Current version:Nintendo 64
Hexen

Hexen

Hexen is a Nintendo 64 shooter game released in 1997 developed by Software Creations. It centers on story, case, or mission progress, local multiplayer or cooperative interaction, and aiming and shooting, with controls, information, and pacing arranged around the analog stick, directional pad, A/B buttons, C buttons, and Z trigger.

AI score · out of 10
6.1 / 10
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About this game

Hexen is a Nintendo 64 shooter game centered on story, case, or mission progress, local multiplayer or cooperative interaction, and aiming and shooting. Missions pace progress through enemy waves, routes, objectives, and weapon opportunities, with progress divided into stages, tasks, matches, or growth milestones that make its immediate goals understandable. Its value depends on whether these rules continue to create judgment and room for mastery rather than on length, sales, or series recognition. Short campaigns are judged by repeat-challenge value, while longer ones are judged by variety, pacing, and recovery after failure. Aiming feedback, projectiles, hits, and danger zones need to remain readable, while 3D scenes, fog, textures, and cartridge audio need to preserve target readability within limited memory and television output. The genre-specific limitation is that camera turning, aiming methods, dense encounters, and multiplayer service conditions can increase control pressure. Platform conditions also include camera control, stick precision, Controller Pak saves, Rumble Pak support, Expansion Pak requirements, and four-player setup can affect original-hardware use. This description covers only this platform release and does not import features from other editions.

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Nintendo 64

AI review

AI reviews are subjective assessments, not player ratings. See each review for its evidence and limitations.Published date:

6.1 / 10Nintendo 64

Interesting class-based shooting undermined by an N64 save hazard.

Nintendo 64 Hexen offers more than a straight run-and-gun corridor. Warrior, cleric and mage classes differ in weapons and artifact effects, while connected hubs ask players to solve puzzles and revisit earlier spaces. That structure gives exploration and combat meaningful variation. Two-player split-screen deathmatch provides a useful local diversion; the four-player quarter-screen arrangement is much less comfortable. The fantasy atmosphere and moody sound survive the port, but the image is rough, the frame rate falters and sound becomes choppy during saves. The most serious problem is release-specific. A contemporary direct reviewer twice saved before a platform jump, missed it, then loaded into the middle of the fall, effectively losing hours of progress. This is a documented major risk, not proof that every cartridge always fails the same way. Nor can fixes or behavior from PC or a later rerelease erase the observed N64 version. Players curious about puzzle-led old-school shooters can find design merit, but should weigh the recovery hazard heavily.

Strengths

  • Classes, hub puzzles and two-player split-screen.

Weaknesses

  • Frame issues and a potentially devastating save bug.

Who it is for: Old-school shooter fans willing to accept cartridge risk.

Play notes: The save bug was observed twice, not proven universal.

View scoring basis
DimensionReview stateScoreWeight
Dimension

A substantial campaign coexists with uneven local multiplayer.

Reviewed6.3 / 10Not provided
Dimension

Classes and hubs deepen the action beyond simple shooting.

Reviewed7.1 / 10Not provided
Dimension

The atmosphere survives rough console presentation.

Reviewed5.9 / 10Not provided
Dimension

The N64 save failure is a severe practical risk.

Reviewed3.3 / 10Not provided

Review sources

Not provided

Core information

Release date
1997
Platforms
Nintendo 64
Content kind
Game
Release state
Released
Region
Worldwide
Official website
Not provided
Offline minimum players
Not provided
Offline maximum players
Not provided
Online minimum players
Not provided
Online maximum players
Not provided
Tags
Main Story Under 10 HoursSolo-friendlyFast-pacedShootingPlayer versus PlayerDodgeStory-drivenReplayableLinear LevelsWar3D GraphicsThird Person
Supported game languages
Not provided
Requires base game
Not provided
Standalone
Not provided
Age ratings
Not provided
Play modes
Single playerMultiplayer
Perspectives
First person

Release editions

Sources

Not provided