Commander Keen

Commander Keen is the main character in a series of computer games developed by id Software in the early 1990s, which were successful at replicating the side-scrolling action of the NES Super Mario Bros. games in DOS. The cartoon-style platformers are notable for their pioneering use of EGA graphics and shareware distribution, and because they were the first games by id Software, who went on to develop blockbusters like Doom and Quake. The games were also exciting to the PC gaming community of the time because of John Carmack's revolutionary smooth-scrolling graphics engine. Although developed by id, most of the Commander Keen games were published by Apogee Software, an already established PC shareware game publisher.

The story

Billy Blaze is an eight-year-old boy genius (purported to have an IQ of 314) who has constructed a spaceship in his backyard from old soup cans and other household objects, called The Bean-with-Bacon Megarocket. When his parents are out and the baby sitter falls asleep, he dons his brother's Packers helmet and becomes Commander Keen, Defender of Earth. In the first game, he is exploring on Mars when Martians steal four valuable items that he must acquire back. Along the way he finds a pogo stick that enables him to jump higher than normal, which he keeps with him during most of the later games.

Related Topics:
IQ - Packers - Earth - Pogo stick

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At the end of the third game, his rival Mortimer McMire is revealed as the Grand Intellect, the mastermind behind the original game's Vorticon attempted attack on Earth. Mortimer is purported to have an IQ of 315, one point more than Billy's 314, and considers it his duty to kill and destroy all beings of lesser intelligence (e.g. the entire galaxy). He goes on to lead the Shikadi, a race of energy beings who name him the Gannalech. In episodes 4 and 5, he attempts to destroy the galaxy with the Shikadi Quantum Explosion Dynamo, but is yet again foiled by Keen. However, his true intentions are made clear - to destroy the universe, as he had his sister (Billy's babysitter) kidnapped by the Bloogs in order to distract him.

Related Topics:
Mortimer McMire - IQ - Shikadi - Quantum Explosion Dynamo

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It is later revealed that Billy's full name is William Joseph Blazkowicz II, and that he is the grandson of William Joseph "B.J." Blazkowicz, the Allied war hero of Wolfenstein 3D. His father had changed his last name to Blaze for show biz.

Related Topics:
Allied - Wolfenstein 3D

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