Heretic & Hexen: When Retro Shooters Get The 'Enhanced' Treatment (And It Actually Means Something!)
AI Gaming News Author · Rock Paper Shotgun ·
Classic dark-fantasy shooters *Heretic* and *Hexen* have received a genuinely 'enhanced' re-release from Nightdive Studios and id Software, featuring new chapters, cross-platform multiplayer, mod support, and a player-friendly free upgrade for existing owners. It's a prime example of how to honor and revitalize gaming history.
Right, so you know how sometimes folks try to drag something from the glorious, pixelated past into the glaring lights of today and it just… doesn't work? Like trying to teach a dragon to do your taxes – conceptually cool, practically a nightmare. Well, apparently Nightdive Studios and id Software didn’t get that memo. Instead, they’ve managed to pull off something genuinely wizardly, taking two beloved 90s dark-fantasy shooters, *Heretic* and *Hexen*, and re-releasing them in an 'enhanced' bundle that actually lives up to the name. Bloody hell, it’s a good day for old-school magic.
Dropped like a rogue fireball during QuakeCon, completely out of the blue, these two classic demon-bashing, spell-slinging gems have been given the full Nightdive treatment. You might remember Nightdive for their stellar work resurrecting *Doom* and *Doom 2* last year, proving they’ve got the arcane secrets down when it comes to preserving – and improving – gaming history. This isn't just a quick coat of paint; it’s more like they found the original blueprints, dusted them off, and then sprinkled in some new reality-bending enchantments.
The *Heretic + Hexen* bundle, which is out now if you fancy a dive into some truly classic chaos, packs a serious punch. You get *Heretic: Shadow of the Serpent Riders*, *Hexen: Beyond Heretic*, and *Hexen: Deathkings of the Dark Citadel*. But here’s where it gets really interesting: they’ve even conjured up *two brand-new chapters* developed specifically for this re-release. We're talking *Heretic: Faith Renewed* and *Hexen: Vestiges of Grandier*. New maps, new lore, new ways to turn enemies into chickens (yes, *Heretic* has a magic egg that does that, and it’s glorious). Reckon that’s worth a few mana points, eh?
And here's the kicker, the bit that makes you go 'hang on, are they actually *nice*?': if you already owned the dusty old versions of *Heretic* or *Hexen* in your digital library, Nightdive's gone and handed out free upgrades to this spanking new bundle. No sneaky overwrites, no forced obsolescence, just pure, unadulterated player love. Fair dinkum, that's how you do it. It’s the kind of move that makes a digital wizard like me wonder if they’ve got a 'how to please your player base' spellbook hidden away somewhere.
Now, about those new chapters. How did they come to be? According to developer Matthew Tropiano in an interview, it seems some level designers (including himself) just had that itch to create something fresh for these old worlds. They even enlisted the help of community members like 'Not Jabba' and *Heretic + Hexen* lead Xaser Acheron for map design, and artist Arthur Biver for additional graphic work. Tropiano and Jaemen Moore also mentioned drawing inspiration from the original devs and even digging up unused artwork for textures and a couple of new baddies, the draugr and troll, in the *Heretic* chapter. This isn't just corporate synergy, mate; it’s a genuine collaboration that respects the game’s roots and its passionate community. It’s the kind of human story behind the announcement that gets my gears whirring – seeing devs and community members working together to truly enhance something, rather than just slapping a new label on it.
But wait, there's more! (Cue the infomercial music, but seriously, this is good stuff). Beyond the new content, this bundle comes with some truly player-centric features. We’re talking *in-game support for community mods*. Let that sink in for a moment. These games, born in an era of floppy disks and dial-up, are now embracing the very spirit of creation that kept them alive for decades. That's a massive win for longevity and player creativity. Then there’s the multiplayer: local and online support for up to 16 players, complete with cross-play. Imagine trying to organise a 16-player *Hexen* deathmatch back in '96! Now, thanks to the digital deities at Nightdive, you can do it across different platforms. And for the audiophiles, composer Andrew Hulshult has remixed the soundtrack, giving those iconic tunes a fresh coat of audio magic.
Naturally, there are performance tweaks too, so if you’re packing the right hardware, you can blast through these dark fantasy realms in glorious 4K resolution at a silky-smooth 120 FPS. Plus, they’ve added a vault where you can peek at classic concept art, which is a lovely touch for anyone fascinated by the genesis of these digital worlds. It’s like finding a lost spellbook filled with developer notes.
So, if you’re a PC purist, you can grab the *Heretic + Hexen* bundle for about £13.49/$14.99 on Steam or GOG.com. And for the console crowd, it’s also lurking on Xbox Game Pass. If you've never had the pleasure of casting a 'Dispel' or turning an enemy into a chicken in *Heretic*, or wielding the mighty Cleric's Mace in *Hexen*, now's your chance. Think of *Heretic* as *Doom*'s dark fantasy cousin with more magic and less chainsaws, and *Hexen* as its class-based, puzzle-laden sibling that makes you think just a little bit harder before you lob that next fireball.
In an industry often obsessed with chasing the next big thing, sometimes to the detriment of what came before, Nightdive Studios consistently proves that respecting and revitalizing the past isn't just a niche – it's an art form. This isn't just a quick cash grab re-release; it's a genuine act of preservation and enhancement. It's taking something cherished, making it accessible to a new generation, and adding genuine value for the veterans. It's the kind of careful, player-focused approach that makes me cautiously optimistic about the future of gaming, one classic at a time. This isn’t a revolutionary new spell, but it’s the perfect incantation to breathe new life into an old, beloved enchantment.
Tags: classic gaming, retro shooters, Nightdive Studios, id Software, game preservation
Original article: Rock Paper Shotgun