Heretic + Hexen

microsoft please release raven software from the COD mines so they can work on actual games again

Another Nightdive home run. Feature rich remaster, and plenty of meat on the bone. Heretic is a fantasy reskin of Doom. If that sounds appealing, you have good taste. Hexen is Heretic but more interesting level design and varied weapons (if you swap class). If that sounds appealing, you have immaculate taste.

After fully completing every aspect of Heretic Hexen here are my thoughts: Heretic Overall fun to play. Would a younger generation like it? I would say yes, anyone can like Heretic. Straight forward, good enemy variety, lots of relics and weapons to use against enemies. Tome of power is a very fascinating aspect that changes how well weapons work vs different enemies and expands the weapon roster. Down side is that its hidden behind a somewhat uncommon item. Later game chapters can be tricky but saving at any moment (which has always existed for games from the dos era) is an easy way to try an area again. Only real complaint is some of the weapons feel very samish. Faith renewed A brand new expansion to Heretic. Held very true to the base game and worth playing Hexen Yeeeesh. I own this game on N64 and have beaten it as all character classes. Going in, I am familiar with what I'm getting myself into. I have a vague recall of how to progress through the game and I STILL GOT STUCK TWO TIMES, and had to do a search to see what I missed to progress. Hexen is a good idea but not entirely executed well. New players to Hexen may NOT find it fun, as its abit too random with how vague progression is. Any new players to the game know this; Hexen is a switch hunting adventure. Look at all walls, look for any and all switches. Pulling switches sometimes opens passages on other levels. Backtracking isn't bad but its the random "look for something that changed" that feels bad. What's even worse is that SOME progression is behind a secret! Yeah, you have to do the ancient term called "wall humping". "Wall humping" is a term used in old DOS games where you spam the "Use" button on walls searching for secrets. Of course, your character also makes an URG sound while you do, so you understand why its called wall humping. A secret passage that is apart of progression is not good progression, and there are a handful of these situation that can get you stuck. Some secret passages are somewhat easy to notice as they have a different wall texture that can be easy to spot sometimes. On top of the fact that some progression is simply moving through a level, that simply opens up other areas just for moving though a level. And some progression is tied behind taking a portal to a different part of a level you've already visited which feels oddly complicated. Hexen isn't entirely hard but a game of 1.How much patience do you have to check all walls for secrets, 2. check all walls for switches, and 3. take ever portal as it could take you someplace new in a level you've already visited. Does the new hint system really work in Hexen? It gives you an idea of where you need to be, but doesn't show you exactly what you need to do. It was helpful but sometimes not in Hexen. Replaying Hexen I feel like: All the classes are fun. Progression is too convoluted. Weapon variety is too limited. Enemy variety is also too limited. Deathkings of the Dark Citadel An original expansion to Hexen that I had never played. My only problem is this felt like a slaughter fest mod designed by a community member, or like it was made to be more like Heretic (the previous game) with tons and tons of enemies. As if Hexen was trying to be made to emulate Heretic. Heretic was about more action then button hunting. The problem is that the designers were trying to fit a square piece into a triangle hole. Hexen doesn't have a unique list of varied monsters to make interactions different and interesting. Hexen doesn't have a huge variety of weapons either. First entry into the first Hub world, I felt like I was missing something. Mana for a weapon I didn't have on top of being swarmed with strong enemies made me feel like I needed both weapons AND your classes ultimate weapon. Keep in mind THIS WAS THE FIRST HUB LEVEL AFTER THE INTRO LEVEL. Whoever designed Deathkings missed the mark what Hexen was. Very hard with some randomness to progression but not as cryptic as Hexen. Vestiges of Granduer (the best for last) WOW. WOW. WOW. WOW. This is a brand new expansion for Hexen THAT IS AMAZING! I checked steam achievements and very few people have even played this, which is super disappointing. ITS SO GOOD! THIS EXPANSION is why you buy Heretic Hexen. The price tag is WORTH IT just to simply play VoG. Its THAT GOOD! The people behind VoG development...wow just WOW! I'd be willing to say VoG is a better Hexen experience then Hexen ever was. Level design: WONDERFUL! FANTASTIC! Beautiful scenery. Amazing level layouts. It feels like you're in a fantasy scenario. The levels are so well crafted that you look around and the sense of wonder to explore these super neat environments. My favorite is the Volcanic Temple. WOW! I LOVED that level SO MUCH! Its soooooooooooooooo neat! The details put into the environments, the care crafting these levels are just amazing. Simply progression through these levels is such a treat. I don't know what else to say. Progression: You do backtracking (which is normal for Hexen) but progression is tied to key items. Early on you find a cup, you place it, you see there are 4 more. YOU, the player, KNOW what you're after. You KNOW what your progression is. The game didn't have to hide it, its right there and you can see it. Exploring these levels you see locked doors, so you keep a mental note to come back and revisit. The only cryptic theme in VoG is the secret level that is switches hidden behind some very tough hidden secrets. As an ancient enjoyer of Hexen, I already had an idea of what to look for and actually found them without help BUT if you're a new player, they might be somewhat tough (remember when I said "wall humping?). That's right, the only cryptic aspect of VoG is the secret level. Secrets: There are secrets, and if you're an enjoyer of Hexen, some of these secrets are tied to an item, and you may think to yourself, "I bet when I get that (mysterious item I'm not saying what it is for spoiler), I think that's how I can get over there." There are secrets inside secrets! And its so fun finding them as many items and secrets are tied to exploration. Yup, pay attention and roam around and you can find super neat things! It reminds me of how dark souls rewarded curious exploration. Oh and the secret level, oh my god its an ENTIRE hub unto itself! Its huge. Also there is a super neat secret area in the first Hub area that I believe is a Dark Souls reference. You need to find this place because its super atmospheric and the aspect that makes me think its dark souls related is the "Fire" and "Dark" windows. VoG was a BLAST to play! If you're reading this and you've already bought Heretic Hexen and never played it DO IT! You WON'T be disappointed. And if you're curious about buying this combo pack and you're new to both of these games, you might find either of them good or bad but do it because VoG is worth it. More people need to know how FANTASTIC Vestiges of Grandeur is. I still can't get over how well crafted it is. The designers behind VoG thank you for such a WONDERFUL gaming experience in an old ancient piece of gaming history.

Open the dark vault of Heretic world. Very important treasure was uncovered once more and that is Heretic. This is one of the most important games brought back from old era and done with a justice. From one of the greatest developers Raven Software now you to can enjoy this remaster in fully high pixelated god tier design. There is nothing to complain about in this enchanted remaster but only give yourself to the full fledge craftsmanship. Improved movement and mouse controls just do wonders. Customisable FOV and accessibility options. Not to mention that the soundtrack will slap you in the face. Coming from old goldies like Doom 1,2 this will feel more like you home. No more roaming around like headless chicken: game will give you map and direction. Will give you all tools of destruction and more. Weapons feels very cool and unique: its like dark magic and fantasy mixed up. One of the greatest Nightdive studios remasters hands down. Easy recommended

Crazy good remaster/rerelease of both games. Was expecting a another DOS emu dump like most of the retro favorites that hit steam, this is anything but. Achievements, controller support, even ultrawide support. The devs who put this out deserve more credit for the effort that went into getting it to a modern state.

Some of Nightdive's best work (which is saying something). The QOL additions make all the difference, the new Hexen episode is the best in the series, and giving the cleric a shield and guard counter was brilliant. Bring the homies too; somehow it seems to have aged even better in co-op

Absolute Legend 10/10

DOOM but dark fantasy, love it. Wish they remade this just like DOOM 2016

Овер прайснутое нечто

Já kacíř (tuduc), jsem se dostal k této klasice poprvé až letos (2026)! A musím říct, že Heretic je fajn, mám rád klasickýho Dooma a tohle je v podstatě takovej fantasy Doom s inventářem a mouselookem, cool! Hexen je podobný co se týče hratelnosti, ale je zde několik rozdílů, můžete hrát za 3 různé classy, které si můžete v průběhu hry libovolně měnit (na určitých místech). Přibyla také možnost skákání, ale největší rozdíl vidím v tom, že hra nemá jednotlivé levely jak jsme z těchto oldschool her zvyklý, ale jakýsi hub, ze kterého člověk plynule přechází do vícero úrovní, kde třeba něco zmáčknete a pak musíte zpátky někam do háje, tohle dokáže být celkem otravný a zmatečný. Pokud hru vypnete a pak se do ní po pár dnech vrátíte nemáte naprosto tušení co dělat a kam jít. Jinak obě hry jsou dobrý, navíc obsahují i nové epizody, podobně jako třeba Doom, Duke nebo Shadow Warrior, což je super.