Classic and imaginative platformer
Long before iD Software made their name with Doom and Wolfenstein, they produced the Commander Keen series, cute platformers which were a far cry from their later hyper-violent shooters. This is the fourth game and while little has changed in the general gameplay, it remains a fun and addictive game which successfully emulates classics like Super Mario Bros. For those that don't know, Commander Keen is the alter-ego of 8 year-old Billy Blaze, who travels through space, righting wrongs and generally getting into mischief with aliens. In this episode, the story revolves around finding and rescuing several key figures who can prevent the universe from being destroyed by a race of evil aliens and which is basically an excuse for Keen to travel around some huge and graphically charming environments, using his pogo stick and other assorted gadgets to help him out. Commander Keen is old-school platforming at its best. Although a tad short, it features some gorgeous old-school graphics, which utilise a distinctive slanted 3D perspective to show off the imaginative level and character design. The game's humorous approach is much appreciated and for younger gamers or nostalgia-lovers this is a real treat.
