Difference between revisions of "Commander Keen IV: Secret of the Oracle"
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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 ( | + | '''''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== | |
+ | {{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. | ||
+ | }} | ||
− | + | 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 | ||
==Review== | ==Review== | ||
− | + | {{Video Game Review|5|4|5|5|4|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. | ||
+ | * [[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 | + | * 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=== | ===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== | ||
− | + | {{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: Video Game Prime Order - Action, Adventure, Strategy]] | |
− | [[Category: Video | + | [[Category: Trope - Damsel In Distress]] |
− | + | [[Category: 4-bit Color Graphics]] | |
− | [[Category: | ||
− | [[Category: | ||
− |
Latest revision as of 17:29, 7 March 2024
Commander Keen IV: Secret of the Oracle | ||||||||||||||||
MS-DOS - USA - Micro Star. |
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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 series.
Contents
Personal
Own? | Yes. 3.5" floppy released with Gravis GamePad. |
---|---|
Won? | Yes. Easy difficulty, all maps but secret level. |
Finished | Around 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
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
Masters of Doom. Describes the development process.
Maps
Screenshots
Videos
Play Online
Representation
Strong female character? | Fail | Princess Lindsey is helpful, but a very minor character. |
---|---|---|
Bechdel test? | Fail | There is only one woman. |
Strong person of color character? | Fail | Princess Lindsey is black, but a very minor character. |
Queer character? | Fail | 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.
Links
- Video Games
- 1991 Video Games
- Video games developed by id Software
- Video games published by Apogee Software
- DOS Games
- Video Game Genre - Action
- Video Game Genre - Comedy
- Video Game Genre - Metroidvania
- Video Game Genre - Platform shooter
- Video Game Genre - Platformer
- Media Theme - Action
- Media Theme - Adventure
- Media Theme - Cartoon
- Media Theme - Science Fiction
- Software Distribution Model - Commercial
- Software Distribution Model - Shareware
- Video Games I Own
- Video Games I've Beaten
- Video Game Rating - 5
- Video Game Graphics Rating - 5
- Video Game Sound Rating - 5
- Video games which can be played online
- Video games without a strong female character
- Video games that fail the Bechdel test
- Video games without a strong person of color character
- Video games without a queer character
- Video Game Prime Order - Action, Adventure, Strategy
- Trope - Damsel In Distress
- 4-bit Color Graphics