Commander Keen 3: Keen Must Die is part of a fairly large series of side scrolling platform games developed by ID Software Incorporated and published by Apogee Software, Limited. This version was developed specifically for play on the personal computer and was released in the very early nineties. It features some fun futuristic science fiction action. This is the direct sequel to Commander Keen: The Earth Explodes. This is the final adventure in the Invasion of the Vorticons series.
The previous title saw Commander Keen destroying all of the Tantalus Rays and saving the Earth from the Vorticon invasion.
In the process, the mother ship was destroyed and must return to the home planet of Vorticon VI. Commander Keen is able to follow it home, and does so in order to confront the Grand Intellect. Also in the second game, Commander Keen learned from the Vorticon Elder that the Vorticon aliens are not so much evil as brainwashed by the Grand Intellect. What is worse, the Grand Intellect…who is controlling the aliens with his mind belts…is from the planet Earth.
Commander Keen lands outside the city of Vortville on the ocean planet of Vorticon VI. He will have to make his way through cities, forts, and the Caves of Oblivion to eventually reach his destination…the Castle of the Grand Intellect. Commander Keen must enter
each dwelling in each of these different segments of Vorticon VI. The game is played in the third person perspective until Keen enters a dwelling, at which time it switches views. Within each domicile, be it a fort or a castle, Keen must make his way through to the exit and carry on to the next segment. The way to each exit is hampered by numerous enemies and the need to find a color coded key.
Bonuses in this game are found within the homes of the Vorticon nobles. Each home will contain goodies such as food and toys that will occupy the enemies. The user may also glom onto extra lives and more health by entering and basically looting these homes. Much of the other parts of the game are similar to those in the first games. The enemies are primarily the same, but there are a couple of new ones that have been added. Foobs are easily killed, but they are new. VortiNinjas are more aggressive, nasty and more challenging. The user will also be able to see Nessie floating around the waters of Vorticon VI.
This is not a bad game and is a nice ending to the series. It is preferable to play it after completing the first two games, since it will offer the user the best feel for the silly and somewhat humorous plot.
