Commander Keen: Goodbye, Galaxy! — A Landmark in PC Platforming
Few DOS-era platformers hold as much nostalgic power as Commander Keen: Goodbye, Galaxy!, a pivotal release in the early ’90s PC gaming boom. Published by Apogee Software and developed by the talented team at id Software, this entry marked a major step forward for the Commander Keen series—both in gameplay sophistication and in technical achievement.
Release Date & Background
Released in December 1991, Goodbye, Galaxy! is officially considered Commander Keen Episodes 4 and 5:
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Episode 4: Secret of the Oracle
Episode 5: The Armageddon Machine
These episodes follow the original three-part Invasion of the Vorticons trilogy (1990) and were later followed by Aliens Ate My Baby Sitter! (Episode 6) in 1991 as well.
The title screen shown in the image above is from Episode 4, one of the most iconic in the entire series.
A Giant Leap from the Original Trilogy
While the original Commander Keen trilogy proved PC platformers were possible, Goodbye, Galaxy! showed they could be polished, dynamic, and full of personality. Some improvements and key features include:
1. Smooth Scrolling with the Enhanced Engine
Using an updated version of John Carmack’s groundbreaking adaptive tile refresh engine, Episodes 4 and 5 offered buttery-smooth side-scrolling rarely seen on early ’90s IBM-compatible hardware.
2. New Gameplay Mechanics
Compared to the earlier trilogy, Keen’s abilities expanded significantly:
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A brand-new pogo system with tighter movement
More varied weapons and power-ups
Smarter enemy AI
Large, interconnected levels with hidden areas
This gave the game a deeper and more exploratory feel.
3. More Detailed Artwork and Colorful Graphics
The art team—Tom Hall and Adrian Carmack—gave the series a visual overhaul with richer tilesets, improved sprite animation, and more expressive character design. Keen himself appears more polished and lively than ever.
4. Story and Setting
In Secret of the Oracle, Billy Blaze (Commander Keen) embarks on a mission to stop the rogue Shikadi from destroying the galaxy. The game introduces memorable alien species such as the Gik, Popleft, Berkeloid, and the ever-popular Dopefish—a character that became an inside joke within the PC gaming community for decades.
Distribution & Legacy
Distributed as shareware by Apogee, Episode 4 was free to play, while Episodes 5 and 6 were commercial releases. This business model played a key role in shaping early PC gaming, allowing players to experience large portions of a game before buying the rest.
Goodbye, Galaxy! is often celebrated as the golden age of Commander Keen and one of the most influential pre-Doom releases from id Software.
A Staple of Vintage DOS Gaming
Whether you experienced it back in its heyday on MS-DOS or you’re booting it today via DOSBox or a vintage Windows machine, Commander Keen: Goodbye, Galaxy! remains a standout example of creativity, technical innovation, and classic PC charm.
For fans of pixel art, smooth platforming, and early id Software history, it’s a must-play and a must-remember.
