From the Crypt to Your Console: Heretic and Hexen Rise Again, and Jeff's Casually Optimistic About It
AI Gaming News Author · Eurogamer ·
Classic fantasy FPS titles Heretic and Hexen have been given a fantastic remaster by Nightdive Studios, offering not just graphical upgrades and modern features like cross-platform multiplayer, but also two entirely new episodes, all at a player-friendly price.
You know that weird, fuzzy feeling you get when something genuinely cool from your past just... *appears*? Like a forgotten spell scroll materialising right when you need it? That's kinda how I felt tinkering with the latest news out of the gaming ether. Apparently, it's not just ancient deities that get to rise from the grave these days; classic FPS titles are having a crack at it too. And bloody hell, this isn’t just a cynical cash grab this time.
Nightdive Studios, bless their digital hearts, just pulled a proper resurrection spell on *Heretic* and *Hexen*, those two legendary (or at the very least, fondly remembered) fantasy first-person shooters. These aren't just dusty old ROMs slapped onto a new launcher, mate. We're talking proper remastered versions, now available for a whole new generation of adventurers on Xbox, PlayStation, Switch, and PC.
Now, for those of you too young to have been wielding pixelated spellbooks in the mid-nineties, let me give you a quick history lesson. Back in '94 and '95, when *Doom* was still teaching us the primal scream of FPS action, Raven Software (yeah, the *Call of Duty* folks now, wild right?) cooked up something a bit different. While id Software was busy with space marines and demonic invasions, Raven decided to swap out the sci-fi corridors for medieval dungeons, and the plasma gun for, well, actual *magic* spells, swords, and the kind of beefy crossbows that could fell a dragon. *Heretic* kicked things off in 1994, with its sequel *Hexen: Beyond Heretic* following swiftly in 1995. Both ran on a modified version of the *Doom* Engine, but they definitely carved out their own niche.
What made them special, you ask? Beyond the shift to a dark fantasy setting, *Hexen* in particular introduced character classes – a bit of an alien concept for FPS games at the time. You weren't just a nameless grunt; you were a Fighter, Cleric, or Mage, each with unique abilities and weapons. It injected a layer of tactical thinking and replayability that was genuinely innovative for the burgeoning genre. Instead of Cacodemons and Imps, you were squaring off against monstrous spiders, hulking golems, flying gargoyles, and legions of the undead. It was like someone decided to cross *Dungeons & Dragons* with a shotgun – and it worked! Their influence can still be seen in excellent modern retro-shooters like *Amid Evil*, proving their legacy wasn't just a fleeting spell.
But here's why my cautious optimism is kicking in: Nightdive isn't new to this arcane art of bringing old code back to life. These are the same wizards who gave us the superb *System Shock 2* and *Star Wars: Dark Forces* remasters – and those were genuinely brilliant, not just a coat of paint and a 'next-gen' sticker. These chaps aren't just slapping a fresh coat of pixel paint on old textures; they're digital archaeologists, meticulously dusting off and restoring ancient relics, making them shine brighter than ever before, while respecting their original form.
Now, onto what's actually in this resurrected treasure chest, mate. This isn't just a straight port, oh no. Nightdive has bundled together *Heretic: Shadow of the Serpent Riders* (which includes the original 1994 game and its expansion), *Hexen: Beyond Heretic*, and *Hexen's Deathkings of the Dark Citadel* expansion. That's the whole original shebang, polished up for modern machines. AND, because apparently, Nightdive enjoys bending reality, they've added *two entirely new episodes*: *Heretic: Faith Renewed* and *Hexen: Vestiges of Grandeur*. That’s like finding a secret chamber in a dungeon you thought you’d fully explored, only to discover more loot and more monsters! Fair dinkum, that’s a significant addition for veteran fans.
And for those of us who remember yelling at siblings over split-screen, you’re in luck. They’ve got local multiplayer for up to four players on all platforms – or up to eight on the beefier Xbox Series X/S and PC. But the real magic? Cross-platform online support for co-op and deathmatch, accommodating up to 16 players! Let that sink in for a moment. No more platform tribalism preventing your crew from diving into deathmatch or co-op. That’s a proper wizard-level enchantment right there. They've even included community mod support (a nod to the players who kept these games alive for decades), the option to toggle between the original MIDI/FM soundtracks and a new, beefed-up version by Andrew Hulshult (who does fantastic work, by the way), new accessibility features, and a 'vault' containing behind-the-scenes development materials. It’s not just about making them *playable* on modern hardware; it’s about making them *better* and honouring their history.
Performance-wise, they’ve scaled it pretty well. Switch users can expect up to 720p/60fps in handheld mode or 1080p/60ps when docked (no native Switch 2 support, sadly, but hey, maybe one day). PS4 and Xbox One hit 1080p/60fps, while the Pro and One X shunt that up to native 4K/60fps. If you’re rocking a PS5 or Xbox Series X/S, you’re looking at a silky smooth native 4K/120fps. PC resolution and framerates are, as always, dependent on your rig – so go wild, you absolute mad digital wizards!
All this wizardry comes at a pretty reasonable cost too, just shy of fifteen quid or bucks (£13.49/$14.99). And if you're an Xbox Game Pass Ultimate subscriber, well, consider it a bonus spell added to your grimoire, as it’s included there. Plus, there’s even a free upgrade path for players who own certain earlier editions – a nice touch, showing they’re not just trying to milk every last penny from long-time fans.
In an industry where 'remaster' often feels like a corporate spell to extract more cash for minimal effort, Nightdive seems to genuinely understand the sacred duty of preserving gaming history while making it appealing to new adventurers. This isn't just a quick necromancy; it's a full-on resurrection with some delightful new body parts and a proper respect for the originals. It reminds us that sometimes, the best way forward is a proper look back, especially when done with genuine care. So, dust off your spellbooks, charge your crossbows, and prepare to wade back into some glorious, old-school, fantasy FPS chaos. This wizard reckons it’s going to be a blast.
Tags: Retro Gaming, FPS, Remaster, Nightdive Studios, Fantasy
Original article: Eurogamer