Hexen: Beyond Heretic

About

Hexen: Beyond Heretic is a first-person shooter with RPG mechanics that lets you play as one of three heroes: a warrior, mage, or cleric. Each character has distinct abilities and skills, from casting spells to wielding heavy weapons. The game blends combat with environmental puzzles, as you navigate crumbling castles, eerie wilderness, and labyrinthine dungeons filled with undead enemies. Progress through five distinct regions toward Korax's stronghold, collecting relics and upgrading gear along the way. Single-player or split-screen co-op lets up to four players team up or fight across networks and modems. The game stands out for its varied level design and tactical depth. From elemental challenges like earthquakes to atmospheric settings like a decaying seminary, each area feels distinct. Players praise the balance between action and strategy, with choices affecting gameplay through character progression. Released in 1995 by Presage Software, it built on the formula of its predecessor while adding cooperative play. The DOS and Mac versions still have a small but active community tackling its brutal late-game content.

Storyline

Following the tale of D'Sparil's defeat in Heretic, Hexen takes place in another realm, Cronos, which is besieged by the second of the three Serpent Riders, Korax. Three heroes set out to destroy Korax. The player assumes the role of one such hero. Throughout the course of his quest, he travels through elemental dungeons, a wilderness region, a mountainside seminary, a large castle, and finally a necropolis, before the final showdown with the Serpent Rider.