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Key points
- Also known (unofficially) as Commander Keen: The Lost Episode or Episode 3.5
- Game's source code was released by Softdisk. It can be downloaded here.
- Despite being listed in settings, support for in-game music was cut prior to release along with digital effects support for the Sound Blaster & Sound Source devices.[2]
General information
- Commander Keen wiki
- Public Commander Keen Forum
- Steam Community Discussions
Availability
Source |
DRM |
Notes |
Keys |
OS |
Retail |
|
Run in DOSBox. |
|
|
Steam (unavailable) |
|
|
|
|
- This game is no longer available digitally.
- A shareware version is available here.
Version differences
Steam version is native port (not DOSBox).[3]
Essential improvements
Patches
Unfortunately Keen was from an era of computing before downloadable patches were a norm. Instead, a fully patched version of the game would be sent in the mail. The old version had to be uninstalled and deleted and the updated copy installed in its place. As the update is already the full game, it would be illegal to distribute it. Luckily, Several dedicated fans have made homebrewed patches to update (or downgrade if you want) every official keen game. These patches edit the files to make the changes, no warez used! The original discussion thread for them can be found here.
- You could alternatively use the shareware version above, but note that unlike the other shareware episodes, you need the registered version to get the latest version. This episode also has additional nagging ("Don't forget to register your copy!") screens.
Episode launcher
A launcher for the entire Keen series can be found here (runs in DOSBox). For a modified version of this same launcher that also supports this game (for people whom don't have the native Steam version), try the following:
- Episode launcher
@ECHO OFF
:MENU
CLS
REM All episodes must be in the same folder contrary
REM to the original launcher this one was based on.
ECHO.
ECHO ===========================================================================
ECHO ======================= COMMANDER KEEN COLLECTION =========================
ECHO ===========================================================================
ECHO.
ECHO Invasion of the Vortices (1-3):
ECHO.
ECHO 1 - Commander Keen 1 Marooned On Mars (1990)(Apogee Software)
ECHO 2 - Commander Keen 2 The Earth Explodes (1990)(Apogee Software)
ECHO 3 - Commander Keen 3 Keen Must Die (1990)(Apogee Software)
ECHO.
ECHO Goodbye, Galaxy! (4-6):
ECHO.
ECHO 4 - Commander Keen 4 Secret Of The Oracle (1991)(Apogee Software Ltd)
ECHO 5 - Commander Keen 5 The Armageddon Machine (1991)(Apogee Software Ltd)
ECHO 6 - Commander Keen 6 Aliens Ate My Baby Sitter (1991)(Formgen)
ECHO.
ECHO Other (The Lost Episode):
ECHO.
ECHO 7 - Commander Keen Dreams (1991)(Softdisk Publishing)
ECHO.
CHOICE /c1234567q/n Choose a number (Press Q to Quit):
IF ERRORLEVEL 8 GOTO EXIT
IF ERRORLEVEL 7 GOTO KEEN7
IF ERRORLEVEL 6 GOTO KEEN6
IF ERRORLEVEL 5 GOTO KEEN5
IF ERRORLEVEL 4 GOTO KEEN4
IF ERRORLEVEL 3 GOTO KEEN3
IF ERRORLEVEL 2 GOTO KEEN2
IF ERRORLEVEL 1 GOTO KEEN1
:KEEN1
CLS
ECHO Starting Commander Keen 1...
call keen1.exe
GOTO MENU
:KEEN2
CLS
ECHO Starting Commander Keen 2...
call keen2.exe
GOTO MENU
:KEEN3
CLS
ECHO Starting Commander Keen 3...
call keen3.exe
GOTO MENU
:KEEN4
CLS
ECHO Starting Commander Keen 4...
call keen4e.exe
GOTO MENU
:KEEN5
CLS
ECHO Starting Commander Keen 5...
call keen5e.exe
GOTO MENU
:KEEN6
CLS
ECHO Starting Commander Keen 6...
call keen6c.exe
GOTO MENU
:KEEN7
CLS
ECHO Starting Commander Keen Dreams…
call kdreams.exe
GOTO MENU
:EXIT
CLS
exit
- The executable names (keen*.exe etc.) may have to be edited to fit your particular version of Keen. There are many versions. You could also replace the executable calls with CKPatch scripts if you wish to keep a customized aspect of the game always that way when you run it.
CKPatch is essentially a tool needed to load some mods (such as total conversions, or even just simple hacking) into the Keen engine. It does so by "patching" the engine in memory, hence it's name. For simple single script patches for Keen Dreams, look here.
- If loading of a mod/script fails, you may have to uncompress the keen executables using UNP or UNLZEXE.
Source ports
A reverse engineered source port is available. Alternatively the game's source is available and you could build you own version.
- Reflection Keen
Game data
Configuration file(s) location
- It's unknown whether this game follows the XDG Base Directory Specification on Linux. Please fill in this information.
Save game data location
Video
Input
Audio
Audio feature |
State |
Notes |
Separate volume controls |
|
Sound Effects can be toggled. |
Surround sound |
|
|
Subtitles |
|
Everything is text-based. |
Closed captions |
|
See note above. |
Mute on focus lost |
|
For DOSBox change the priority background value in the DOSBox configuration file. |
Royalty free audio |
|
|
Localizations
Language |
UI |
Audio |
Sub |
Notes |
English |
|
|
|
|
Other information
API
Technical specs |
Supported |
Notes |
DOS video modes |
CGA, EGA |
Separate game releases with CGA or EGA support. Compatibility with certain SVGA cards can be enabled using the /COMP parameter. Can also use the /HIDDENCARD parameter to force the game to accept the card if it doesn't detect a supported model. |
Executable |
32-bit |
64-bit |
Notes |
Windows |
|
|
|
macOS (OS X) | |
|
|
Linux | |
|
|
System requirements
DOS | Windows | macOS (OS X) | Linux |
DOS |
|
Minimum |
Recommended |
Operating system (OS) |
2.0 | |
Processor (CPU) |
8088 / 8086 5 MHz | |
System memory (RAM) |
640 KB (560 KB free) | |
Hard disk drive (HDD) |
| |
Video card (GPU) |
CGA
| EGA |
Notes
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 Notes regarding Steam Play (Linux) data:
References