Hexen (Game)

Hexen

GAME » on October 30, 1995

Mac (Platform)Nintendo 64 (Platform)PC (Platform)PlayStation (Platform)Saturn (Platform)

A fantasy first-person shooter that builds upon its predecessor, Heretic, by incorporating three character classes, multi-level puzzles, and eight-player network play.

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Overview

Hexen, sometimes known as HeXen: Beyond Heretic, is a medieval-fantasy first-person shooter developed by Raven Software (Company) and published by id Software (Company) for DOS PCs on October 30, 1995 for the PC (Platform).

A sequel to the 1994 game Heretic (Game) and the second game in the"Serpent Riders" trilogy, Hexen builds on the fast-paced fantasy-themed action with multiple character classes and puzzles spanning multiple interconnected levels (with each section of the game having its own core "hub" level). It later received a sequel, with Hexen II (Game).

While the game's story builds on Heretic with the involvement of a dark trio of realm-traversing wizards known as the Serpent Riders, it doesn't involve the Heretic's realm of Parthoris (Location) (nor the protagonist Corvus (Character)). Instead, it is set in the realm of Cronos, which was overtaken by the Serpent Rider Korax (Character) through the corruption of the world's three disciplined organizations: the Legion, the Church, and the Arcanum. Now three heroes, one from each organization, set out to destroy their corrupted masters and the demonic Korax himself.

The game builds upon the same engine used in Heretic (which uses a heavily-modified id Tech 1 (Concept), the same engine used in Doom (Game)), introducing manual jumping, rotating/moveable walls, more elaborate weather effects, a level scripting system, CD audio, and eight-player multiplayer. The source code was later released to the public (first on January 11, 1999 with a non-commercial restriction, then on September 4, 2008 under the GNU General Public License), with several Doom source ports adding game compatibility.

A Mac (Platform) version of the game was published in 1996, and console ports of the game were released in early 1997 for the Nintendo 64 (Platform), PlayStation (Platform), and Sega Saturn, with the N64 version ported by Software Creations and the others ported by Probe Entertainment. The N64 version is notable for its split-screen multi-player (for up to four players), while the Saturn version includes two-player link-up multiplayer only accessible via a hidden cheat code. Both the PS1 and Saturn versions feature 3D-rendered FMV cutscenes, while the N64 version features narrative loading screen text.

Unlike the original Heretic, Hexen was not sold as mail order shareware. Instead, it received a demo that limits the game to parts of the Seven Portals segment, along with a full retail release. The game later received an expansion pack on March 22, 1996, known as Deathkings of the Dark Citadel, that adds a bonus 20-level, three-hub campaign. Both were included in several compilations and digital re-releases, including the Steam releases on August 3, 2007 (with the expansion sold as a standalone release) and the enhanced 2025 compilation Heretic + Hexen (which features a brand-new campaign, known as "Vestiges of Grandeur").

Gameplay

Much of the gameplay is similar to that from Heretic (Game), although instead of an, episodic, linear level structure, the game splits the campaign into non-linear sections (or "hubs"), with the player often having to traverse between interconnected levels.

The game also supports multiplayer in both co-operative and deathmatch settings for up to eight players. Some weapons, such as the Wraithverge, have been nerfed to keep deathmatch balanced.

Hubs

Hexen splits the 32-level campaign into five key sections, also known as "hubs." Each hub requires the player to solve an overarching puzzle, often having them navigate between each of the game's levels multiple times.

Seven Portals - After fighting their way through the prologue level (Winnowing Hall), the heroes must navigate the "guardian" areas of Ice, Fire, and Steel to bypass the compromised seven gates originally guarding Cronos from invaders. Each class's blue-mana weapon is first found in this Hub, along with the first component of their ultimate weapon.
Shadow Wood - The heroes must access a dark temple in the barren wilderness by finding keys in the Darkmere swamp, the rocky Wastelands, and the Caves of Circe. At the end, there is a fight with the Death Wyvern. Each class's green-mana weapon is first found in this Hub, along with the second component of their ultimate weapon.
Heresiarch's Seminary - The heroes reach a monastery, and must find gems in the Silent Refectory and the Orchard of Lamentations and place them in an astrological chart, then solve the puzzles of the Wolf, Dragon, and Griffin chapels to battle the first Heresiarch. The third and final component of their ultimate weapon is found in this Hub.
Castle of Grief - The heroes reach a massive fortress, and must repair a big clock by finding gears scattered across the castle. After getting the clock to work, a string of puzzles must be solved to reach a key and fight the second Heresiarch. All three components of each class's ultimate weapon can be found in the Hub's secret level.
Necropolis - Reaching the tombs of their former masters, the heroes must find and kill their corrupted masters (Zedek of the Legion, Traductus of the Church, and Menelkir of the Arcanum) before unlocking the Dark Crucible, where they face the final battle with Korax (Character). All three components of each class's ultimate weapon can be found in this Hub.

The Deathkings of the Dark Citadel expansion adds a new 20-level campaign with three hubs, along with six bonus deathmatch levels.

Blight
Constable's Gate
Nave

Characters & Weapons

Hexen was one of the first first-person shooters to let the player choose between one of three unique character classes, each with their own unique attributes, weapons, and item effects.

Each class has four weapons they'll acquire through the campaign, starting with one that uses no ammunition, then acquiring one weapon for each of the two ammunition types (blue mana and green mana). Their fourth "ultimate" weapon uses both ammo types, and can only be acquired once the player finds all three components of it scattered throughout the campaign.

Fighter

Represented by Baratus of the Legion, the Fighter class is tougher and more agile than the other classes, although its proficiency in melee combat comes at the cost of a lack of ranged attacks.

Spiked Gauntlets (Object) - A pair of gauntlets for quick melee punches. Landing three punches in a row at enemies causes the third to become a slower double-damage strike.
Timon's Axe (blue) - A hand axe that can be empowered by blue mana for powerful electric swings, consuming mana on a successful strike. The axe can be used with depleted mana, at half damage.
Hammer of Retribution (Object) (green) - A hammer that can be empowered by green mana to throw flaming hammer projections as a ranged attack. These projections have no gravity and explode on impact, damaging all enemies nearby (with additional damage on direct hits). The Hammer can be used with depleted mana, where it instead deals melee strikes that are slower, but more powerful.
Quietus (Object) (ultimate) - A longsword with a flaming green aura, with each swing unleashing a barrage of five flaming sword projections as a ranged attack. Like the Hammer, each sword has no gravity and explodes on impact, damaging all enemies nearby (with additional damage on direct hits). Unlike the Axe and Hammer, players cannot use the Quietus with depleted mana as a melee weapon.

The Fighter starts with the highest amount of armor points, and gains the most armor from collecting the Mesh Armor. Its use of the Flechette is that the flask is thrown like a grenade, where it bounces on the ground and explodes either on impact with an enemy or after a few seconds.

Cleric

Represented by Parias of the Church, the Cleric class is well-balanced between physical strength and magical prowess with a lot of specialized weapons.

Mace of Contrition (Object) - A spiked mace for basic melee strikes. Although it is less powerful than the Fighter's melee weaponry, it has longer reach for safer combat.
Serpent Staff (Object) (blue) - A staff with a serpent eyeball attached to the front, used for firing barrages of two green fireballs in a wave that deal continuous poison damage. At close range, the staff instead latches onto an enemy to siphon their health to the Cleric.
Firestorm (Object) (green) - A spell that engulfs the Cleric's hands in fire, which can be used to unleash a streak of flame that explode on impact, damaging all enemies nearby (with additional damage on direct hits) and forming a damaging ring of fire for a short time.
Wraithverge (Object) (ultimate) - A cross-shaped staff that launches an energy ball that, while damaging on its own, unravels into four wraiths on impact, each one tearing at a nearby enemy for a short time.

The Cleric starts with a middle-of-the-ground amount of armor points, and gains the most armor from collecting the Falcon Shield. Its use of the Flechette is that the dropped flask shatters on the ground, a poisonous gas cloud that continuously damages enemies inside.

Mage

Represented by Daedolon of the Arcanum, the Mage class specializes in powerful long-range magic spells, at the cost of being physically slow and fragile.

Sapphire Wand (Object) - A crystal-tipped wand that emits small blasts at an instantaneous velocity ("hitscan"). While each shot is weak, they consume no ammunition of any kind, over-penetrate enemies, and cannot be deflected.
Frost Shards (Object) (blue) - A spell that allows the Mage to conjure a barrage of damaging ice shards in a diamond formation. Killing an enemy with these shards cause them to freeze, allowing them to become a temporary blockade before shattering.
Arc of Death (Object) (green) - A spell that allows the Mage to conjure a powerful bolt of electricity that follows a straight path along the floor and ceiling (even over cliff sides and under arches) before reaching an enemy, dealing continuous electrical damage to that enemy for a short time.
Bloodscourge (Object) (ultimate) - An orb-tipped staff that launches a barrage of three powerful fireballs that home in on enemies and shred through enemies, exploding on impact if it fails to kill them (or it hits a surface), which damages all enemies nearby (with additional damage on direct hits).

The Mage starts with the least amount of armor points, and gains the most armor from collecting the Amulet of Warding. Its use of a Flechette is that the flask floats in the air for a few seconds before exploding (similar to Heretic's Timebomb of the Ancients).

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