Commander Keen
↗ 29%
🙂 6.0/10
(GameBoy Color - US, Action & Adventure)
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$74.99
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Developed_By:
David A. Palmer Productions
Published_By:
Activision
Released On:
17 May 2001
Get ready for a colourful adventure as Billy Blaze takes on the role of Commander Keen, a hero tasked with saving the day. With the help of his trusty inventions, Commander Keen must travel to new worlds and battle against the evil forces of Droidicus, who has stolen the sacred Crystals.
As you explore these new planets, you'll need to use your skills and wits to overcome obstacles and defeat enemies. With a range of exciting gameplay mechanics at your disposal, you'll be able to jump, run, and even fly through the air, all in pursuit of rescuing the Crystals.
Commander Keen is available now on the Game Boy Color.
UPC-A:
047875800335 (United States)
ISBN-10:
1584162961 (United States)
eBay Product ID:
3811 (United States)
ASIN:
B00005JY65 (United States)
Nintendo Media PN:
CGB-BCBE-USA (United States)
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Save Game Methods:
Password
Number of Players Supported:
1 Player
Prices as of 06 Oct 2026
Typical $74.99–$75.68 (last 90 days)
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Manual
Game Guide
Extracted from the original game manual
This is a sci-fi platformer where you play as Commander Keen, a young boy who must travel to alien worlds to defeat his enemies and recover plasma crystals. You'll navigate dangerous levels, avoid traps, and battle various alien creatures and bosses to save the Earth from destruction.
Story
SAVE THE WORLD!
It is a normal morning for Billy Blaze. Half awake, he gets his cereal and sits in front of the TV, switches it on, and watches...static...
A sub-space anomaly has mysteriously appeared in the Earth's core–everything's gone haywire: telephones ring randomly, the clouds have turned blue, and morning cartoons have ceased to exist.
With one quick look at his all-new "Computer-Wrist" computer, Billy Blaze realizes things aren't as they should be. He must find out who is responsible!
Little does he know, his old enemies have joined forces in one last-ditch attempt to destroy the universe. The Droidiccus, Shikadi, and Bloogs of Fribbulus Xax have created the fabled Omegamatic Warp Drive.
Using super powerful plasma crystals, they can destroy sub-space stability. Even his old arch-rival Mortimer McMire may have a hand in the mayhem. Only Commander Keen™ has the ability to re-unite the three plasma crystals at the Omegamatic Warp Drive and save the world!
Donning his brother's football helmet, Billy Blaze sets off down the garden path. Determined to get to the heart of the matter, he jumps into the Bean-with-Bacon Megarocket.
After flying for what seems like an eternity, Commander Keen™ lands in the strangest place he has ever seen in all his travels. Will Commander Keen™ succeed, or will the Earth be turned into sub-space shambles?
LEVELS
Droidiccus Prime
Robot Hive
A huge factory with high-tech robot construction equipment. As you'd expect, your main enemies are an assortment of robots with varying intelligence. They buzz around like bees and are looking for heroes to sting!
Fiery Canyon
This dark and shadowy cavern is full of fire pits, falling platforms, fire imps, and moving platforms. Be careful where you jump!
The Imperial Palace
It's the third level in the world of Droidiccus Prime and things are getting tricky. To complete this level, you'll have to face the Droidican Emperor.
Shikadi
Forest of Crazy Mushrooms
Oversized alien mushrooms are all over this level. Commander Keen™ must also avoid the deadly slugs that compete with the mushrooms for the sparse sunlight on this strange planet.
The Plasma Crystal Mines
The whole place has been littered with robo-mines, making it tricky to negotiate the maze-like tunnels and inlets where the Shikadi harvest plasma crystals.
Shikadi in Space
Commander Keen™ is beamed aboard the Shikadi Spacecraft for a showdown with the Shikadi Overlord. He'll hunt you down and blast you to smithereens with his rocket launcher, so you'd better be ready for him.
Fribbulus Xax
Blooglet Lake
This swampy lake-land is infested with deadly creatures, but some are harmless. The water in this lake contains some nasty surprises, so you'd better time your jumps right!
The Bobba Fortress
This fortress has so many traps, guards, and intruder deterrents; it'll be super-hard to get out alive. Keep your eyes on the ceilings, walls, as well as the floors, and you might make it through.
Fribbulus Xax World
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Bobba: Bobbas are nasty red beings that hop and fire deadly energy bolts from their eyes.
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Bloog: The Bloogs stole your babysitter a long time ago. These one-eyed green carnivores are driven by their hunger across the galaxy.
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Blooguard: These burly Bloogs have big clubs to bonk their enemies. Avoid these creeps at all costs!
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Blooglet: The little Blooglets are just as hungry as their big brothers, but they're not quite as frightening, are they?
How to Play
Starting the Game
Make sure the POWER switch is OFF.
Insert the Commander Keen™ Game Pak into the Game Boy® Color slot as described in your Nintendo® Game Boy® Color instruction manual.
Turn the POWER switch ON.
•
Note: The Commander Keen™ Game Pak is for Game Boy® Color only.
Main Menu
•
New Game: Begin your journey to stop the destruction of Earth by the evil Fribbulus Xax.
•
Password: You can enter a password and return to your last saved position in the game.
New Game Menu
In the New Game menu, you can select the skill level for your game. Use the Control Pad to select between Easy, Medium, or Hard and then press the A Button to start the game.
Press the B Button to exit the New Game menu and return to the Main menu.
Skill Levels
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Easy: Commander Keen™ has nine lives and nine continues to make it through the game. Monsters will move more slowly on this skill setting.
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Medium: Keen has seven lives and seven continues on this skill setting, and the monsters will move at their normal speed.
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Hard: Keen has five lives and five continues on the hard skill setting. Monsters move incredibly fast and fire more accurately, so watch out!
Status Screen
You may pause the game at any time by pressing START. The Status screen will be displayed.
Use the Status menu to keep track of the skill level, view your score, and see the number of continues, lives, keys, and plasma crystals you have in your possession.
You can also quit out of any level or World Map from the Status screen.
•
To quit out of the current level from the Status screen, press SELECT, and choose YES on the 'Return to World Map?' screen.
•
To quit the game from the World Map, press START to bring up the Status screen, and then press SELECT. Then choose YES from the 'Quit Game?' screen.
Playing the Game
The Hub
Commander Keen™ begins the game in the center of the Omegamatic Warp Drive. There are two main features of the Warp Drive: three teleporters and three crystal-like indentations in the ground.
Each teleporter will send Commander Keen™ to a different world (Droidiccus Prime, Fribbulus Xax, ShiKadi) from which he can enter one of three levels of play. The three crystal-like indentations are for three plasma crystals that, once united in the Omegamatic Warp Drive, will destroy the sub-space anomaly. Planet Earth is safe! Victory!
To enter any world from the Warp Drive, use the Control Pad to move Commander Keen™ onto a teleporter pad, and then press SELECT to teleport.
Level Elements
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Toxic-Slime: Some floors and platforms have toxic slime all over them, that'll kill if you're foolish enough to step in the slime.
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Poles: Climb up or slide down a pole to get to an otherwise unreachable area. To use a pole, simply press ↑ or ↓ on the Control Pad when Commander Keen™ is in front of the pole.
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Shootable Blocks: Some blocks are shootable, allowing you to reach otherwise inaccessible areas.
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Switches: Switches activate and deactivate some platforms. To use a switch, jump on top of it and press SELECT.
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Teleporter Doors: When Commander Keen™ uses one of these, he pops out of another one in a different area of the level. To use the teleporter, jump onto the pad and press SELECT.
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Color Key Doors: Commander Keen™ must open these with colored keys, and once they're open, he can move forward.
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Clues: Watch your surroundings for clues on what Commander Keen™ must do to finish the level. Some clues may be color-coded, others will be symbols or pictures.
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Neural Ray Blaster: Commander Keen™ can use his Neural Ray Blaster to stun his enemies. Commander Keen™ starts with a Neural Ray Blaster in his inventory. You can use the Control Pad in combination with the B Button to fire ↑, ↓, ⇨, or ⇦.
•
Note: Commander Keen™ can only fire down while in the air.
•
Pogo Stick: Commander Keen™ uses his pogo to get to otherwise inaccessible places, and to knock out his stunned enemies. Commander Keen™ starts with a Pogo Stick in his inventory. To pogo for extra height, press the A Button just as your pogo hits the ground.
Controls
A BUTTON
JUMP
MOVE
MOVE
FIRE
FIRE
ACTIVATE SWITCH
ACTIVATE SWITCH
TELEPORTER
TELEPORTER
STATUS
STATUS
PAUSE
PAUSE
+ A BUTTON
TOGGLE POGO
Tips & Maps
PASSWORD MENU
Input a password to continue from your last saved position. Select character boxes, choose characters, and press START to begin playing or B to exit.
Passwords
Passwords are awarded after finishing each level and allow you to continue the game at the next level. Write them down after each level.
Score Reset
If you continue your game after losing all lives, your score will reset to zero, regardless of whether you use a password or not.
Items & Weapons
Keys
Colored keys are distributed throughout the levels. They can be vital to completing the level, as they allow you to unlock Color Key Doors.
Extra Lives
Grab the icon of Commander Keen's head to get an extra life. A bonus life is also awarded for every 1000 points on Easy difficulty, 1500 points on Medium difficulty, and 3000 points on Hard difficulty.
Plasma Crystals
Commander Keen must defeat the bosses in the final level of each world to recover the three plasma crystals. They all must be collected to complete the game.
Candy and Snacks
Various pieces of candy and snacks award Commander Keen with points.
Batteries
Batteries award Commander Keen with 10 points.
Mushrooms
Mushrooms award Commander Keen with 10 points.
Water Bubbles
Water Bubbles award Commander Keen with 10 points.
Fire Extinguishers
Fire Extinguishers award Commander Keen with 25 points.
Small Crystals
Small Crystals award Commander Keen with 25 points.
Computer Chips
Computer Chips award Commander Keen with 50 points.
Rockets
Rockets award Commander Keen with 50 points.
Vials of Potion
Vials of Potion award Commander Keen with 50 points.
Enemies & Characters
ROBO-BLOOG
This guy is the last enemy on this world and has the brain of an evil super-computer, able to outsmart almost any being.
Dorp
The Droidiccus combined their robot technology with an organic alien life form to create the Dorp. The Dorp's skin is poisonous, so beware!
Darg
The Darg is like a Dorp on steroids. Don't mess with the Darg!
Sentry Droid
These seemingly mindless sentries are used by the Emperor to keep tabs on his soldiers. They are indestructible, so don't mess with them!
Droid 1
This low-flying pest has no real personality and its presence is less-than magnetic. Don't let it annoy you.
Droid 2
This hopping robot's primary function is to guard the Hive, but it does other menial work during its off-duty hours. Don't drop your guard around this mechanical menace!
Droid 3
This robot moves fast along vertical platforms and may smack into you if you don't look out. It's not a serious threat, although it can get annoying.
Droidican Soldier
These robotic troopers are the Droidican Emperor's prime defense, serving to keep the Warp Drive technology safe. They aren't very smart though, so they need a lot of discipline.
Droidican Elite
The Droidican Elite are master soldiers, armed with deadly lasers, and the Emperor counts on them to keep the other troops in line. These droids are a serious threat!
Dood
This tiny guy seems pleasant enough until you least expect it, then he goes all to pieces!
Fire Imp
These fiery creatures think they're pretty hot and lurk in the rocky wasteland between the Imperial Palace and the Robot Hive.
Cyba-Mallow
The Droidiccus created the Cyba-Mallow, which is part marshmallow and part cyborg, and all trouble!
Arachnu
Insane, crab-walking creatures that hold their dangerous mouths high in the air.
Berkeloid
This fiery fella is not to be toyed with; he throws big fireballs and is tough to kill.
Bounder
These red, friendly, bouncing guys can help you reach high places!
Poison Slug
The most common inhabitant of the Mushroom Forest, Poison Slugs mean trouble twice-once if you touch them, twice if they charge at you!
Badoing
The Shikadi kidnapped these mutant worms from a far away galaxy for reasons unknown. They mostly hide in the floor panels of the Shikadi mother ship, waiting to surprise any unsuspecting visitors.
Mad Mushroom
Dangerous fungi that hop and are deadly to touch. They jump higher every three bounces.
Little Ampton
This little fellow slides up and down poles and works on his computer terminals. Don't be on the pole he's on, 'cause he slides up and down quickly!
Robo Red
Robo Red is a nasty guard; if he hears a sound, he shoots first and asks questions later. Avoid, avoid, avoid!
Shikadi
These energy beings built the Omegamatic and plan to destroy the galaxy. Watch out for them near poles.
Shikadi Master
The most frightful foe aboard the Omegamatic, they cast Electrospheres at you and teleport around. Very dangerous.
Shikadi Sentry
Woe be the hero that wanders near one of these. They will move back and forth until they hit you!
Sphereful
Frightful plasma orbs with orbiting razor sensors, tread carefully by these dangerous denizens.
Bubba
Bubba likes to float above the calm waters of Blooglet Lake and watch the fish swim below. He's been known to mistake heroes for seafood, so watch out!
Dopefish
The second dumbest creature in the universe, this creature's thought patterns go "swim swim hungry, swim swim hungry." They'll eat anything alive and moving near them, though they prefer heroes.
Casta
The Fleex designed the floating Casta to monitor the high-tech machinery in their laboratories. The Casta won't attack you, but it's indestructible, so try not to get too close!
Nospike
These blue fellows walk around until they find something to charge at. But even charging, their favorite pastime, will bore them after a bit. Watch out for their fearsome horn!
Flect
The Flect is always in a hurry, and has nowhere to go. This terminally worried creature has tentacles for hair and a reflective plate on its chest. It's best to be sneaky when dealing with a Flect.
Gik
This hard-shelled customer's worst points are its points! Its legs are spikes, so it will jump and try to poke you.
Fleex
The Fleex are amongst the finest engineers in the universe, having designed all of the buildings and devices on Fribbulus Xax. They have very sensitive eyes and an oversized ear to compensate.
Hovva
This robotic centurion is somewhat like a flying tank. The robot itself is harmless, but beware! He carries an electric coil to help him float, and will run you down without hesitation.
Mortimer McMire
Commander Keen's arch-nemesis, school rival, and all-around evildoer. He's masterminded your entire adventure and wants to see the Universe destroyed!
The Droidican Emperor
The Droidican Emperor is a poisonous foe found in the Royal Chambers. He throws poison and releases robots to help him in his attack.
Shikadi Overlord
This boss uses powerful homing rockets and a personal teleporter. He only needs to hit you once, but you must shoot him many times.
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