Review: Heretic + Hexen (Switch) - Two FPS Cult Classics Masterfully Revamped by Nightdive Studios
For fans of the foundational era of first-person shooters, the announcement and subsequent release of Heretic + Hexen on modern platforms, particularly the Nintendo Switch, by Nightdive Studios has been a cause for significant celebration. This meticulously crafted bundle brings two of the most influential and beloved PC shooters of the 1990s back into the spotlight, not merely as ports, but as masterfully revamped experiences. Nightdive Studios, renowned for their exceptional work in preserving and enhancing classic games, has once again demonstrated their unparalleled expertise, delivering a package that respects the legacy of Raven Software’s original creations while infusing them with modern sensibilities and features that make them shine on contemporary hardware.
We at Gaming News have had the distinct pleasure of diving deep into this collection, and we can confidently assert that this is the definitive way to experience Heretic and Hexen. This comprehensive package not only includes the original games and their respective official expansion packs, ‘Shadow of the Serpent Riders’ for Heretic and ‘Deathkings of the Dark Citadel’ for Hexen, but also features two entirely new, officially sanctioned episodes: ‘Heretic: Faith Revived’ and ‘Hexen: Vestiges of Grandeur’. This addition of new content, developed with the blessing and collaboration of Raven Software, elevates the bundle from a simple revival to a true celebration of these seminal titles.
A Legacy Reborn: The Enduring Appeal of Heretic and Hexen
Released in 1994 and 1995 respectively, Heretic and Hexen carved out a unique niche within the burgeoning FPS genre. While id Software’s DOOM set the standard for visceral, fast-paced combat against demonic hordes, Raven Software, utilizing the DOOM engine, explored different thematic territories and gameplay mechanics. Heretic transported players to a dark fantasy realm, casting them as the Elf Corvus, a lone warrior battling the Serpent Riders and their monstrous minions. Its emphasis on magic, varied weapon sets with distinct firing modes, and environmental puzzles offered a richer, more mystical experience than its sci-fi horror contemporary.
Hexen, released a year later, built upon Heretic’s foundation by introducing a class-based system, allowing players to choose from a Warrior, Cleric, or Mage. Each class boasted unique abilities, weapons, and playstyles, significantly increasing replayability and strategic depth. Furthermore, Hexen moved away from the single-player focus of Heretic, emphasizing cooperative multiplayer and a more intricate level design featuring hub worlds and non-linear progression, a bold step that further differentiated it from the pack.
Despite their incredible contributions to the FPS landscape, these games, like many from their era, faced the common challenge of accessibility on modern systems. Compatibility issues, the lack of widescreen support, and the absence of modern quality-of-life features often hindered newcomers from appreciating their brilliance and prevented longtime fans from enjoying them as fully as they might have hoped. This is where Nightdive Studios’ KEX Engine shines, and in Heretic + Hexen, they have delivered a truly definitive remaster that addresses these concerns with remarkable success.
Nightdive Studios’ KEX Engine: The Magic Behind the Revival
Nightdive Studios has built a formidable reputation for its KEX Engine, a proprietary technology specifically designed for reviving classic PC games. This engine is not merely a compatibility layer; it’s a powerful tool that allows for significant enhancements without compromising the original game’s artistic integrity or core gameplay. For Heretic + Hexen, the KEX Engine has been instrumental in achieving several key improvements that make this collection shine:
Enhanced Visuals: The graphical overhaul is perhaps the most immediately noticeable improvement. Resolutions have been significantly increased, allowing for sharper textures and cleaner sprites. The introduction of true widescreen support ensures that the games now fill modern displays without awkward stretching or letterboxing, providing a much more immersive view of the fantastical worlds. Additionally, improved lighting effects and particle systems add a new layer of depth and atmosphere to the environments, making the familiar corridors and caverns feel fresh and alive.
Modern Control Schemes: The transition to console, especially the Nintendo Switch, necessitates robust control customization. Heretic + Hexen offers extensive options, including fully remappable buttons and sensitivity adjustments. The inclusion of gyroscopic aiming on the Switch is a particularly welcome addition, allowing for a more precise and intuitive aiming experience that bridges the gap between classic mouse-and-keyboard controls and modern twin-stick setups. This thoughtful approach to control ensures that both old-school aficionados and newcomers can find a control scheme that feels natural and effective.
Performance and Stability: The KEX Engine ensures that these games run with remarkable stability and smooth frame rates on the Switch. The original releases, while groundbreaking, could sometimes suffer from performance dips. Nightdive’s work here eliminates those frustrations, providing a consistently fluid experience that allows players to focus on the action and exploration.
High-Quality Audio: The sound design of Heretic and Hexen, featuring iconic soundtracks and satisfying weapon effects, has been preserved and often enhanced. The engine’s audio capabilities ensure that the rich, atmospheric soundscapes and impactful combat audio are delivered with clarity and power, further deepening the immersion.
Heretic: Faith Revived - A Masterclass in Dark Fantasy FPS
Heretic, in its original form, was a triumphant departure from the gritty sci-fi horror of DOOM. Players are thrust into the shoes of the Elf Corvus, a lone warrior whose world has been ravaged by the malevolent Serpent Riders. Armed with an arsenal of magical artifacts and devastating weapons, Corvus embarks on a quest for vengeance and salvation across seven distinct provinces, each presented as a series of intricately designed levels.
The Heretic portion of this collection is a testament to Raven Software’s early design prowess. The game’s progression through its episodes feels natural, with each new area introducing new enemy types, environmental hazards, and challenges. The weapons, from the humble Gauntlets of the Necromancer to the devastating Skull of whatever you do not want to face, are imaginative and satisfying to use. The introduction of flight with the Wings of Wrath, allowing players to reach previously inaccessible areas and gain tactical advantages, was a revolutionary mechanic for its time and remains a thrilling aspect of the gameplay.
The “Shadow of the Serpent Riders” expansion pack, included here, adds further depth to Corvus’s journey, extending the narrative and introducing new levels that continue the challenging combat and exploration.
The true star of the Heretic revival, however, is the brand-new episode: “Heretic: Faith Revived.” This episode is not just a collection of new levels; it feels like a natural extension of the original game’s lore and design philosophy. Developed with the input and blessing of Raven Software, “Faith Revived” captures the essence of the original Heretic while presenting challenges and environments that feel fresh and engaging. The level design is intricate, the enemy placement is intelligent, and the new secrets and pathways reward thorough exploration. It’s a brilliant piece of fan service and a genuine addition that makes this collection indispensable for fans of the original. We found ourselves thoroughly impressed by the way this new episode seamlessly integrates with the existing game, offering a substantial and satisfying new chapter for Corvus.
Hexen: Vestiges of Grandeur - A Deep Dive into Class-Based Action
If Heretic was Raven’s exploration of dark fantasy, Hexen was their ambitious evolution of the FPS formula. By introducing three distinct playable classes – the brute force of the Warrior, the holy might of the Cleric, and the arcane power of the Mage – Hexen offered a level of player choice and strategic depth rarely seen in shooters of its era. Each class not only wields a unique set of weapons but also possesses special abilities that dramatically alter how players approach combat and exploration.
The Hexen experience is characterized by its more complex level design. Instead of linear progression, players navigate interconnected hub worlds, unlocking new areas and discovering secrets through a series of interconnected quests and challenges. This non-linear structure, coupled with the need to master each character’s distinct capabilities, makes Hexen a game that truly rewards replayability. Whether you’re smashing through enemies as the Warrior, healing yourself and unleashing divine power as the Cleric, or raining down elemental destruction as the Mage, the core gameplay loop remains incredibly engaging.
The “Deathkings of the Dark Citadel” expansion adds more challenging environments and scenarios to the Hexen campaign, further testing the skills of even the most seasoned players.
Mirroring the success of “Heretic: Faith Revived,” the new episode “Hexen: Vestiges of Grandeur” is a monumental achievement. This new campaign masterfully integrates the class-based gameplay of Hexen into a fresh set of challenges. The designers have crafted environments that cater to the strengths of all three classes, encouraging players to experiment and master each character’s unique arsenal and abilities. The level design is both intricate and rewarding, with plenty of secrets to uncover and challenging encounters that will push players to their limits. “Vestiges of Grandeur” feels like a genuine lost episode, a perfect complement to the original game and a testament to the enduring appeal of Hexen’s innovative design. Its inclusion is a significant draw, offering many hours of new, high-quality gameplay.
Gameplay and Controls on the Nintendo Switch: A Synergistic Experience
Playing Heretic + Hexen on the Nintendo Switch is a surprisingly fluid and enjoyable experience. Nightdive Studios has gone to great lengths to ensure that the controls feel at home on a console controller, and their efforts have paid off handsomely. The ability to customize button layouts is a godsend, allowing players to tailor the controls to their personal preferences.
The addition of motion aiming is a game-changer for the Switch version. While traditional analog stick aiming is perfectly serviceable, the option to fine-tune your aim with subtle movements of the console offers a level of precision that many will find indispensable. It’s implemented in a way that feels intuitive and natural, adding a modern layer of control that enhances the classic gameplay without feeling tacked on. We found that combining analog stick movement with motion aiming provided the most satisfying control scheme for engaging with the fast-paced combat.
The performance on the Switch is consistently strong. Whether you’re in the middle of a frantic firefight in Heretic or navigating the complex architecture of Hexen, the game maintains a smooth frame rate, ensuring that the action never feels choppy or unresponsive. This stability is crucial for games that demand quick reflexes and precise movement, and Nightdive has delivered admirably in this regard.
We also appreciate the inclusion of the fastest and most responsive version of GZDoom that we’ve seen in a commercial release yet, which serves as the engine for this collection. This robust foundation allows for the smooth integration of all the modern features and enhancements without sacrificing the integrity of the original games.
Multiplayer and Mod Support: A Community Reawakened
While the single-player campaigns of Heretic and Hexen are exceptionally well-realized, the multiplayer aspects of these games were also legendary in their time. Heretic + Hexen on Switch offers the ability to play cooperatively through the campaigns, allowing friends to team up and conquer the demonic and arcane forces together. While local multiplayer is not a feature of this specific Switch release, the cooperative online play is a fantastic way to relive those classic multiplayer experiences.
Furthermore, the KEX Engine’s robust modding capabilities are a significant part of Nightdive’s preservation efforts. While direct mod installation on the Switch itself is, by nature, limited due to platform restrictions, the underlying engine is built with modding in mind. This means that the versions of Heretic and Hexen on PC, powered by the same KEX Engine, offer unparalleled modding support, allowing players to create and enjoy an almost infinite variety of new levels, total conversions, and gameplay modifications. For players on PC, this aspect alone makes Nightdive’s collections highly valuable. For Switch players, it’s a promise of continued support and the potential for future content expansions, although the focus here is squarely on the official content and new episodes.
The New Episodes: A Testament to Enduring Design
The inclusion of “Heretic: Faith Revived” and “Hexen: Vestiges of Grandeur” cannot be overstated in their importance to this collection. These are not mere bonus levels; they are fully fleshed-out episodes that demonstrate a deep understanding and respect for the original games. The new content feels authentic, seamlessly blending with the original campaigns in terms of aesthetic, enemy design, and gameplay mechanics.
“Heretic: Faith Revived” captures the mystical and often brutal atmosphere of the original Heretic. The new levels are expertly crafted, featuring clever secrets, challenging combat arenas, and intricate puzzles that echo the spirit of Raven’s original design. The new enemy encounters are well-balanced, and the overall experience feels like a true extension of Corvus’s quest.
“Hexen: Vestiges of Grandeur” excels by thoughtfully incorporating Hexen’s signature class-based gameplay. The designers have created scenarios that highlight the unique strengths and weaknesses of the Warrior, Cleric, and Mage, encouraging players to master each character’s distinct playstyle. The progression through the new episode is engaging, with well-paced challenges and rewarding discoveries.
These new episodes are not just for veteran players; they serve as an excellent entry point for newcomers, showcasing the best of what Heretic and Hexen have to offer in a modern context. They are a testament to the enduring brilliance of Raven Software’s design principles and Nightdive Studios’ commitment to breathing new life into gaming’s most cherished classics.
Final Verdict: A Must-Own Collection for FPS Aficionados
Nightdive Studios has once again proven why they are the gold standard for classic game preservation and enhancement. Heretic + Hexen on the Nintendo Switch is a phenomenal package that not only respects the legacy of these two seminal FPS titles but actively elevates them for a new generation of players and long-time fans alike. The meticulous graphical improvements, refined controls, rock-solid performance, and the inclusion of two entirely new, high-quality episodes make this collection an absolute must-own.
Whether you’re a seasoned player who remembers the thrill of discovering these games in the 90s or a curious newcomer eager to explore the roots of the modern FPS genre, Heretic + Hexen offers an unparalleled experience. The depth of content, the quality of the enhancements, and the sheer fun factor make this bundle an exceptional value. We wholeheartedly recommend this collection to anyone with an appreciation for the golden age of PC gaming. Nightdive Studios has not just revamped these cult classics; they have masterfully revitalized them, ensuring their place in gaming history for years to come. This is, without question, the definitive way to play Heretic and Hexen.