitches.
Download
Commander Keen is still being sold, but this episode is a shareware release. This archive contains shareware and demo releases for versions 1.0 to 1.4 for both EGA and CGA graphics.
Links
