Commander Keen (Game Boy Color)

For those who remember PC gaming in the early 1990s, the name Commander Keen should ring a bell. In some circles, the console-inspired PC platformer developed by id Software is regarded as a classic. Now a decade later, Activision and David A. Palmer Studios have released an enhanced Commander Keen for the Game Boy Color. Once again, the never-aging 8-year-old, Billy Blaze, is back to don his space helmet and face down the forces of the evil Vorticons. Commander Keen, Defender of Earth--is back.

Hoopla aside, Commander Keen is an acquired taste. Following in the same traditions that spawned Duke Nukem and Jazz Jackrabbit, Commander Keen is a side-scrolling action game that places great emphasis on precision jumping and the split-second shooting of enemies. As such, while you're hunting down the card keys and portals contained within each of the game's 24-odd levels, you'll find yourself constantly surprised by floating enemies or slippery surfaces. If you enjoy difficult action games where constant practice leads to proficiency, Commander Keen is right up your alley. To the game's undying credit, Keen's pogo stick and four-way blaster make it a more enjoyable Game Boy Color port than last year's release of Duke Nukem. However, if you're expecting Mario or Sonic, the benefit of nine lives and a password backup will be of little consolation.