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.]]
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{{Video Game
 +
| Title            = Commander Keen IV: Secret of the Oracle
 +
| SortTitle        = Commander Keen 4: Secret of the Oracle
 +
| Image           = Commander Keen 4 - DOS - USA.jpg
 +
| ImageDescription = MS-DOS - USA - Micro Star.
 +
| Developer        = {{VideoGameDeveloper|id Software}}
 +
| Publisher        = {{VideoGamePublisher|Apogee Software}}
 +
| PublishedYear    = 1991
 +
| PublishedMonth  = ??
 +
| PublishedDay    = ??
 +
| Platforms        = {{Platform|DOS}}
 +
| Genres          = {{VideoGameGenre|Action video game|Action}}, {{VideoGameGenre|Comedy video game|Comedy}}, {{VideoGameGenre|Metroidvania|Metroidvania}}, {{VideoGameGenre|Platform shooter|Platform shooter}}, {{VideoGameGenre|Platformer|Platformer}}
 +
| Themes          = {{MediaTheme|Action}}, {{MediaTheme|Adventure}}, {{MediaTheme|Cartoon}}, {{MediaTheme|Science Fiction}}
 +
| Series          = ''[[Commander Keen (universe)|Commander Keen]]''
 +
| Distributions    = {{VideoGameDistribution|Commercial}}, {{VideoGameDistribution|Shareware}}
 +
}}
  
'''''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]].
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'''''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]].
  
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.
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==Personal==
 +
{{VideoGameStatus
 +
| Own      = Yes. 3.5" floppy released with Gravis GamePad.
 +
| CantOwn  =
 +
| Won      = Yes. Easy difficulty, all maps but secret level.
 +
| CantWin  = No. There is no single-player mode.
 +
| Finished = Around 1992.
 +
}}
  
==Status==
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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 own the special Gravis release of Keen IV on 3.5" floppy, and have beaten every map except the hidden map on easy difficulty.
 
  
 
==Review==
 
==Review==
* '''Overall:''' 5/10
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{{Video Game Review|5|4|5|5|4|MS-DOS}}
* '''Best Version:''' 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.
 
* 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 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.
+
* 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.
* Movement with the pogo stick is pretty clunky and difficult to control.
+
* Far too much of the game is based on expecting the player to collect treats to accumulate points for no reason.
 +
* None of the control options are very fluid. The keyboard isn't very good, the joystick doesn't handle enough buttons (trying to use two buttons to shoot often results in mis-presses), and movement on the pogo stick is slow and difficult to control.
  
 
===Ugly===
 
===Ugly===
 
* Nothing.
 
* Nothing.
  
==Box Art==
+
==Media==
 +
===Box Art===
 
<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>
 
</gallery>
  
==Maps==
+
===Documentation===
 +
<gallery>
 +
Masters of Doom - Hardcover - USA.jpg|''[[Masters of Doom]]''. Describes the development process.
 +
</gallery>
 +
 
 +
===Maps===
 
<gallery>
 
<gallery>
 
Commander Keen 4 - DOS - Map - Shadowlands.png|Shadowlands.
 
Commander Keen 4 - DOS - Map - Shadowlands.png|Shadowlands.
Line 53: Line 83:
 
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>
 
</gallery>
 +
 +
===Screenshots===
 +
<gallery>
 +
Commander Keen 4 - Secret of the Oracle - DOS - Screenshot - Title.png|Title.
 +
</gallery>
 +
 +
===Videos===
 +
{{YouTube|iKHUOKVzo0Q|Longplay.}}
 +
{{YouTube|XUbKZ-xIbqY|Speedrun, hard, any %, no glitches.}}
 +
 +
==Play Online==
 +
{{PlayOnline|https://classicreload.com/commander-keen-4-secret-of-the-oracle.html|MS-DOS}}
 +
 +
==Representation==
 +
{{Representation
 +
| Media                      = Video games
 +
| StrongFemaleCharacterStatus = Fail
 +
| StrongFemaleCharacterNotes  = Princess Lindsey is helpful, but a very minor character.
 +
| BechdelTestStatus          = Fail
 +
| BechdelTestNotes            = There is only one woman.
 +
| StrongPOCCharacterStatus    = Fail
 +
| StrongPOCCharacterNotes    = Princess Lindsey is black, but a very minor character.
 +
| QueerCharacterStatus        = Fail
 +
| QueerCharacterNotes        = There are no queer characters.
 +
}}
 +
 +
==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.
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{{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]]
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[[Category: Video Game Prime Order - Action, Adventure, Strategy]]
[[Category: Video Games]]
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[[Category: Trope - Damsel In Distress]]
[[Category: Action]]
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[[Category: 4-bit Color Graphics]]
[[Category: Platformer]]
 
[[Category: EGA Graphics]]
 
[[Category: Games I've Beaten]]
 

Latest revision as of 17:29, 7 March 2024

Commander Keen IV: Secret of the Oracle

Commander Keen 4 - DOS - USA.jpg

MS-DOS - USA - Micro Star.

Developer id Software
Publisher Apogee Software
Published 1991-??-??
Platforms DOS
Genres Action, Comedy, Metroidvania, Platform shooter, Platformer
Themes Action, Adventure, Cartoon, Science Fiction
Series Commander Keen
Distribution Commercial, Shareware

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

Own?Yes. 3.5" floppy released with Gravis GamePad.
Won?Yes. Easy difficulty, all maps but secret level.
FinishedAround 1992.

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.

Review

Video Game Review Icon - Enjoyment.png Video Game Review Icon - Control.png Video Game Review Icon - Appearance.png Video Game Review Icon - Sound.png Video Game Review Icon - Replayability.png
5 4 5 5 4

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.
  • None of the control options are very fluid. The keyboard isn't very good, the joystick doesn't handle enough buttons (trying to use two buttons to shoot often results in mis-presses), and movement on the pogo stick is slow and difficult to control.

Ugly

  • Nothing.

Media

Box Art

Documentation

Maps

Screenshots

Videos

Longplay.
Speedrun, hard, any %, no glitches.

Play Online

MS-DOS

Representation

Strong female character?FailPrincess Lindsey is helpful, but a very minor character.
Bechdel test?FailThere is only one woman.
Strong person of color character?FailPrincess Lindsey is black, but a very minor character.
Queer character?FailThere are no queer characters.

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