Commander Keen: Aliens Ate My Babysitter!

The Good
The story is OK again. Billy Blaze the kid genius a.k.a Commander Keen, defender of Earth must once again travel into space, because his babysitter who also happens to be the big sister of his former nemesis, has been abducted by an alien race called the Bloogs. They have taken her to their homeplanet called Fribilus Xax. This story takes the player on yet another series of cartoon style levels filled with new enemies such as the Bloogs, Bobba's and the Orbatrix. The enemies a crazier than ever and you'll have a good time figuring how they attack and how they should be attacked. The graphics are once more those, at that time, beautiful cartoon-like graphics that were used in parts 4 and 5. It's the same engine so expect basically the same as parts 4 and 5. You will find the same items such as chocolates and soda for points and Viva's which you need to collect 100 of to get an extra life, much like the drops in Keen 4, the vitalins in Keen 5 or the coins in Mario games. Certain items are even required to be reach new areas on the map. The gameplay, because it uses the same engine as Keen 4 and 5, remains the same which means smooth and easy to learn gameplay, so that's a positive thing. The game's levels are quite diverse you'll travel from waterfall's to factories and even a secret space station. However, they are still not as diverse as in Keen 4.

The Bad
As with all Keen games it may be a bit too hard for unexperienced players even in easy mode. The biggest flaw of this game is it's lack of innovation. Finding certain items to reach new areas is a nice new twist but it's just not enough. This is clearly a game that sticks to the old formula to ensure long-time fans won't stop buying it, which can actually also be considered a weak point.

The Bottom Line
Another perfectly styled platform game that unfortunately doesn't add any significant new twists. However it's too bad the sequel mentioned in the ending sequence has never been made because of Id's other projects, it would have been a great game for a grand finale to the series. Play through this great classic to learn why.

The Good
This was the first CK game sold purely as retail product, and after it's predecessors, I knew I was onto a good thing. I paid my £20 with glee, and ripped off the shiny wrapping to reveal two 720k floppy disks. Wow! This was going to be huge....

Funny how times change. These days we're puzzled when a game fits onto a single CD.

As for CK6, well... it uses the same engine as CK4 and CK5, which means you get cute graphics, cute sounds and a slick control system. An excellent story-line keeps the game fresh and alive when jumping around becomes tired. By 1991, this game series was starting to look a little dated, but it is none-the-less the best platform game series the PC had seen.

The Bad
I'm not really a big platform games fan, but 9 years ago, any decent looking PC games was a must play. There's not really anything wrong with this game, and it still looks remarkably good to my eyes, but I need far more from my games these days.

The Bottom Line
The best platform game on the PC ever. Lots of fun from when CPU speeds were measured in double figures. I guess it won't appeal to the younger generation, but for us old-timers it's a glimpse back to simpler times.

The Good
Commander Keen is a sentimental favorite of mine, despite its age and technical limitations. I've heard it all the time: "Why do you still play this? It's old!"..."I'm not playing that game...the graphics stink!"..."Yeah, but Quake III's new, man! That's old school you got there!" Personally, I like my old school over the new school, big time. Commander Keen may not have pretty 16-bit graphics, or a technically advanced Redbook soundtrack or gobsmacking piles of rendered FMV, and yeah, it can fit onto a single 1.44 MB floppy instead of being big enough that you need 4 CDs for it, but it's got it right where it counts: gameplay! Commander Keen is easily one of the most playable PC platform games you'll ever play in your entire life!

The Keen games have all been simple, easy games to pick up and get into, but once you do, you'll soon see why I call this (in my opinion) one of the finest 2D platformers available for the PC. First, the game's engine is fast and smooth, allowing for very good animation without any problems. Second, you've got to admit: even with the weird, cutesy enemies and somewhat simplistic design, Commander Keen has a lot of charm. id never intended for demonic beings or spirits of Hell to inhabit this game; they just wanted a game with charm and wit and a whimsical environment which would go right with the game's hero. And they got it perfectly.

Now, moving on. Gameplay is pretty simple. You have a Neural Stunner (which brings up another thing: Keen seems to be a pacifist or something, because he never kills anything in any of his games. Maybe he's squeamish? :), a pogo stick which can propel you up higher in a jump, and of course, the ability to jump from platform to platform. Levels are big, and most have a LOT of hidden items stuck around them, which will probably appeal hugely to secret hunters. Good luck, guys!

Graphics are simple, but very appropriate to the style of Keen's world. Even though they're simple EGA graphics, they're still very nicely done and seem to "fit". Sounds and music are all Adlib sounds, and even though the music is a bit cheesy in parts, it's charming and helps to complete the experience of playing. Although you have to admit: a lot of you were probably humming the Keen tunes at one point or another...:)

The Bad
I hate the fact that Aliens Ate My Babysitter is near impossible to find now, and id refuses to let Tom Hall and John Romero (two of the original Keen guys; Tom was the creator of Keen and John Romero was one of the programmers of Keen; both are at Ion Storm now) have the rights back to Commander Keen so they can create the newest Keen game already. If I were id, I'd just hand it off right now and let things go on. Besides, I want to see Keen, the Bloogs, Dopefish, and everyone else again already!

The Bottom Line
Aliens Ate My Babysitter is easily the best of the Keen games, and it's a shame that it's impossible to find now, because everyone who's anyone deserves to play the Commander Keen games. They're cute, they're fun, and they're easily one of the best, most classic PC games ever made! Two thumbs up!