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Explore how Heretic and Hexen brilliantly reimagined Doom’s gameplay with a fantasy twist in this classic shooter series.
The Birth of Fantasy Shooters Inspired by Doom
The 1993 game Doom was such a massive hit that ID Software decided to craft a new Doom-style experience, but set in a fantasy world. This creative leap gave rise to popular titles like Heretic and Hexen. Fans craving a blend of magic, monsters, and first-person shooting found exactly what they were looking for in these unique games.
Heretic (1994)
Heretic is a fantasy first-person shooter packed with magical items, spells, and various monsters. Developed by Raven Software and published by ID Software in 1994, it delivers that classic Doom feel but draped in a mystical cloak.
At first glance, Heretic looks like an ordinary Doom game with a fantasy skin. The graphics, gameplay, and weapon mechanics (if you consider the magical context) all closely resemble Doom. Not surprisingly, since it was built on the same engine. Back then, the shooter genre was still niche, so Heretic easily found its players.
The storyline plunges you into a fantasy realm invaded by demon hordes led by three snake riders. Each rider aims to conquer a specific world. The youngest rider, Diabolical Sparil, targets the player’s world—the elf Corvus’s realm. The elven people rebelled against the snake rider’s rule and were branded heretics. Corvus is the lone survivor tasked with defeating both the demons and Diabolical Sparil.
The game unfolds across three chapters, each containing multiple episodes. The epic climax arrives in the third episode, where you face Diabolical Sparil himself.
There’s also an expansion called Shadow of the Serpent Riders, offering two new chapters for players hungry for more demon-slaying action.
Hexen (1995)
Originally conceived as a sequel to Heretic, Hexen evolved into a standalone game, though it continues the Heretic storyline. This title transports players to the world of Kronos, now under siege by the middle snake rider, Korax.
Unlike Heretic, three survivors emerge this time: a Warrior, a Cleric, and a Mage. Players pick one of these heroes to take on Korax’s forces:
- Warrior — The strongest in physical combat but weak in magic.
- Cleric — Balanced stats across the board.
- Mage — Physically weak but powerful in magic, starting with a ranged weapon unavailable to others.
One cool feature of Hexen is multiplayer support, allowing all three characters to tackle the game simultaneously.
A unique aspect of Hexen is the ability to backtrack to previously completed levels. In fact, the story demands it sometimes—for instance, pressing a switch on one level to open a door on another.
Built on a modified Doom engine, the game introduced new monster types (including underground and underwater creatures), artifacts granting special abilities, and interactive objects like trees and pots. There’s also a heavy emphasis on quests and puzzles, making gameplay richer and more varied.
Interestingly, players can now take damage or even die from falling from great heights—a fresh mechanic absent from Doom and Heretic.
In terms of armament, there are 12 types of weapons total, but each class can wield only 4. The final weapon for each class must be assembled from parts, adding an exciting hunt element.
Notably, the Warrior must fight mostly in close combat during early levels, using only spiked gloves and later a hatchet, which don’t offer ranged damage. The Cleric gains ranged weapons earlier, while the Mage starts with a weak ranged weapon that doesn’t consume mana.
Hexen 2 (1997)
Hexen 2 concludes the saga of the snake riders. The player faces the strongest one yet: Eidolon.
Unlike its predecessors, Hexen 2 was built on an enhanced Quake engine, leading to significantly improved graphics.
Players pick from four (five in the expansion) characters:
- Paladin — Tough and strong, focused on melee combat, little use of mana.
- Crusader — Balanced fighter, skilled in both melee and ranged combat.
- Necromancer — Magic-powered ranged attacker, physically weak, dependent on mana.
- Assassin — New to the series, relying on stealth and agility.
- Succubus — Available only in the Portal of Praevus expansion, an unusual choice.
While the graphics saw a big boost, the core gameplay remained similar to the first Hexen. Each character still wields four weapons, with the final one crafted from parts.
Additionally, Hexen 2 dedicates even more time to puzzles. Every episode sports a distinctive style and unique brain teasers, keeping players on their toes.
Heretic 2 (1998)
In 1998, Heretic 2 arrived, standing out sharply from the earlier trilogy. The story picks up with Corvus, the elf from the first game, but everything else changed dramatically —graphics, gameplay, and even genre.
While the original three games were first-person shooters, Heretic 2 embraced a third-person action-adventure style.
The plot follows Corvus returning home to find his kin stricken by a mysterious illness. He must uncover its source and save his people.
If you enjoyed this journey into Heretic and Hexen, why not give these classics a spin? Their blend of fantasy and shooter action delivers a unique, nostalgic thrill that’s hard to find elsewhere.
FAQs
- What engine were Heretic and Hexen originally built on?
Both games used a modified Doom engine, which allowed for similar gameplay with a fantasy twist. - Can you play Hexen with friends?
Yes! Hexen supports multiplayer, letting players cooperate using different character classes. - How is Hexen 2 different from the earlier games?
It uses the enhanced Quake engine, boasts improved graphics, and offers new character classes and puzzles. - What makes Heretic 2 unique compared to the first three?
It switches to third-person action-adventure gameplay and features a new storyline focusing again on Corvus. - Are the final weapons in Hexen and Hexen 2 collectible?
Yes, each class’s last weapon is assembled from parts, adding an exploration element.
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