Difference between revisions of "Commander Keen IV: Secret of the Oracle"

From TheAlmightyGuru
Jump to: navigation, search
(Created page with "'''''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...")
 
(→‎Videos)
(43 intermediate revisions by the same user not shown)
Line 1: Line 1:
−
'''''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]].
+
[[Image:Commander Keen 4 - DOS - USA.jpg|thumb|256x256px|US box art.]]
  
−
A special version of Commander Keen IV was included with my [[Gravis Gamepad]] which had added support for the four-button controller making the game much easier to play than with the keyboard or a 2-button controller.
+
'''''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]].
 +
 
 +
==Personal==
 +
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, and have beaten it on easy difficulty.
+
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:''' DOS
+
* '''Best Version:''' MS-DOS
 +
 
 +
{{Spoilers}}
  
 
===Good===
 
===Good===
−
* The graphics and animation are well-drawn and the music and sound effects are great.
 
 
* The game is both fun and challenging.
 
* 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 story is pretty funny.
 +
* The game is quite large with a lot of levels to play.
  
 
===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, 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==
+
===Ugly===
 
* Nothing.
 
* Nothing.
 +
 +
==Media==
 +
===Box Art===
 +
<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.
 +
</gallery>
 +
 +
===Documentation===
 +
<gallery>
 +
Masters of Doom - Hardcover - USA.jpg|''[[Masters of Doom]]''. Describes the development process.
 +
</gallery>
 +
 +
===Maps===
 +
<gallery>
 +
Commander Keen 4 - DOS - Map - Shadowlands.png|Shadowlands.
 +
Commander Keen 4 - DOS - Map - Bean-With-Bacon Megarocket.png|Bean-With-Bacon Megarocket.
 +
Commander Keen 4 - DOS - Map - Border Village.png|Border Village.
 +
Commander Keen 4 - DOS - Map - Slug Village.png|Slug Village.
 +
Commander Keen 4 - DOS - Map - The Perilous Pit.png|The Perilous Pit.
 +
Commander Keen 4 - DOS - Map - Cave of the Descendents.png|Cave of the Descendents.
 +
Commander Keen 4 - DOS - Map - Chasm of Chills.png|Chasm of Chills.
 +
Commander Keen 4 - DOS - Map - Crystalus.png|Crystalus.
 +
Commander Keen 4 - DOS - Map - Hillville.png|Hillville.
 +
Commander Keen 4 - DOS - Map - Sand Yego.png|Sand Yego.
 +
Commander Keen 4 - DOS - Map - Miragia.png|Miragia.
 +
Commander Keen 4 - DOS - Map - Lifewater Oasis.png|Lifewater Oasis.
 +
Commander Keen 4 - DOS - Map - Pyramid of the Moons.png|Pyramid of the Moons.
 +
Commander Keen 4 - DOS - Map - Pyramid of Shadows.png|Pyramid of Shadows.
 +
Commander Keen 4 - DOS - Map - Pyramid of the Gnosticene Ancients.png|Pyramid of the Gnosticene Ancients.
 +
Commander Keen 4 - DOS - Map - Isle of Tar.png|Isle of Tar.
 +
Commander Keen 4 - DOS - Map - Isle of Fire.png|Isle of Fire.
 +
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.
 +
</gallery>
 +
 +
===Screenshots===
 +
<gallery>
 +
Commander Keen 4 - Secret of the Oracle - DOS - Screenshot - Title.png|Title.
 +
</gallery>
 +
 +
===Videos===
 +
{{#ev:youtube|iKHUOKVzo0Q|256|inline|Longplay.|frame}}
 +
{{#ev:youtube|XUbKZ-xIbqY|256|inline|Speedrun, hard, any %, no glitches.|frame}}
 +
 +
==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.
 +
 +
* [[Media:Commander Keen In Secret of the Oracle (All Versions).zip|Download]] ([[:File:Commander Keen In Secret of the Oracle (All Versions).zip|Info]]) - All versions.
  
 
==Links==
 
==Links==
−
* [http://www.mobygames.com/game/dos/commander-keen-4-secret-of-the-oracle mobygames.com/game/dos/commander-keen-4-secret-of-the-oracle] - MobyGames.
+
{{Link|MobyGames|http://www.mobygames.com/game/dos/commander-keen-4-secret-of-the-oracle}}
−
* [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Commander_Keen_in_Goodbye,_Galaxy en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Commander_Keen_in_Goodbye,_Galaxy] - Wikipedia.
+
{{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: 1991 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: Action]]
 
[[Category: Action]]
−
[[Category: Platformer]]
 
−
[[Category: EGA Graphics]]
 
 
[[Category: Games I've Beaten]]
 
[[Category: Games I've Beaten]]
 +
[[Category: Humor]]
 +
[[Category: 4-bit Color Graphics]]
 +
[[Category: Software Distribution Model - Shareware]]
 +
[[Category: Video Games That Fail the Bechdel Test]]

Revision as of 13:14, 7 May 2020

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, originally as shareware. Although it is numbered as the fourth game, it's actually the fifth game in the series.

Personal

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 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

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

Longplay.
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

Link-MobyGames.png  Link-Wikipedia.png  Link-VGMPF.png  Link-ModdingWiki.png  Link-TCRF.png 

Retrieved from "http://www.thealmightyguru.com/Wiki/index.php?title=Commander_Keen_IV:_Secret_of_the_Oracle&oldid=33367"