Summary

Release Year: 1991
Genres: Platform
Platforms: DOS
Developers: id Software
Publishers: Apogee Software

Commander Keen in Goodbye, Galaxy!: Secret of the Oracle (1991)

Commander Keen in Goodbye, Galaxy!: Secret of the Oracle is the fourth and final episode in the Commander Keen series of platformer games developed by id Software. It was released in 1991 for MS-DOS and Commodore Amiga. The game follows the adventures of Commander Keen, an 8-year-old boy genius who travels through space in his spaceship, the Bean-with-Bacon Megarocket, fighting aliens and rescuing damsels in distress.

In Goodbye, Galaxy!: Secret of the Oracle, Keen is on a mission to rescue the Keepers of the Oracle, who are the only ones capable of helping Keen find out more about the Shikadi, an evil alien race that has been terrorizing the galaxy. Keen must travel to four different planets, each with its own unique challenges and enemies, in order to rescue the Keepers and defeat the Shikadi.

The game is a classic side-scrolling platformer, with Keen running, jumping, and shooting his way through hordes of aliens. Keen can also use a variety of gadgets and weapons to help him on his quest, including a pogo stick, a jetpack, and a laser gun.

Goodbye, Galaxy!: Secret of the Oracle is a challenging and rewarding game that offers a lot of replay value. The game’s four planets are each packed with secrets and hidden areas to explore, and there are multiple endings depending on how Keen completes his mission.

Gameplay

Commander Keen in Goodbye, Galaxy!: Secret of the Oracle is a side-scrolling platformer game. The player controls Commander Keen as he runs, jumps, and shoots his way through hordes of aliens. Keen can also use a variety of gadgets and weapons to help him on his quest, including a pogo stick, a jetpack, and a laser gun.

The game is divided into four planets, each with its own unique challenges and enemies. Keen must travel to each planet and rescue the Keeper of the Oracle before he can confront the Shikadi leader, Mortimer McMire.

The planets in Goodbye, Galaxy!: Secret of the Oracle are:

Flark’s Planet: A lush, green planet with floating islands and waterfalls. Keen must use his pogo stick to navigate the floating islands and avoid the Flarkoids, who are armed with spears and boomerangs.
Gnosh’s Planet: A barren, rocky planet with volcanoes and lava pits. Keen must use his jetpack to fly over the lava pits and avoid the Gnosh, who are armed with flamethrowers and rocket launchers.
Bloog’s Planet: A watery planet with oceans, lakes, and rivers. Keen must use his scuba gear to swim through the water and avoid the Bloogs, who are armed with harpoons and water guns.
Shikadi’s Planet: The home planet of the Shikadi. Keen must use all of his skills and weapons to fight his way through the Shikadi forces and confront Mortimer McMire.

Development

Commander Keen in Goodbye, Galaxy!: Secret of the Oracle was developed by id Software, the same company that developed the Commander Keen series and other classic games such as Wolfenstein 3D and Doom. The game was designed by John Romero and Tom Hall, and it was programmed by John Carmack.

Goodbye, Galaxy!: Secret of the Oracle was released in 1991 for MS-DOS and Commodore Amiga. The game was a critical and commercial success, and it helped to establish id Software as one of the leading developers of video games.

Reception

Commander Keen in Goodbye, Galaxy!: Secret of the Oracle was praised for its challenging gameplay, its colorful graphics, and its humorous writing. The game was also a commercial success, selling over 1 million copies worldwide.

Goodbye, Galaxy!: Secret of the Oracle has been included in several lists of the best video games of all time. In 2007, IGN ranked the game as the 87th best video game of all time. In 2012, GameSpot ranked the game as the 24th best video game of all time.

Legacy

Commander Keen in Goodbye, Galaxy!: Secret of the Oracle is considered to be one of the classic platformer games of all time. The game’s challenging gameplay, its colorful graphics, and its humorous writing have made it a favorite of gamers for over 30 years.

Goodbye, Galaxy!: Secret of the Oracle has also been influential in the development of other video games. The game’s side-scrolling gameplay and its use of gadgets and weapons have been copied by many other platformer games. The game’s humorous writing has also been influential in the development of other video games, such as the Grand Theft Auto series.

Commander Keen in Goodbye, Galaxy!: Secret of the Oracle is a classic video game that still holds up today. The game’s challenging gameplay, its colorful graphics, and its humorous writing make it a must-play for any fan of platformer games.