Commander Keen IV: Secret of the Oracle (PC, 1991)
Graphics-7.5 Sound-6.5 Control-7.5 Challenge-7.5 Story-6
Level Design-6.5 Frustration-8 Fun-6.5 Originality-5.5
Overall Score-6.5
+
Action adventure/Zelda 2-like structure (mostly non-linear overworld/level hub area) - no puzzles beyond pressing switches to open paths/activate platforms and finding the right equipment to progress though (the latter is only used twice (or once if you don’t count the optional secret level)), need to find certain items hidden in other levels to progress in some levels, )
Pogo stick
Some interesting enemies (blue bird – can only be knocked out, rocks – can only be shot when moving (which they only do when your back is turned towards them), worms that form a giant foot taking you to a secret level)
Cling to and climb up platform ledges (can be canceled)
Shoot in four directions
Pretty good art direction overall
Lots of hidden paths
One hidden level
Parallel parts (move through doors in the background)
Improved jump control
Control and difficulty options (different enemy and trap placement/amount, more ammo on easier difficulties)
Can make minor sequence breaks by making higher jumps (need to time pulling out the pogo stick correctly)
+/-
No time limit
Save anywhere (multiple nameable slots)
Saving anywhere kinda defeats the purpose of extra lives
Limited gun ammo
Lots of generic point items to collect (optional)
Some levels are skippable
No level maps
No space ship or factory levels (the game is pretty much the first half of episodes 4 & 5 with all of 5 taking place on a space station)
Mostly labyrinthine and sometimes pretty long levels
-
Loose upward scrolling when using the pogo stick
Backtracking for keys/diamonds
One hit kills even on easy
Blind jumps (can look down when standing still but it’s kinda slow and in some situations you’ll be bouncing around and falling down into an enemy or spikes or unable to look down far enough to see a threat)
Trial & error (the blue ball enemies can be moved through when they’re jumping, some enemies can be bounced on while others can’t, some enemies can only be bounced on when still, some cheap enemy attacks)
No alternate weapons
Can’t press Esc to return to game after entering the menu
Some waiting around for moving platforms
No bosses
Level Design-6.5 Frustration-8 Fun-6.5 Originality-5.5
Overall Score-6.5
+
Action adventure/Zelda 2-like structure (mostly non-linear overworld/level hub area) - no puzzles beyond pressing switches to open paths/activate platforms and finding the right equipment to progress though (the latter is only used twice (or once if you don’t count the optional secret level)), need to find certain items hidden in other levels to progress in some levels, )
Pogo stick
Some interesting enemies (blue bird – can only be knocked out, rocks – can only be shot when moving (which they only do when your back is turned towards them), worms that form a giant foot taking you to a secret level)
Cling to and climb up platform ledges (can be canceled)
Shoot in four directions
Pretty good art direction overall
Lots of hidden paths
One hidden level
Parallel parts (move through doors in the background)
Improved jump control
Control and difficulty options (different enemy and trap placement/amount, more ammo on easier difficulties)
Can make minor sequence breaks by making higher jumps (need to time pulling out the pogo stick correctly)
+/-
No time limit
Save anywhere (multiple nameable slots)
Saving anywhere kinda defeats the purpose of extra lives
Limited gun ammo
Lots of generic point items to collect (optional)
Some levels are skippable
No level maps
No space ship or factory levels (the game is pretty much the first half of episodes 4 & 5 with all of 5 taking place on a space station)
Mostly labyrinthine and sometimes pretty long levels
-
Loose upward scrolling when using the pogo stick
Backtracking for keys/diamonds
One hit kills even on easy
Blind jumps (can look down when standing still but it’s kinda slow and in some situations you’ll be bouncing around and falling down into an enemy or spikes or unable to look down far enough to see a threat)
Trial & error (the blue ball enemies can be moved through when they’re jumping, some enemies can be bounced on while others can’t, some enemies can only be bounced on when still, some cheap enemy attacks)
No alternate weapons
Can’t press Esc to return to game after entering the menu
Some waiting around for moving platforms
No bosses