Commander Keen

I decided to check this game out because I was curious about Id Software's roots following my obsession with their Doom games. Now don't get me wrong, Commander Keen is really cool and that early 90s aesthetic could not be replicated today. The controls are simple, the graphics quaint, and I definitely see the appeal as a fan of platformers. Sadly, this pack doesn't actually include all Commander Keen games despite the name, but even that isn't the reason I'm not recommending. I hate to have to say it, but the game is just too hard, and I simply don't have the energy to go on. The levels have messy layouts designed to confuse you or get you lost, and you can't save progress within the middle of it, meaning death is a brutal consequence in some of the bigger stages. There's strangely no music either, creating this miserable atmosphere of isolation that doesn't quite suit a young boy's adventures on a foreign world. The game is a very obvious basic port as well, and its blurry graphics don't really help in making it very attractive. I have a lot of respect for Commander Keen however, and I know that back in the day this would have been pretty cool. Today though? It's just anot…

good old game i remember playing as a kid

Good

I only played Commander Keen 4 and 5. Having originally played Keen 4 and 6, they were the main ones that interested me. In the case of Keen 4, it was an enjoyable trip down memory lane while Keen 5 provided a new experience. Too bad Keen 6 is not included. The Commander Keen games are pioneers of smooth scrolling 2D platformers on the PC and for this reason alone this game is recommended.

A game I've loved and played since the 90s, and it still holds up as a great platformer even now. There's a timeless charm to it that a lot of newer games chase and rarely catch. That said, I'd love to see Microsoft/id give it the same treatment other classic DOS games have gotten — a proper fresh remake with modern visuals while keeping the original gameplay and level design intact. The bones of a great game are already here; it just deserves a new coat of paint for a new generation of players to discover it. Recommended as-is for the nostalgia and the gameplay itself, but here's hoping for a remake down the line.

A blast from the past!