Commander Keen in Keen Dreams

Genre: Platformer

Players: 1

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Review:

(Note: This release has been removed from the Nintendo Switch eShop and Nintendo.com. It has since been replaced with Commander Keen in Keen Dreams: Definitive Edition. The following review is for the original release of the game.)

Commander Keen in Keen Dreams is a Platformer that was originally released on PCs in 1991 as “Episode 3.5” of the franchise and the second game in the series to be released, generally considered to be a “lost episode” due to its “in-between full episodes” nature and its lack of inclusion in subsequent game collections. It has been ported pretty much straight to the Switch here, for better or worse, marking the first time this game has ever seen release on a game console.

I remember having a fondness for this series way back in the day, although my memories of playing those games fades into the haze of memories. However, playing this game now, it seriously made me wonder if I have some severe nostalgia warping my mind, because this game is terrible.

It bears mention that this game is very different from other series titles, removing the titular character’s signature ray gun and pogo stick and instead giving him seeds he can toss to temporarily transform enemies into flowers.

Where do I even begin with this game… the platforming is awful, with awkward jumping, frustratingly slow movement when climbing poles, terrible level design where leaps of faith are the norm, and unforgiving gameplay that tosses you back to the beginning of the level whenever you take a hit. Oh, and remember when you had limited lives and “Game Over” didn’t have a way to continue? Yeah, welcome back to that era again, did you miss it?

It’s not just the gameplay that has aged terribly here. The game’s graphics look terrible by today’s standards, both in how primitive they look and just in their design, which looks like something someone quickly scribbled in MS Paint (and seriously, what was it with PC games of this era and their love affair with the color cyan?). The music is at least okay, but not especially memorable.

For those wanting to hold onto their nostalgia, I can at least say that when you remember the good ol’ days of Commander Keen, this is very likely not the game you are thinking of. Given its “lost” status, I can’t tell how those who played Commander Keen in Keen Dreams back in the day felt about it, but I have to think that even if PC gamers in the early 90s were absolutely desperate for platformers, they’re better off with this game being “lost”, as even by the standards of the day, this game was awful, and it has only gotten worse with time.

tl;dr – Commander Keen in Keen Dreams is the first console port of a Platformer released to PCs in 1991, the “lost episode” and second game in the series. However, it is an absolutely terrible platformer in multiple ways, and it has only gotten worse with time. Series fans nostalgic about the good ol’ days be warned – this is not the game you’re looking for.

Grade: D-

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