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Commander Keen technical data
Name | Commander Keen |
System | Game Boy Color |
Year | 2000 |
Developer | id Software |
Genre | Action |
Commander Keen was a game series released by Apogee Software in 1990 that revolutionized the world of side-scrolling platformers. The game was initially released for DOS and featured a young boy named Billy Blaze as its protagonist. It was one of the first games to feature a “sprite-based” graphics system, which allowed its characters to move across the screen in a smooth manner. Commander Keen was extremely popular, spawning five sequels and an array of spin-offs on various platforms.
In 1998, Apogee released Commander Keen: Goodbye Galaxy! for the Nintendo Game Boy Color (GBC). This version of the game featured updated graphics and sound effects, as well as some new levels exclusive to this release. Goodbye Galaxy! was critically acclaimed upon its release and is now considered one of the best platformers ever created for the GBC.
The story follows Billy Blaze, better known as Commander Keen, on his mission to save the galaxy from an alien race known as Shikadi. The Shikadi have stolen all of Earth’s resources and are planning on using them to create their own intergalactic empire. To prevent this from happening, Keen must travel through eight different worlds (including the Moon) and collect pieces of an ancient artifact called the “Omegamatic”. Once all eight pieces are collected, he can use it to stop the Shikadi’s plans and save the galaxy.
The gameplay in Goodbye Galaxy! is similar to other platformers such as Super Mario Bros., but with some key differences. For example, Keen has access to two different types of weapons: his trusty ray gun, which can be used to shoot enemies or activate switches; and his pogo stick, which allows him to bounce off walls and reach high places. In addition to these weapons, there are also power-ups scattered throughout each level that can give Keen temporary invincibility or make him run faster.
The graphics in Goodbye Galaxy! are colorful and vibrant – much more so than many other GBC games at that time – while still maintaining a classic 8-bit feel. The music is also very catchy; each level features its own unique soundtrack composed by Bobby Prince (the same composer behind Duke Nukem 3D).
Overall, Commander Keen: Goodbye Galaxy! is an excellent platformer for fans of classic games like Super Mario Bros., Sonic The Hedgehog or Mega Man 2. Its colorful visuals and catchy music make it stand out from other titles on the system while its tight controls make it easy for players of all skill levels to enjoy it. If you haven’t had a chance yet to experience this classic gem on your Game Boy Color then you should definitely give it a try – you won’t regret it!