| Hexen: Beyond Heretic | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Developer | Raven Software[a] |
| Publishers | id Software (PC) R-Comp Interactive (RISC OS)[5] Bethesda Softworks (2025 release) |
| Director | Brian Raffel |
| Producer | John Romero |
| Designers | Eric C. Biessman Michael Raymond-Judy |
| Programmers | Ben Gokey Paul MacArthur Chris Rhinehart |
| Artists | Shane Gurno Brian Pelletier Brian Raffel |
| Composer | Kevin Schilder[b] |
| Series | Heretic |
| Engine | Doom engine[c] |
| Platforms | MS-DOS,Mac OS,PlayStation,Sega Saturn,Windows,Nintendo 64,RISC OS |
| Release | October 30, 1995
|
| Genre | First-person shooter |
| Modes | Single-player,multiplayer |
Hexen: Beyond Heretic is a 1995first-person shootervideo game developed byRaven Software and published byid Software forMS-DOS. It is the sequel to 1994'sHeretic, and the second game in Raven Software's "Serpent Riders" trilogy, which culminated withHexen II. The title comes from the German nounHexen, which means "witches", and/or the verbhexen, which means "to cast aspell". Game producerJohn Romero stated that a third, unreleased game in this series was to be calledHecatomb.[6]
Hexen: Beyond Heretic met with highly positive reviews upon release, though the various 1997 console ports were negatively received because of problems withframe rate and controls and the aging of the game itself. Critical plaudits for the game centered on thenon-linearlevel design and the selection of three playable characters, each offering a distinct gameplay experience.
In 2025,Hexen was re-released alongside its predecessorHeretic byBethesda Softworks with a brand new expansion titledVestiges of Grandeur.[7]
Following the tale of D'Sparil's defeat inHeretic,Hexen takes place in another realm, Cronos, which is besieged by the second of the three Serpent Riders, Korax. Three heroes set out to destroy Korax. Theplayer assumes the role of one such hero. Throughout the course of his quest, he travels through elemental dungeons, a wilderness region, a mountainside seminary, a large castle, and finally a necropolis, before the final showdown with the Serpent Rider.
A new series feature introduced inHexen is the choice of three character classes. Players may choose to play as afighter (Baratus), acleric (Parias), or amage (Daedolon). Each character has unique weapons and physical characteristics, lending an additional degree of variety and replay value to the game. The Fighter relies mainly on close-quarters physical attacks with weapons both mundane and magical in nature, and is tougher and faster than the other characters. The Mage uses an assortment of long-range spells, whose reach is counterbalanced by the fact that he is the most fragile and slowest moving of the classes.[8] The Cleric arms himself with a combination of both melee and ranged capabilities, being a middle ground of sorts between the other two classes.[9] Additionally, certain items, such as the flechette (poison gas bomb), behave differently when collected and used by each of the classes, functioning in a manner better suiting their varying approach to combat.[10]
Hexen introduces "hub" levels to the series, wherein the player can travel back and forth between central hub levels and connected side levels.[9] This is done in order to solve larger-scale puzzles that require a series of items or switches to be used.[11] The player must traverse through a hub in order to advance to the next hub.
The inventory system returns fromHeretic with several new items, such as the "Disc of Repulsion", which pushes enemies and projectiles away from the player, and the "Icon of the Defender", which provides invincibility to each class in a different manner.
LikeHeretic,Hexen was developed onNeXTSTEP.[12]Hexen uses a modified version of theDoom engine, which allows jumping, looking up and down, network play with up to eight players and the choice of three character classes. It also popularized the "hub system" oflevel progression in the genre of first-person shooter games. Unlike previous games, which had relied purely onGeneral MIDI for music,Hexen is also able to play tracks from aCD. The game's own CD contained a soundtrack in an audio format that was exactly the same as the MIDI soundtrack, but played through a high-quality sound module. However, the most significant improvement was the addition of wall translation, rotation, and level scripting.
The Macintosh version of the game was developed by Presage Software.[13]
"Polyobjects" are the walls that move within the game. Because theDoom engine uses thebinary space partitioning system for rendering, it does not enable moving walls.Hexen's moving walls are actually one-sided lines built somewhere else on the map and rendered at the desired start spot when the level is loaded. This enables a pseudo-moving wall, but does not allow moving sectors (such as seeing the tops of moving doors). This often creates problems in sectors containing more than one node, however, explaining the relatively limited use of polyobjects.
WhereasDoom,Doom II, andHeretic rely on lines within the maps to perform simple actions,Hexen also allows these actions to be activated by Action Code Script (ACS). These scripts use a syntactic variant ofC, thus allowing special sequencing of game actions. Programming features such as randomization, variables, and intermap script activation enable smooth hub gameplay and are responsible for most of the special effects within the game: on-screen messages, random sound effects, monster spawning, sidedef texture changes, versatile control of polyobjects, level initialization for deathmatch, and even complex environment changes such as earthquakes manipulating floor textures and heights.
On January 11, 1999, thesource code forHexen was released by Raven Software under a license that granted rights to non-commercial use, and was re-released under theGNU GPL-2.0-only on September 4, 2008.[14] This allowed the game to be ported to different platforms such asLinux,AmigaOS, andOS/2 (includingeComStation andArcaOS).
Hexen is compatible with manyDoom source ports;Hexen's features are also compatible withDoom WADs made for source ports regardless of what game they are being played on.
The score was composed by Kevin Schilder. In contrast toHeretic, some songs inHexen, in addition to MIDI versions, had higher-quality versions on CD. When playing in CD-audio mode, songs absent from CD would be replaced by some existing CD tracks.[15]
Hexen was released for theSega Saturn,PlayStation, andNintendo 64, all released and distributed by GT Interactive during the first half of 1997. While presenting several specific differences in their respective translations of the original PC game, all of them constitute essentially the same game with no major changes to level design, plot, or overall delivery.
The PlayStation version, developed byProbe Entertainment, has the FMV scenes andRed Book audio music from the PC CD-ROM version, but no multiplayer mode. The scripting and animation is slower, enemies have only their front sprites and lack gory deaths when attacked by strong hits or weapons, and the frame rate is slower. Although all levels are present in this version and feature their correct layouts, their architecture details are somewhat simplified and there is some loss in overall lighting quality. This port is based on a beta version of the original PC version ofHexen as many gameplay tweaks are shared, such as the simpler level design and the Fighter's weapons being weaker compared to other versions.
The Sega Saturn version, also developed by Probe,[16] inherits most of the restrictions of the PlayStation version, such as the simplified scenery architecture and the downgraded lighting, although it does feature improvements in certain aspects. The scripting is faster, and the frame rate, while not fluid or consistent, is slightly better. The enemies still have all but their front sprites missing, but they retain their gory deaths when killed by a strong hit or weapon. This version also has hidden two-player link-up cooperative and deathmatch modes, accessible only through the unlockable cheat menu.[17] While this port shares the FMV scenes and most of the Redbook audio music from the other CD-ROM versions, it also includes some new music tracks.
The Nintendo 64 version, developed bySoftware Creations,[18] retains all of the graphical quality and scenery architecture, has a consistent frame rate, and includes high detail and smooth filtering. This version also has four-player split-screen cooperative and deathmatch modes, although they must be played in low detail mode.[19] Due tocartridge storage limitations, the Nintendo 64 version is based on the original PC floppy version and lacks the FMV scenes and Redbook audio music introduced in the CD-ROM version, although it has new narrative introductions to the levels.
Deathkings of the Dark Citadel is an officialexpansion pack that was released forHexen on September 3, 1996. It features three more hubs with a total of 20 new single player levels and six new deathmatch levels. Unlike theShadow of the Serpent Riders expansion pack forHeretic, it had to be purchased in retail stores or by mail order. This was unusual at the time, as most non-free expansion packs also included other new or revised gameplay elements.[citation needed]Deathkings of the Dark Citadel, unlikeShadow of the Serpent Riders, was not packaged with the original game, meaning that both had to be purchased separately, and the expansion would not work without already havingHexen. This expansion pack also did not initially include nor enable any music. Music could be fully enabled by applying a patch specially released to address this issue (usually found online under the name "dkpatch").
Each of the hubs (The Blight, The Constable's Gate, and The Nave) features one secret level, and new puzzles based on the quest items from the original game (no new quest artifacts were added). Any type of enemy may spawn on the map.
The final level of the expansion, the Dark Citadel itself, is an arena-like level, which features teleporting waves of monsters and three bosses (Fighter, Cleric, and Mage clones).
On August 7, 2025,Bethesda Softworks re-releasedHeretic andHexen in a bundle calledHeretic + Hexen, developed byId Software andNightdive Studios in association withActivision andRaven Software, forWindows,Xbox One,Xbox Series X and S,PlayStation 4,PlayStation 5, andNintendo Switch.[7] The re-release came with a brand new campaign titledVestiges of Grandeur that included new maps, as well as a remastered soundtrack titled "Tome of Power" byAndrew Hulshult. The game was also made available to selectGame Pass members of PC Game Pass and Game Pass Ultimate.
| Aggregator | Score | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| N64 | PC | PS | Saturn | |
| GameRankings | 60%[20] | |||
| Publication | Score | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| N64 | PC | PS | Saturn | |
| Edge | 9/10(DOS)[35] | |||
| Electronic Gaming Monthly | 4.875/10[22] | 5.5/10, 5/10, 5.5/10, 4.5/10[21] | ||
| GameSpot | 5.0/10[26] | 6.5/10 (DOS)[23] | 3.3/10[25] | 4.9/10[24] |
| IGN | 3.7/10[19] | 5.0/10[27] | ||
| N64 Magazine | 69%[29] | |||
| Next Generation | 2/5[32] | 4/5 (DOS)[30] | 2/5[31] | |
| Maximum | 5/5 (DOS)[28] | |||
| Saturn Power | 84/100[33] | |||
| Sega Saturn Magazine | 88%[34] | |||
Heretic andHexen shipped a combined total of roughly 1 million units to retailers by August 1997.[36] Individually, the game sold over 250,000 copies.[37]
Reviewing the PC version,Maximum remarked thatHexen sets itself apart from other "3D slashers" with its selection of characters and novel approach to level design, which "leads to your character choosing their path rather than being guided around a rather linear series of rooms, proving that 3D games have matured". They also commented that the gameplay is consistently intense due to the difficulty of the enemies, the variety of weapons and power-ups, and the sheer size and breadth of the levels. They gave the game 5 out of 5 stars[28] and their "Maximum Game of the Month" award.[38] A reviewer forNext Generation opined that "Hexen takes everything that was good aboutHeretic, and makes it even better." He commented that the ability to choose between three different character classes gives the game replay value, something that had been missing from first-person shooters up until then, and though the graphics are blocky and pixelated, the "eerily lifelike" sound effects make up for it to a large extent. LikeMaximum, he praised the non-linear level design and concluded the game to be a must-have for any first-person shooter fan.[30] Chris Hudak, citing the differing abilities of the three playable characters, calledHexen "Slicker, smarter and more stylish thanDoom---with all the killing and three times the replay value."[23]
Computer Games Strategy Plus namedHexen the best "First-Person Action" title of 1995.[39] It was also a runner-up forComputer Gaming World's 1995 "Action Game of the Year" award, which ultimately went toCrusader: No Remorse. The editors called it "anotherDoom bloodfest distinguished by its fantasy setting and the fact that it let you play as either a fighter, priest or mage, each with unique attributes and weapons".[40]
The Saturn version was far less well received. A review inNext Generation of the Saturn version reasoned that, "Like oil and water,Doom-style games and console conversions don't mix well. Unless the programmers are willing to rewrite the graphics engine from scratch, PC ports suffer from getting cramped into too little memory and neglecting the console's native 3D hardware." The reviewer recommended Saturn owners instead tryPowerSlave orGhen War, first-person shooters specifically designed for the console.[31] Shawn Smith and Sushi-X ofElectronic Gaming Monthly similarly said the game had not been converted well from PC.[21] Others described the Saturn port as an exact conversion, and argued the problem was simply thatHexen was too old a game to be released for console in 1997 without any improvements.[21][24] Though they disagreed on exact reasons, most critics agreed that the Saturn version suffers from pixelated graphics,[21][24][31][41] dramatic drops in frame rate,[21][31][34] and cumbersome controls.[24][31][41] Scary Larry ofGamePro gave it a mixed review, summarizing that "although it doesn't live up toPowerSlave's standards, it's still decent fun."[41] John Broady ofGameSpot gave a slightly more dismal assessment: "Despite these glaring deficiencies,Hexen nonetheless offers enough enhancements over the standard shooter to warrant a rental, especially for fans of role-playing games who thirst for real-time action. ... But for the rest, the Saturn version ofHexen is a classic game of too little and too late."[24] Rich Leadbetter ofSega Saturn Magazine and James Price ofSaturn Power defended the Saturn version, commenting that, although not outstanding, it is far superior to the Saturn version ofDoom, which was released at roughly the same time.[34][33] Price was particularly enthusiastic about the link cable-enabled multiplayer mode.[33]
The Nintendo 64 version also left most critics unimpressed. The four-player mode was praised as an unprecedented feature in console first person shooters,[22][26][19][32] but the graphics were considered unacceptably poor, particularly the frame rate[22][26][19][32] and the usage of the Nintendo 64's mip-mapping and anti-aliasing in a way which actually worsened the visuals of the game.[19][32] As with the Saturn version, some critics opined thatHexen was too dated by this time to be receiving a straightforward port.[22][19] Joe Fielder ofGameSpot additionally complained of a severe bug in the save feature.[26] In a dissenting opinion, Scary Larry concluded that "Although not as polished asTurok or as fun and creepy asDoom 64,Hexen gives you three characters to choose from, and the action's addicting once you get into it." He gave it higher scores than the Saturn version in every category except sound.[42] In contrast,Matt Casamassina ofIGN called it "A shoddy port of a PC game that wasn't so great to begin with."[19]
The PlayStation version was even more negatively received; critics universally panned the port for its poor frame rate, pixelated graphics, and sloppy platform-jumping controls.[25][27][43]
Electronic Gaming Monthly's 1998 Video Game Buyer's Guide namedHexen the 1997 "Game that Should've Stayed on the PC", commenting that while the Nintendo 64 version was the best of the console ports, all three were poor conversions, andHexen was too old by the time they were released.[44]
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