I was only a year old in 1994 and two in 1995, so I missed the little title by the name of ‘DOOM’ when it first entered the scene. A few years later, though, I finally got my hands on id Software’s classic, courtesy of my Dad’s PC, and was hooked. As time went on, both video games and my tastes evolved, which meant I missed two of id Software’s smaller spin-offs, Heretic and Hexen, developed by Raven Software, the studio now best known for its work on ‘Call of Duty’.

Recently, Bethesda Softworks, alongside id Software, Nightdive Studios, and, once again, in collaboration with Raven Software, have brought back these classic titles for a modern audience, including myself, to discover and enjoy. I’m blown away that these cult classics, now over 30 years old, still hold up so well today.

This collection includes five games in total. It begins with Heretic: Shadow of the Serpent Riders, followed a year later by Hexen: Beyond Heretic, and then Hexen: Deathkings of the Dark Citadel in 1996. Alongside these three originals are two brand new expansions, Heretic: Faith Renewed and Hexen: Vestiges of Grandeur, created by Nightdive as a love letter to the series, which they also did with DOOM I & II.

You’ll immediately notice that these games play much like DOOM, as did most shooters of the era. The difference is the setting; instead of sci-fi, they dive headfirst into dark fantasy, with magic and mystical abilities. Hexen took things a step further by introducing character classes, one of the first games to do so, letting you choose between a Fighter, Cleric, or Mage, each with their unique stats and a completely distinct combat style.

Movement is fast, very fast, and back in the day, aiming was a challenge in itself. Thankfully, Nightdive Studios has added a range of quality-of-life improvements, including full gyro aiming, which makes combat far easier. I certainly needed it; this game can be brutal. Even on the middle difficulty of five, I found myself constantly adjusting my playstyle to survive.

In Hexen, playing as a Fighter or Cleric means battling in close quarters against enemies that can quickly swarm you. I eventually found switching to the Mage made things far more manageable. The enemy variety is impressive, with multiple distinct types that keep you on your toes, along with evolved versions, like tougher foes that can hurl fireballs, for example.

In Heretic, I loved the sense of progression that came from discovering new and more powerful weapons. Much like in the present-day ‘DOOM’ games, finding them is always fun, often surprising, and immensely satisfying, thanks to their power, and that’s no different in this collection.

One moment, I’m struggling to take down enemies, the next I find a crossbow and start tearing through everything. When that crossbow begins to feel underpowered, I stumble upon the skull that fires mana, and suddenly, the playing field is level again.

Which leads to my next point: exploring these levels is incredibly rewarding. Stumbling upon powerful new weapons is fantastic, but you’ll also encounter the classic hunt for coloured keys, a staple of this type of shooter.

The level design is so well-crafted that you could easily forget these games are decades old. Navigating gothic castles filled with elevation changes, branching paths, and hidden secrets is a joy, and truly deserves applause, particularly in Hexen, where all the levels are interconnected.

It should be noted that the new expansions crafted by Nightdive Studios remain fantastic, carrying on the legacy of the original games well. There is no expectation for developers to create new content during re-releases like this, so it’s commendable that this team has gone to such lengths for longtime fans of the series.

Now, accompanying your exploration is a fantastic updated synth soundtrack by Andrew Hulshult. If you wish, though, you can still switch to the original score if you would prefer, but for me, the new version is the way to experience these games in the future.

The first time I heard the beat kick in over the classic ’90s sound, I was hooked.

Besides the updated soundtrack and gyro aiming, Nightdive Studios has made plenty of technical upgrades, from offering multiple aspect ratios like widescreen and 4:3 to delivering a much faster frame rate.

The Raven Vault is a fantastic addition, accessible at any time via one of the game’s menus. It is essentially a library of behind-the-scenes content, featuring original concept art, monster animations, meeting notes, and even team photos, which I think is a lovely touch.

I tried out the multiplayer, but for me it was a bit of a letdown. It felt janky, and frequent connection issues had me jumping all over the place. While it could be fun with a group of friends, I don’t see myself returning to it.

In conclusion, Heretic + Hexen are games I missed the first time around. However, three decades later, thanks to Nightdive Studios thoughtful quality-of-life improvements and impressive new expansions, I can still enjoy titles that have held up remarkably well. With dark fantasy charm, fast-paced combat, and seriously excellent level design, this collection is a must-play.

Written by: Dylan Kocins