Editing Heretic (video game)

{{Short description|1994 video game by Raven Software}}
{{Infobox video game
| title = Heretic
| image = Heretic game cover.png
| caption = Cover art of the mail order release by [[Gerald Brom|Brom]]
| developer = [[Raven Software]]
| publisher = [[id Software]]{{efn|R-Comp Interactive published the RISC OS port.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.acorn-gaming.org.uk/index.php3?p=Reviews/HH/index|title=Heretic and Hexen|website=Acorn Gaming|date=1999-06-03|access-date=2024-07-13|first=Gareth|last=Moore}}</ref>}}
| director = Brian Raffel
| designer = {{Unbulleted list|Michael Raymond-Judy|Eric C. Biessman|Tim Moore}}
| producer = [[John Romero]]
| programmer = {{Unbulleted list|Ben Gokey|[[Chris Rhinehart]]}}
| artist = {{Unbulleted list|Shane Gurno|Brian Raffel|Steve Raffel|Brian Pelletier|James Sumwalt}}
| writer = Brian Raffel 
| composer = Kevin Schilder
| engine = [[Doom engine|''Doom'' engine]]
| released = {{vgrelease|NA|December 29, 1994{{efn|Shareware Version<ref name="GT Press">{{cite web| url=http://www.gtinteractive.com/2tvNIB3j/press/heretic.html|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/19961219163834/http://www.gtinteractive.com:80/2tvNIB3j/press/heretic.html|title=Heretic, a supernatural combat action game - now available from id Software and Raven Software|website=[[GT Interactive]]|archivedate=December 19, 1996|date=December 29, 1994|access-date=August 15, 2024}}</ref>}}|NA|January 1995{{efn|Full Version}}<ref name="GT Press"/>|NA|March 22, 1996{{efn|name=ShadowOTSR|Shadow of the Serpent Riders}}|EU|March 31, 1996{{efn|name=ShadowOTSR}}}}
| genre = [[First-person shooter]]
| modes = [[Single-player video game|Single-player]], [[Multiplayer video game|multiplayer]]
| platforms = {{Unbulleted list|[[DOS]]|[[Classic Mac OS|Mac OS]]|[[RISC OS]]}}
}}

'''''Heretic''''' is a [[dark fantasy]] [[first-person shooter]] video game released in December 1994. It was developed by [[Raven Software]] and published by [[id Software]] through [[GT Interactive]].

Using a modified version of the [[Doom engine|''Doom'' engine]], ''Heretic'' was one of the first [[first-person (video games)|first-person]] games to feature inventory manipulation and the ability to look up and down. It also introduced multiple [[gib (video gaming)|gib]] objects that spawned when a character suffered a death by extreme force or heat. Previously, the character would simply crumple into a heap. The game used randomised ambient sounds and noises, such as evil laughter, chains rattling, distantly ringing bells, and water dripping in addition to the background music to further enhance the atmosphere. The music in the game was composed by Kevin Schilder. An indirect sequel, ''[[Hexen: Beyond Heretic]]'', was released the following year. ''[[Heretic II]]'' was released in 1998, which served as a direct sequel continuing the story.

==Plot==
Three brothers (D'Sparil, Korax, and Eidolon), known as the Serpent Riders, have used their powerful magic to possess seven kings of Parthoris, turning them into mindless puppets and corrupting their armies. The Sidhe elves resist the Serpent Riders' magic. The Serpent Riders thus declared the Sidhe as heretics and waged war against them. The Sidhe are forced to take a drastic measure to sever the natural power of the kings destroying them and their armies, but at the cost of weakening the elves' power, giving the Serpent Riders an advantage to slay the elders. While the Sidhe retreat, one elf (revealed to be named Corvus in ''Heretic II'') sets off on a quest of vengeance against the weakest of the three Serpent Riders, D'Sparil. He travels through the "City of the Damned", the ruined capital of the Sidhe (its real name is revealed to be Silverspring in ''Heretic II''), then past the demonic breeding grounds of Hell's Maw and finally the secret Dome of D'Sparil.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0361699/plotsummary|title=Heretic (Video Game 1994)|via=www.imdb.com}}</ref>

The player is the elvish protagonist Corvus and must first fight through the undead hordes infesting the location where the elders performed their ritual. At its end is the gateway to Hell's Maw, guarded by the Iron Liches. After defeating them, the player must seal the portal and so prevent further infestation, but after he enters the portal guarded by the Maulotaurs, he finds himself inside D'Sparil's dome. After killing D'Sparil, Corvus ends up on a perilous journey with little hope of returning home. However, he eventually succeeds in his endeavour, only to find that Parthoris is in disarray [[Heretic II#Plot|once again]].

==Gameplay==
The gameplay of ''Heretic'' is heavily derived from ''[[Doom (1993 video game)|Doom]]'', with a level-based structure, an armor system, triggers which open concealed chambers filled with enemies, and an emphasis on finding the proper keys to progress. Raven added a number of features to ''Heretic'' that differentiated it from ''Doom'', notably interactive environments, such as rushing water that pushes the player character along, and inventory items. In ''Heretic'', the player can pick up certain items to use at their discretion. These items range from health potions to the "morph ovum", which transforms enemies into chickens. The "Tome of Power" acts as a secondary firing mode for certain weapons, resulting in a much more powerful projectile from each weapon, some of which change the look of the projectile entirely. ''Heretic'' also features an improved version of the ''Doom'' engine, sporting the ability to look up and down within constraints, as well as fly. However, the rendering method for looking up and down merely uses a proportional pixel-shearing effect rather than any new rendering algorithm, which distorts the view considerably when looking at high-elevation angles.

As with ''Doom'', ''Heretic'' contains various cheat codes that allow the player to be invulnerable, obtain every weapon, be able to instantly kill every monster in a particular level, and several other abilities. If the player uses the "all weapons and keys" cheat ("<code>IDKFA</code>") from ''Doom'', a message appears warning the player against cheating and takes away all of their weapons, leaving them with only a quarterstaff. If the player uses the "god mode" cheat ("<code>IDDQD</code>") from ''Doom'', the game will display a message saying "Trying to cheat, eh? Now you die!" and kills the player character.

The original shareware release of ''Heretic'' came bundled with support for [[online multiplayer]] through the then new [[DWANGO]] service.<ref name="mastersofdoom">{{cite book |author=Kushner, David |title=[[Masters of Doom: How Two Guys Created an Empire and Transformed Pop Culture]] |publisher=Random House Publishing Group |year=2003 |isbn=0-375-50524-5|page=186}}</ref>

==Development==
''Heretic'' was developed by [[Raven Software]] with assistance by publisher [[id Software]], the latter of which had recently pioneered the [[first-person shooter]] genre with ''[[Wolfenstein 3D]]'' and ''[[Doom (1993 video game)|Doom]]''. Brian Raffel, the game's director and vice-president of Raven at the time, revealed that the developer first came to id's attention with the release of its debut title ''[[Black Crypt]]''. After providing Raven with a modified ''Wolfenstein 3D'' engine for its next project ''[[ShadowCaster]]'' and being impressed by the final result, id requested that Raven develop a medieval-themed/dark fantasy game using a modified version of id's signature [[Doom engine|''Doom'' engine]].<ref name="electronicgames">{{cite magazine | author=Katz, Annie | date=December 1994 | title=Herecy Can Be Fun | url=https://archive.org/details/electronic-games-1994-12/page/132/ | magazine=[[Electronic Games]] | publisher=Decker Publications Inc. | volume=3 | number=3 |page=132 | issn=0730-6687}}</ref> Raffel considered himself and his colleagues as typical ''[[Dungeons & Dragons|D&D]]'' fans and initially drafted the game with [[role-playing game|role-playing]] elements. They then took instruction from id [[programmer]] [[John Carmack]] to simply "do it like ''Doom'', and add the fantasy flavor."<ref name="ign">{{cite web | author=Barnett, Brian | date=October 28, 2020 | title=Raven Software Co-Founder Talks About the Origins of ''Heretic'', the <nowiki>'</nowiki>Medieval ''Doom''<nowiki>'</nowiki> – IGN Unfiltered | url=https://www.ign.com/articles/raven-software-co-founder-talks-origins-heretic-the-medieval-doom-ign-unfiltered?amp=1 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201105112925/https://www.ign.com/articles/raven-software-co-founder-talks-origins-heretic-the-medieval-doom-ign-unfiltered?amp=1 | archive-date=November 5, 2020 | publisher=[[IGN]] | accessdate=May 11, 2022}}</ref> ''Heretic'' began development in March 1994 with Ben Gokey as lead programmer and a rough storyline penned by Michael Raymond-Judy that was finalized by the game's publisher.<ref name="electronicgames"/>

id designer [[John Romero]] signed on as executive producer.<ref>{{cite web | author=Peel, Jeremy | date=June 9, 2021 | title=How Raven Software became kings of ''COD'' after vanishing from view | url=https://www.pcgamer.com/how-raven-software-became-kings-of-cod-after-vanishing-from-view/ | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210616130143/https://www.pcgamer.com/how-raven-software-became-kings-of-cod-after-vanishing-from-view/ | archive-date=June 16, 2021 | publisher=[[Future plc]] | work=[[PC Gamer]] | accessdate=May 11, 2022}}</ref> He recalled visiting the team at Raven, bringing them several [[Intel]]-based [[Epson]] [[NeXT]] computers, and teaching them how to use id's tools and engine.<ref>{{cite web | author=[[John Romero|Romero, John]] | date=December 20, 2006 | title=Apple-NeXT Merger Birthday! | url=https://rome.ro/news/2016/2/14/apple-next-merger-birthday | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220407112739/https://rome.ro/news/2016/2/14/apple-next-merger-birthday | archive-date=April 7, 2022 | publisher=Rome.ro | accessdate=May 11, 2022}}</ref> Major additions to the engine for graphics and gameplay included an expendable inventory system; the ability to look up, look down, and fly; water and wind effects on the player character's movement; and improved audio for both ambient and localized sound.<ref name="electronicgames"/> Assistant programmer [[Chris Rhinehart]] was responsible for adding the flight mechanic, which Raffel described as a "happy accident". The director explained, "Chris came up with the idea of moving the horizon line just up and down. It wasn't a real calculation of flying, it was a [[Kludge#Computer science|hack]]... That was such a big event for us, and that gave us our unique flavor."<ref name="ign"/>

==Release==
===''Shadow of the Serpent Riders''===
The original version of ''Heretic'' was only available through shareware registration (i.e. mail order) and contained three episodes. The retail version, ''Heretic: Shadow of the Serpent Riders'', was distributed by GT Interactive in 1996, and featured the original three episodes and two additional episodes:<ref name="Max4">{{cite journal|title=Latest Version of Heretic with Two New Chapters! Can You Overcome the Demonic Curse of D'Sparil?|journal=Maximum: The Video Game Magazine|issue=4 |publisher=[[Emap International Limited]]|date=March 1996|pages=34–38}}</ref> ''The Ossuary'', which takes the player to the shattered remains of a world conquered by the Serpent Riders several centuries ago, and ''The Stagnant Demesne'', where the player enters D'Sparil's birthplace. This version was the first official release of ''Heretic'' in Europe.<ref name="Max4"/> A free patch was also downloadable from Raven's website to update the original ''Heretic'' with the content found in ''Shadow of the Serpent Riders''.

Along with the two full additional episodes, ''Shadow of the Serpent Riders'' contains three additional levels in a third additional episode (unofficially known as ''Fate's Path'') which is inaccessible without the use of [[cheat codes]].<ref>{{Cite web|title=Heretic Developer Interview – HereticHexen|url=https://www.heretichexen.com/heretic/interview/|access-date=2020-06-29|language=en-US}}</ref> The first of these three levels can be accessed by typing the cheat ("<code>ENGAGE61</code>").<ref>{{Cite web|title=Heretic: Shadow of the Serpent Riders Cheats, Codes, and Secrets for PC - GameFAQs|url=https://gamefaqs.gamespot.com/pc/197548-heretic-shadow-of-the-serpent-riders/cheats|access-date=2020-06-29|website=gamefaqs.gamespot.com}}</ref> The first two levels are fully playable, but the third level does not have an exit so the player is unable to progress further.

===Source release===
On January 11, 1999, the [[source code]] of the game engine used in ''Heretic'' was published by Raven Software under a license that granted rights to non-commercial use, and was re-released under the [[GNU General Public License|GNU GPL-2.0-only]] on September 4, 2008.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://sourceforge.net/project/showfiles.php?group_id=238655|title=Heretic / Hexen - Browse Files at SourceForge.net|website=sourceforge.net}}</ref> This resulted in ports to [[Linux]], [[Amiga]], [[Atari Falcon|Atari]], and other operating systems, and updates to the game engine to utilize 3D acceleration. The [[shareware]] version of a console port for the [[Dreamcast]] was also released.

==Reception==
{{Video game reviews
<!-- Reviewers -->
|CGW={{rating|5|5}}<ref name="cgw">{{cite magazine | author=Dei, Vox | date=March 1995 | title=Review: ''Heretic'', Meet Your ''Doom''! | url=https://archive.org/details/Computer_Gaming_World_Issue_128/page/n105/ | issue=128 | magazine=[[Computer Gaming World]] | publisher=[[Ziff Davis]] | pages=104–6| issn=0744-6667}}</ref>
|GSpot=7.6/10<ref name="gamespot">{{cite web | author=Blevins, Tal | date=June 13, 1996 | title=''Heretic: Shadow of the Serpent Riders'' | url=http://www.gamespot.com/pc/action/hereticshadowofthesr/review.html | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20031011033316/http://www.gamespot.com/pc/action/hereticshadowofthesr/review.html | archive-date=October 11, 2003 | publisher=[[Paramount Streaming|CBS Interactive]]| work=[[GameSpot]] | accessdate=May 11, 2022}}</ref>
|Hyper=90%<ref name="hyper">{{cite magazine | author=''Hyper'' staff | date=March 1995 | title=''Heretic'' | url=https://archive.org/details/hyper-016/page/n31/  | pages=32–5 | magazine=[[Hyper (magazine)|Hyper]] | publisher=[[nextmedia]] | issn=1320-7458}}</ref>
| PCZone = 78%<ref name="PCZ-Heretic">{{cite journal |date=April 1995 |title=Review: Heretic |journal=PC Zone |url=https://archive.org/stream/PC_Zone_Issue_025_1995-04_Dennis_Publishing_GB#page/n69 |first=Charlie |last=Brooker |issue=25 |pages=68-70 |access-date=June 22, 2015}}</ref>
| rev1 = ''Maximum''
| rev1Score = {{rating|4|5}}<ref name="Max4r"/>
| NGen = {{rating|4|5}}<ref name="NG5"/>
}}

''Heretic'' and ''Hexen'' shipped a combined total of roughly 1 million units by August 1997.<ref name="1m">{{cite web|author=Staff|date=August 7, 1997|title=Activision to Buy Raven|url=http://www.pcgamer.com:80/news/news080497.html|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/19971012044914/http://www.pcgamer.com/news/news080497.html|archive-date=October 12, 1997|access-date=January 13, 2020|work=[[PC Gamer US]]}}</ref> Individually Heretic sold more than 500,000 copies.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.idsoftware.com/corporate/idhist.html|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/19961220090327/http://www.idsoftware.com/corporate/idhist.html|title=History|website=[[id Software]]|archivedate=December 20, 1996|accessdate=June 19, 2024}}</ref>

''Heretic'' received generally positive reviews.

''[[PC Zone]]'' remarked that ''Heretic''{{'}}s weapons are stylistically unsatisfying, the ability to look up and down is useless, the level designs are poorly conceived and confusing, and the flying ability lacks depth and a sense of true flight, more closely resembling "sitting on the front of a [[forklift]] truck". While they regarded the inventory mechanic as genuinely innovative, they felt that overall ''Heretic'' failed to differentiate itself from ''Doom'' to the extent of contemporaries such as ''[[Descent (video game)|Descent]]'' and ''[[Star Wars: Dark Forces]]'', and concluded, "Not as good as ''Doom 1'' or ''2''. Still fun, but I'd rather wait for ''[[Quake (video game)|Quake]]'', thanks."<ref name="PCZ-Heretic" />

''[[Next Generation (magazine)|Next Generation]]'' stated that "If you're only going to get one action game in the next couple of months, this is the one."<ref name="NG5">{{cite magazine|date=May 1995|title=Finals|magazine=[[Next Generation (magazine)|Next Generation]]|publisher=[[Imagine Media]]|issue=5|page=93}}</ref>

While remarking that ''Heretic'' is a thinly-veiled clone of ''[[Doom (1993 video game)|Doom]]'', and that its being released in Europe after [[Hexen: Beyond Heretic|its sequel]] and with ''[[Quake (video game)|Quake]]'' due out shortly makes it somewhat outdated, ''Maximum'' nonetheless regarded it as an extremely polished and worthwhile purchase. They particularly highlighted the two additional episodes of the retail version, saying they offer a satisfying challenge even to first person shooter veterans and are largely what make the game worth buying.<ref name="Max4r">{{cite journal|title=Maximum Reviews: Heretic|journal=Maximum: The Video Game Magazine|issue=4 |publisher=[[Emap International Limited]]|date=March 1996|page=156}}</ref>

In 1996, ''[[Computer Gaming World]]'' listed being turned into a chicken as #3 on its list of "the 15 best ways to die in computer gaming".<ref name="cgw199611bestwaystodie">{{cite magazine | url=http://www.cgwmuseum.org/galleries/index.php?year=1996&pub=2&id=148 | title=The 15 Best Ways To Die In Computer Gaming | magazine=Computer Gaming World | date=November 1996 | access-date=25 March 2016 | page=107}}</ref>

==Legacy==
''Heretic'' has received three sequels: ''[[Hexen: Beyond Heretic]]'', ''[[Hexen II]]'', and ''[[Heretic II]]''. Following [[ZeniMax Media]]'s acquisition of id Software in 2009, the rights to the series have been split between id and Activision Software; Activision holds the developing rights, while id holds the publishing rights.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.finder.com.au/id-software-talks-heretic-hexen-and-commander-keen|title = Id Software talks Heretic, Hexen and Commander Keen|website = [[Finder (website)|Finder]]|first=Chris|last=Stead|date = 12 September 2016|accessdate = 23 November 2024}}</ref>

The game was re-released for Windows on [[Steam (service)|Steam]] on August 3, 2007.<ref>{{cite web|title=News|url=http://store.steampowered.com/news/1141/|website=store.steampowered.com}}</ref>

Further homages to the series have been made in other id Software titles; In 2009's ''[[Wolfenstein (2009 video game)|Wolfenstein]]'', which Raven Software developed, ''Heretic'''s Tomes of Power are collectible power-ups found throughout the game. The character Galena from ''[[Quake Champions]]'' wears armor bearing the icon of the Serpent Riders.

In 2014, Raven co-founder Brian Raffel had expressed interest in making a sequel to the ''Heretic'' series. Rather than licensing it to other developers, he wants Raven to do it themselves.<ref>{{cite web |last1=Bailey |first1=Kat |title=From Dungeon & Dragons to Call of Duty: The Story of Raven Software |url=https://www.usgamer.net/articles/raven-software |website=US Gamer |date=28 October 2014 |access-date=9 December 2021}}</ref>

Similar to ''[[Freedoom]]'', a [[free content]] adaptation of ''Heretic'' exists called ''[[Blasphemer (video game)|Blasphemer]]''.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.riscository.com/2024/heretic-2024-update/|title=Heretic gets a 2024 update|date=2024-04-25|last=M Hudd|first=Vince|website=Riscository|accessdate=2024-07-14}}</ref>

==Notes==
{{Notelist}}

==References==
{{Reflist}}

==External links==
*{{cite web |url=https://www.ravensoftware.com/games/heretic/view-game/ |title=Heretic (1994) |year=2016 |publisher=Raven Software |access-date=19 October 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160603151059/https://www.ravensoftware.com/games/heretic/view-game/ |archive-date=3 June 2016}}
*{{MobyGames|id=/heretic|name=''Heretic''}}

{{Raven Software}}
{{Id Software}}
{{Authority control}}

[[Category:1994 video games]]
[[Category:Acorn Archimedes games]]
[[Category:Classic Mac OS games]]
[[Category:Commercial video games with freely available source code]]
[[Category:Cooperative video games]]
[[Category:Dark fantasy video games]]
[[Category:Doom engine games]]
[[Category:DOS games]]
[[Category:First-person shooters]]
[[Category:Games commercially released with DOSBox]]
[[Category:GT Interactive games]]
[[Category:Heretic and Hexen]]
[[Category:Id Software games]]
[[Category:Multiplayer and single-player video games]]
[[Category:Raven Software games]]
[[Category:Shareware games]]
[[Category:Sprite-based first-person shooters]]
[[Category:Video games about demons]]
[[Category:Video games about magic]]
[[Category:Video games developed in the United States]]
[[Category:Video games with digitized sprites]]
[[Category:Video games about elves]]