Retro Replay Review

Gameplay

Heretic builds on the run-and-gun formula popularized by DOOM but injects it with high fantasy flavor, transforming your typical demon-slaying spree into an epic elf-versus-Rider crusade. You navigate through intricate, non-linear levels, hunting for keys, switches and hidden portals that open the path forward. Each of the three episodes—City of the Damned, Hell’s Maw, and the Dome of D’Sparil—offers nine challenging stages (plus secret maps), allowing you to tackle them in virtually any order once you’ve unlocked them.

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The weapon roster in Heretic is both familiar and fresh. Your starting wooden staff and Elvenwand feel modest at first, but you’ll soon discover the Ethereal Crossbow’s piercing bolts, the Dragon’s Claw’s instant-impact arcs, and the Phoenix Rod’s explosive orbs. Melee fans will appreciate the Gauntlets of the Necromancer, which siphon life from foes, while the Firemace’s ricocheting steel projectiles turn cramped chambers into chaotic pinball tables of destruction.

Beyond raw firepower, Heretic introduces a rudimentary inventory system that rewards resource management. Stock up on health flasks, invisibility scrolls, and time bombs, then unleash them at strategic moments. The Morph Ovum’s chicken-transforming magic provides comic relief and a tactical edge, Wings of Wrath grant temporary flight for bypassing traps or reaching hidden ledges, and the Tome of Power upgrades every weapon in your arsenal, intensifying the carnage with amplified effects.

Multiplayer options mirror those of classic DOOM: drop into cooperative mode with friends to tackle the campaign as a team, or switch to competitive deathmatch for fast-paced fragfests. Coupled with robust map-editing tools and a passionate modding community, these features ensure that you’re never truly “finished” with Heretic.

Graphics

Heretic’s visuals marry dark gothic architecture with high fantasy motifs, producing levels filled with crumbling ruins, flickering torches, and eldritch runes. Walls are textured with ornate carvings and sinister iconography that evoke the oppressive reign of the Serpent Riders. Though the engine relies on sprite-based enemies and flat planes, creative level geometry—arches, ledges, and twisting corridors—lends a 3D feel that was cutting-edge in 1994.

Enemy sprites are impressively detailed for the era, ranging from skeletal knights in tattered armor to gargantuan ophidian beasts with menacing postures. Animation frames convey weight and menace, whether you’re watching a sorcerer hurl arcane bolts or a gargoyle swooping down from a dark vestibule. Each monster variety introduces slight color or palette shifts, hinting at enhanced resistances and aggression levels.

Special effects, though simple by modern standards, pack a punch: fireballs erupt into glowing orange bursts, energy bolts leave shimmering trails, and wind currents in certain chambers visibly swirl debris around your feet. The in-engine ability to look up and down, combined with dynamic lighting from power-ups like torches, creates immersive atmospheres—especially in dank, labyrinthine passageways where unseen threats lurk.

Performance remains smooth on period hardware and is easily replicated on contemporary machines via source ports. Frame rates stay rock solid even when dozens of enemies swarm the screen, preserving the frantic intensity of combat. While pixelated by today’s norms, Heretic’s consistent art style and moody palette ensure that its world still feels cohesive and menacing.

Story

Heretic thrusts you into a besieged realm under the iron will of three Serpent Riders from the Abyss. Their power enslaves whole populations—save for the ancient Sidhe elves, who alone resist the mind-bending influence. Branded heretics, the elves suffer relentless persecution until the youngest Rider, D’Sparil, unleashes the armies of the Seven Kings against them. After the elves extinguish the Seven Candles and rout the legions, D’Sparil remains to tighten his grip on the world.

The narrative unfolds almost purely through level design and evocative environmental details rather than cutscenes or voiced over text. In the City of the Damned, you traverse cobblestone streets littered with bodies and cursed altars. Hell’s Maw plunges you into a nightmarish dimension of dripping flesh walls and green-tinged slime, while the final Dome of D’Sparil towers with obsidian pillars and pulsating energy conduits, culminating in a climactic confrontation.

Each episode’s name is more than a title—it sets the tone. Levels often reveal crumbling manuscripts or scattered sidhe relics that hint at lost lore, deepening immersion for those who care to explore. Hidden chambers house boss bosses or clue-filled murals, enriching the backstory of D’Sparil’s dark ascendancy and the elves’ desperate resistance.

The sparse storytelling approach means gameplay always remains the focus, but the stakes are clear: you are one of the last Sidhe, sole hope of your people. That sense of urgency and personal agency drives every key hunt, every secret discovery, and every frantic battle against the Rider’s warped legions.

Overall Experience

Heretic successfully conveys a distinct identity apart from its DOOM roots, offering a fantasy-themed shooter brimming with tactical variety and arcane flair. Its level designs strike a balance between exploration and forward momentum, often rewarding careful observation with secret rooms and powerful artifacts. While some layouts can feel maze-like, the satisfaction of uncovering a hidden passage or triumphing over a mounted enemy ambush never gets old.

The challenge level in Heretic is formidable but fair. Enemies growing tougher in later episodes keep players on their toes, and you’ll frequently juggle scarce ammo, health potions and inventory items to survive. Mastery comes from learning monster patterns and judiciously deploying the Tome of Power or Morph Ovum at crunch time—moments that are as thrilling now as they were at release.

Longevity is another of Heretic’s strong suits. The inclusion of co-op play, deathmatch modes, and a thriving mod scene means fresh maps and total conversions are only a download away. Decades after its debut, players are still tinkering with new scenarios and rebalancing weapons, a testament to the game’s solid foundation and community appeal.

For anyone seeking classic FPS action with a rich fantasy veneer, Heretic is a must-play. Its blend of inventive weaponry, mystic power-ups, and forbidding environments delivers an experience that remains both nostalgic and surprisingly fresh. Whether you’re revisiting it for old times’ sake or discovering it for the first time through a modern source port, Heretic stands as a milestone in early 3D shooters and fantasy gaming alike.

Retro Replay Score

7.8/10