Hexen: Beyond Heretic

The main pros of the game

• Unique Class System: Players can choose from three distinct classes (Warrior, Cleric, Mage), each with unique abilities and weapons, adding variety and encouraging replayability.
• Atmospheric Design: The game features impressive dark fantasy visuals and sound design, creating an immersive atmosphere with haunting music and detailed environments.
• Innovative Level Structure: Hexen introduces a hub-based level design, allowing for non-linear exploration and the ability to revisit areas to unlock new paths, which was a novel concept at the time.
• Engaging Combat: The combination of melee and magic combat offers a different experience compared to other FPS games of its era, allowing for strategic gameplay.
• Length and Challenge: The game provides a lengthy playtime (around 7 hours) with a challenging experience that requires patience and skill.

The main cons of the game

• Confusing Level Design: Many users found the level design to be overly complex and cryptic, often requiring extensive backtracking and leading to frustration due to unclear objectives.
• Repetitive Combat: The limited number of weapons and enemy types led to repetitive gameplay, making combat feel less dynamic over time.
• Technical Issues: The original DOS version is criticized for being outdated, with many recommending modern source ports like GZDoom for a better experience.
• Lack of Guidance: Players often felt lost due to the absence of clear indicators or hints on how to progress, making it difficult to navigate the game.

The features or elements that are missing from the game according to users

• Improved Guidance Systems: Many players expressed a desire for a more structured guidance system, such as in-game journals or clearer hints to aid in navigation and puzzle-solving.
• Expanded Weapon Variety: Users noted that while there are 12 weapons in total, each character only has access to 4, which limits combat diversity.
• Quality of Life Improvements: Suggestions for modern controls, better input handling, and overall enhancements to the user experience were common, particularly for the original release.
• Additional Content: Some players wished for more enemy variety and additional gameplay elements to enhance the overall experience and break the monotony.

Summary

• Overall, while Hexen: Beyond Heretic is praised for its creativity, atmosphere, and innovative mechanics, it also faces significant criticism related to its level design and combat repetitiveness, highlighting a divide between its classic charm and modern gameplay expectations.

Summary generated on: November 17, 2025