Hexen: Deathkings of the Dark Citadel

Deathkings of the Dark Citadel is an expansion consisting of 3 hubs (singleplayer) for HeXen: Beyond Heretic. It's more content for the game, nothing more, nothing less. If there's one good change it did was that the puzzle messages are more descriptive of what the switches actually do. Otherwise, the only new addition is different maps, really. DKDC is harder than the original game, boasting a higher density of the most difficult enemies to deal with, such enemies also respawn constantly, and slightly starving the player of crystal vials and quartz flasks in the beginning. Level design uses the exact same philosophy as the original, but it's a bit less obtuse overall, despite the player getting completely lost still being a possibility. This was a fairly quick completion on my part, since I personally played Deathkings of the Dark Citadel right after closing HeXen: Beyond Heretic, having finished it as well. I was warmed up to its quirks, and kept looking for the same type of hiding spots for switches and quickly dispatching enemies, mostly with the Hammer of Retribution. It's a shorter game in size, but it's also a good time!

Hexen: Deathkings of the Dark Citadel, an expansion pack for Hexen, doesn't really do much to distinguish itself from the main game. It's more Hexen, but with one caveat: navigation and wayfinding has been made even more confusing than in the main game, if you can believe it. Otherwise, it's the exact same game, with the exact same enemies and the exact same textures, just more levels. Hexen is often criticized for how hard it can be to find out where to go next, as random switches do random things in random areas, or key doors have to be memorized for when you find a key hours later, but I still liked Hexen well enough for the cool style and fun gameplay; and navigation, while confusing, wasn't too bad most of the time in my experience. However, with Hexen: DotDC, I can finally fully echo that experience. The three new hubs and associated levels are all over the place, with an upped difficulty that reminds one of old custom map packs for Doom - just put the strongest enemies everywhere right from the get-go! One early level has four wyvern enemies bombard you while you try to find your way, for example, and tight hallways are regularly littered with strong enemies firing magic projectiles and fireballs at you. It almost feels like a Kaizo version of Hexen; or maybe this is the Dark Souls of Boomer Shooters? The navigation is the real problem, though. I feel like I am spending more time in this game trying to find where to go next than actually, you know, playing the game and fighting enemies. Switches that do random things somewhere in the level, or even in a different level, leading to constant backtracking; hidden keys required to progress with no indication of where they might be...This combined with the many strong enemies and annoying sections (such as the previously mentioned wyvern section, or a swamp maze full of those monsters that pop out of the swamp water, block your way and hit you before you can even react), and the Hexen staple of constantly respawning enemies made me have enough well before I was done with this expansion. Hexen I was able to finish and even have some fun with: DotDC I am fine with leaving unfinished instead of having a second screen with a walkthrough open at all times, or otherwise running in circles for hours. I can only recommend this if you really, really want more Hexen and like pain.

Hexen: Deathking of the Dark Citadel does nothing to distinguish itself as anything more than a poor map pack. In fact, the level design is a significant downgrade, and with no new weapons or enemies, there is no real reason to play this (other than to be a completionist). In short, the strengths of the base game are largely missing and the weaknesses are amplified. PROS: - Great art style from the base game - Fun items from the base game CONS: - DosBox port, look at installing with GZDoom - By the middle of the expansion it becomes clear that there is nothing new and the same few encounters will be repeated for its duration - Poor level design, perhaps more confusing than the base game

It's same and just as as good as Beyond Heretic, but it's a bit harder.

Deathkings of the Dark Citadel es una expansión de 3 núcleos (un jugador) para HeXen: Beyond Heretic. Ofrece más contenido para el juego, nada más y nada menos. Si hay un cambio positivo, es que los mensajes de los puzles describen mejor la función de los interruptores. Por lo demás, la única novedad son los mapas diferentes. DKDC es más difícil que el juego original, con una mayor densidad de enemigos difíciles de combatir, que reaparecen constantemente y, al principio, privan al jugador de viales de cristal y frascos de cuarzo. El diseño de niveles sigue la misma filosofía que el original, pero es un poco menos complejo en general, a pesar de que el jugador sigue pudiendo perderse por completo. Completé este juego bastante rápido, ya que personalmente jugué DKDC justo después de cerrar HeXen: Beyond Heretic, tras haberlo terminado también. Me había acostumbrado a sus peculiaridades y no dejaba de buscar los mismos escondites para los interruptores y eliminar enemigos rápidamente, sobre todo con el Martillo de la Retribución. Es un juego más corto, pero no por ello menos divertido.

This is essentially just a new set of levels for the original game. There are no new items, weapons, or enemies - perhaps a few new textures, and that's it. The combat is still arcade-style and energetic, but all the flaws of the base game remain intact. I spent more time figuring out where to go next than actually enjoying the fights.

The reason why this isn't available to purchase anymore is because it's been bundled with Heretic + Hexen, which is a remaster bundle that's out now! Go get it!