Difference between revisions of "Heretic"

From DoomWiki.org

[checked revision][checked revision]
m (Trivia: overly long wl)
m (Automated edit - italicize Shadowcaster)
 
(31 intermediate revisions by 6 users not shown)
Line 1: Line 1:
 
{{mainimage|Heretictitle.png|Heretic [[title screen]]}}
 
{{mainimage|Heretictitle.png|Heretic [[title screen]]}}
[[File:Hereticserpent title.png|thumb|right|Heretic: Shadow of the Serpent Riders title screen]]
+
'''Heretic''', released on {{timeline|1994|December 23, 1994}}, is a hit fantasy/action game by [[Raven Software]], the result of their second team-up with [[id Software]] after ''[[Shadowcaster]]''. Based on a modified [[Doom engine]], Heretic pioneered an [[inventory]] system for real-time [[item]] use that has become commonplace in the FPS genre. id Software published the game under its brand. Like [[Doom]] before it, the game was initially released as [[shareware]] with the ability to call or mail in to receive the registered version. A later, expanded commercial release as [[Heretic: Shadow of the Serpent Riders]] was distributed to retail stores by [[GT Interactive Software|GT Interactive]].
'''Heretic''', released on [[Timeline#1994|December 23, 1994]], is a hit fantasy/action game by [[Raven Software]], the result of their second team-up with [[id Software]] after [[Shadowcaster]]. Based on a modified [[Doom engine]], Heretic pioneered an [[Artifacts|inventory]] system for real-time [[item]] use that has become commonplace in the FPS genre. id Software published the game under its brand. Like [[Doom]] before it, the game was initially released as [[shareware]] with the ability to call or mail in to receive the registered version. A later, expanded commercial release as '''Heretic: Shadow of the Serpent Riders''' was distributed to retail stores by [[GT Interactive Software|GT Interactive]].
 
  
 
Players took the role of a nameless Elven hero (given the name [[Corvus]] in ''{{wp|Heretic II}}'') whose race, the Sidhe, was nearly annihilated by a horde of evil monsters from another dimension. The first episode of Heretic was released as shareware as a precursor to the full version of the game.
 
Players took the role of a nameless Elven hero (given the name [[Corvus]] in ''{{wp|Heretic II}}'') whose race, the Sidhe, was nearly annihilated by a horde of evil monsters from another dimension. The first episode of Heretic was released as shareware as a precursor to the full version of the game.
Line 7: Line 6:
 
Heretic won several awards for excellence, appeared in such notable publications as USA Today and Playboy, and opened many new doors in the computer gaming software industry for Raven Software and its team of developers. Heretic was Raven Software's most popular, highest acclaimed, biggest selling game to that point.
 
Heretic won several awards for excellence, appeared in such notable publications as USA Today and Playboy, and opened many new doors in the computer gaming software industry for Raven Software and its team of developers. Heretic was Raven Software's most popular, highest acclaimed, biggest selling game to that point.
  
After its big success, two additional episodes were released for free, upgrading the normal Heretic to '''Heretic: Shadow of the Serpent Riders''' (v1.3). The original version of Heretic with three episodes was subsequently discontinued. The expansion was released on {{timeline|1996|March 31, 1996}}.
+
After its big success, two additional episodes were released for free, upgrading the normal Heretic to Heretic: Shadow of the Serpent Riders (v1.3). The original version of Heretic with three episodes was subsequently discontinued. The expansion was released on {{timeline|1996|March 22, 1996}}.
  
 
Some of the modifications Raven made to the [[Doom engine]] for Heretic were [[flight]], sectors that can push the player, an inventory system, ambient sounds, [[translucency]], [[Free look|looking up and down]] and pushable objects.
 
Some of the modifications Raven made to the [[Doom engine]] for Heretic were [[flight]], sectors that can push the player, an inventory system, ambient sounds, [[translucency]], [[Free look|looking up and down]] and pushable objects.
  
==Story==
+
== Story ==
 
The world of [[Parthoris]] was populated by many people who divided themselves into seven great nations, as well as the mystic Sidhe elves. It was these elves who kept the [[Tome of Power|Tomes of Power]] and the sacred candle flames which eternally burned to represent the armies of the world.
 
The world of [[Parthoris]] was populated by many people who divided themselves into seven great nations, as well as the mystic Sidhe elves. It was these elves who kept the [[Tome of Power|Tomes of Power]] and the sacred candle flames which eternally burned to represent the armies of the world.
  
Line 20: Line 19:
 
[[D'Sparil]] was enraged and in the chamber of the Elders he stirred up a storm of white-hot flame, killing them all. The earth burst open beneath their charred bodies and from within poured legions of the undead as well as murderous beasts from worlds beyond. This new army overwhelmed the Sidhe and slaughtered them in untold numbers. In only one day, their civilization was destroyed and their survivors were scattered far and wide. The darkling creatures had carried off the [[Tome of Power|Tomes of Power]] and the other artifacts of the Sidhe as spoils of war. Left defenseless, it was surely only a matter of time before all Sidhe perished under the Order of the Triad's unyielding fury.
 
[[D'Sparil]] was enraged and in the chamber of the Elders he stirred up a storm of white-hot flame, killing them all. The earth burst open beneath their charred bodies and from within poured legions of the undead as well as murderous beasts from worlds beyond. This new army overwhelmed the Sidhe and slaughtered them in untold numbers. In only one day, their civilization was destroyed and their survivors were scattered far and wide. The darkling creatures had carried off the [[Tome of Power|Tomes of Power]] and the other artifacts of the Sidhe as spoils of war. Left defenseless, it was surely only a matter of time before all Sidhe perished under the Order of the Triad's unyielding fury.
  
Most of the few remaining Sidhe hid themselves away, but [[Corvus]] was determined to have revenge. Heading east into the wilderness he came upon the City of the Damned, where the very air reeked with rot and decay and the only sounds were the screams of foul creatures seeking his blood. Armed only with his staff and [[Elven Wand]], he had little hope to survive. So began the downfall of D'Sparil and the salvation of [[Parthoris]].
+
Most of the few remaining Sidhe hid themselves away, but [[Corvus]] was determined to have revenge. Heading east into the wilderness he came upon the City of the Damned, where the very air reeked with rot and decay and the only sounds were the screams of foul creatures seeking his blood. Armed only with his staff and [[Elven wand]], he had little hope to survive. So began the downfall of D'Sparil and the salvation of [[Parthoris]].
  
==Heretic skill levels==
+
== Heretic skill levels ==
[[Image:Heretic-E1M3.png|thumb|Attack of gargoyles in Heretic]]
+
[[File:Heretic-E1M3.png|thumb|Attack of gargoyles in Heretic]]
  
 
'''1. Thou needeth a wet-nurse:'''
 
'''1. Thou needeth a wet-nurse:'''
Line 42: Line 41:
 
The skill names parody the often badly understood Early Modern English common throughout the fantasy genre. 1, 3 and 5 are grammatically non-standard; they should be ''Thou need'''est''' a wet-nurse,'' ''Bring them on'', and ''Black plague possess'''eth''' thee''; the mix of English and German in 4's ''smite-meister'' is unusual, and 2 makes an out-of-place reference to Toys-R-Us.
 
The skill names parody the often badly understood Early Modern English common throughout the fantasy genre. 1, 3 and 5 are grammatically non-standard; they should be ''Thou need'''est''' a wet-nurse,'' ''Bring them on'', and ''Black plague possess'''eth''' thee''; the mix of English and German in 4's ''smite-meister'' is unusual, and 2 makes an out-of-place reference to Toys-R-Us.
  
==Enemies, weapons, items==
+
== Enemies, weapons, items ==
 
 
 
{{Template:RavenThings
 
{{Template:RavenThings
 
|enemies =
 
|enemies =
*[[Disciple of D'Sparil]]
+
* [[Disciple of D'Sparil]]
*[[D'Sparil]]<sup>1</sup>
+
* [[D'Sparil]]<sup>1</sup>
*[[Fire Gargoyle]]
+
* [[Fire gargoyle]]
*[[Gargoyle]]
+
* [[Gargoyle]]
*[[Golem]]
+
* [[Golem]]
*[[Golem Ghost]]
+
* [[Golem ghost]]
*[[Iron Lich]]
+
* [[Iron lich]]
*[[Maulotaur]]<sup>1</sup>
+
* [[Maulotaur]]<sup>1</sup>
*[[Nitrogolem]]
+
* [[Nitrogolem]]
*[[Nitrogolem Ghost]]
+
* [[Nitrogolem ghost]]
*[[Ophidian]]<sup>1</sup>
+
* [[Ophidian]]<sup>1</sup>
*[[Sabreclaw]]<sup>1</sup>
+
* [[Sabreclaw]]<sup>1</sup>
*[[Undead Warrior]]
+
* [[Undead warrior]]
*[[Undead Warrior Ghost]]
+
* [[Undead warrior ghost]]
*[[Weredragon]]<sup>1</sup>
+
* [[Weredragon]]<sup>1</sup>
 
|weapons =
 
|weapons =
* [[Dragon Claw]]
+
* [[Dragon claw]]
* [[Elven Wand]]
+
* [[Elven wand]]
* [[Ethereal Crossbow]]
+
* [[Ethereal crossbow]]
 
* [[Firemace]]<sup>1</sup>
 
* [[Firemace]]<sup>1</sup>
 
* [[Gauntlets of the Necromancer]]
 
* [[Gauntlets of the Necromancer]]
 
* [[Hellstaff]]<sup>1</sup>
 
* [[Hellstaff]]<sup>1</sup>
* [[Phoenix Rod]]<sup>1</sup>
+
* [[Phoenix rod]]<sup>1</sup>
 
* [[Staff]]
 
* [[Staff]]
 
|items =
 
|items =
 +
* [[Bag of Holding]]
 +
* [[Chaos Device]]<sup>1,2</sup>
 +
* [[Crystal vial]]<sup>2</sup>
 +
* [[Enchanted shield]]<sup>1</sup>
 
* [[Heretic keys|Keys]]
 
* [[Heretic keys|Keys]]
* [[Crystal Vial]]<sup>2</sup>
+
* [[Map scroll]]
* [[Quartz Flask]]<sup>2</sup>
 
* [[Mystic Urn]]<sup>1,2</sup>
 
* [[Silver Shield]]
 
* [[Enchanted Shield]]<sup>1</sup>
 
* [[Tome of Power]]
 
* [[Timebomb of the Ancients]]
 
* [[Wings of Wrath]]<sup>2</sup>
 
 
* [[Morph Ovum]]
 
* [[Morph Ovum]]
 +
* [[Mystic urn]]<sup>1,2</sup>
 +
* [[Quartz flask]]<sup>2</sup>
 +
* [[Ring of Invincibility]]
 
* [[Shadowsphere]]
 
* [[Shadowsphere]]
* [[Ring of Invincibility]]
+
* [[Silver shield]]
 +
* [[Time Bomb of the Ancients]]
 +
* [[Tome of Power]]
 
* [[Torch]]<sup>2</sup>
 
* [[Torch]]<sup>2</sup>
* [[Map Scroll]]
+
* [[Wings of Wrath]]<sup>2</sup>
* [[Bag of Holding]]
 
* [[Chaos Device]]<sup>1,2</sup>
 
 
}}
 
}}
 
====Notes====
 
====Notes====
Line 92: Line 90:
 
*<sup>2</sup> These items make a reappearance in [[Hexen]].
 
*<sup>2</sup> These items make a reappearance in [[Hexen]].
  
==Heretic levels==
+
== Heretic levels ==
'''[[City of the Damned]]''' (Episode 1) (The only one in shareware)
+
'''[[City of the Damned]]''' (Episode 1, the only one in shareware, sky color: grey)
'''Sky Color:''' Grey
+
* {{maplinkgen|E1M1|The Docks|Heretic}}
* [[E1M1: The Docks (Heretic)|E1M1: The Docks]]
+
* {{maplinkgen|E1M2|The Dungeons|Heretic}}
* [[E1M2: The Dungeons (Heretic)|E1M2: The Dungeons]]
+
* {{maplinkgen|E1M3|The Gatehouse|Heretic}}
* [[E1M3: The Gatehouse (Heretic)|E1M3: The Gatehouse]]
+
* {{maplinkgen|E1M4|The Guard Tower|Heretic}}
* [[E1M4: The Guard Tower (Heretic)|E1M4: The Guard Tower]]
+
* {{maplinkgen|E1M5|The Citadel|Heretic}}
* [[E1M5: The Citadel (Heretic)|E1M5: The Citadel]]
+
* {{maplinkgen|E1M6|The Cathedral|Heretic}} ''(exit to secret level)''
* [[E1M6: The Cathedral (Heretic)|E1M6: The Cathedral]] (secret exit)
+
* {{maplinkgen|E1M7|The Crypts|Heretic}}
* [[E1M7: The Crypts (Heretic)|E1M7: The Crypts]]
+
* {{maplinkgen|E1M8|Hell's Maw|Heretic}} ''([[iron lich]]es are bosses)''
* [[E1M8: Hell's Maw (Heretic)|E1M8: Hell's Maw]] (Iron Liches are bosses)
+
* {{maplinkgen|E1M9|The Graveyard|Heretic}} ''(secret level)''
* [[E1M9: The Graveyard (Heretic)|E1M9: The Graveyard]] (secret level)
+
<br>
 
+
'''[[Hell's Maw]]''' (Episode 2, sky color: red)
'''[[Hell's Maw]]''' (Episode 2)
+
* {{maplinkgen|E2M1|The Crater|Heretic}}
'''Sky Color:''' Red
+
* {{maplinkgen|E2M2|The Lava Pits|Heretic}}
* [[E2M1: The Crater (Heretic)|E2M1: The Crater]]
+
* {{maplinkgen|E2M3|The River of Fire|Heretic}}
* [[E2M2: The Lava Pits (Heretic)|E2M2: The Lava Pits]]
+
* {{maplinkgen|E2M4|The Ice Grotto|Heretic}} ''(exit to secret level)''
* [[E2M3: The River of Fire (Heretic)|E2M3: The River of Fire]]
+
* {{maplinkgen|E2M5|The Catacombs|Heretic}}
* [[E2M4: The Ice Grotto (Heretic)|E2M4: The Ice Grotto]] (secret exit)
+
* {{maplinkgen|E2M6|The Labyrinth|Heretic}}
* [[E2M5: The Catacombs (Heretic)|E2M5: The Catacombs]]
+
* {{maplinkgen|E2M7|The Great Hall|Heretic}}
* [[E2M6: The Labyrinth (Heretic)|E2M6: The Labyrinth]]
+
* {{maplinkgen|E2M8|The Portals of Chaos|Heretic}} ''([[maulotaur]]s are bosses)''
* [[E2M7: The Great Hall (Heretic)|E2M7: The Great Hall]]
+
* {{maplinkgen|E2M9|The Glacier|Heretic}} ''(secret level)''
* [[E2M8: The Portals of Chaos (Heretic)|E2M8: The Portals of Chaos]] (Maulotaurs are bosses)
+
<br>
* [[E2M9: The Glacier (Heretic)|E2M9: The Glacier]] (secret level)
+
'''[[The Dome of D'Sparil]]''' (Episode 3, sky color: blue)
 
+
* {{maplinkgen|E3M1|The Storehouse|Heretic}}
'''[[The Dome of D'Sparil]]''' (Episode 3)
+
* {{maplinkgen|E3M2|The Cesspool|Heretic}}
'''Sky Color:''' Blue
+
* {{maplinkgen|E3M3|The Confluence|Heretic}}
* [[E3M1: The Storehouse (Heretic)|E3M1: The Storehouse]]
+
* {{maplinkgen|E3M4|The Azure Fortress|Heretic}} ''(exit to secret level)''
* [[E3M2: The Cesspool (Heretic)|E3M2: The Cesspool]]
+
* {{maplinkgen|E3M5|The Ophidian Lair|Heretic}}
* [[E3M3: The Confluence (Heretic)|E3M3: The Confluence]]
+
* {{maplinkgen|E3M6|The Halls of Fear|Heretic}}
* [[E3M4: The Azure Fortress (Heretic)|E3M4: The Azure Fortress]] (secret exit)
+
* {{maplinkgen|E3M7|The Chasm|Heretic}}
* [[E3M5: The Ophidian Lair (Heretic)|E3M5: The Ophidian Lair]]
+
* {{maplinkgen|E3M8|D'Sparil's Keep|Heretic}} ''([[D'Sparil]] is boss)''
* [[E3M6: The Halls of Fear (Heretic)|E3M6: The Halls of Fear]]
+
* {{maplinkgen|E3M9|The Aquifer|Heretic}} ''(secret level)''
* [[E3M7: The Chasm (Heretic)|E3M7: The Chasm]]
+
<br>
* [[E3M8: D'Sparil's Keep (Heretic)|E3M8: D'Sparil's Keep]] (D'Sparil is boss)
+
'''[[Fate's Path]]''' (Episode 4, sky color: grey)
* [[E3M9: The Aquifer (Heretic)|E3M9: The Aquifer]] (secret level)
+
* [[E6M3 (Heretic)|E4M1 (aka American's Legacy)]] ''(has no exit)''
 
+
'''Note:''' This level, built for [[deathmatch]], is untitled in the game itself and can only be accessed via the {{c|[[engage|engage##]]}} cheat or the {{c|[[Parameter#-warp|-warp]]}} command line parameter (it does not appear on the episode select screen). Its name and the "episode name" were unofficially made up by fans and are widely accepted among the community.
'''[[The Ossuary]]''' (Episode 4) (Heretic: Shadow of the Serpent Riders only)
 
'''Sky Color:''' Grey
 
* [[E4M1: Catafalque (Heretic)|E4M1: Catafalque]]
 
* [[E4M2: Blockhouse (Heretic)|E4M2: Blockhouse]]
 
* [[E4M3: Ambulatory (Heretic)|E4M3: Ambulatory]]
 
* [[E4M4: Sepulcher (Heretic)|E4M4: Sepulcher]] (secret exit)
 
* [[E4M5: Great Stair (Heretic)|E4M5: Great Stair]]
 
* [[E4M6: Halls of the Apostate (Heretic)|E4M6: Halls of the Apostate]]
 
* [[E4M7: Ramparts of Perdition (Heretic)|E4M7: Ramparts of Perdition]]
 
* [[E4M8: Shattered Bridge (Heretic)|E4M8: Shattered Bridge]] (Iron Liches are bosses)
 
* [[E4M9: Mausoleum (Heretic)|E4M9: Mausoleum]] (secret level)
 
 
 
'''[[The Stagnant Demesne]]''' (Episode 5) (Heretic: Shadow of the Serpent Riders only)
 
'''Sky Color:''' Blue
 
* [[E5M1: Ochre Cliffs (Heretic)|E5M1: Ochre Cliffs]]
 
* [[E5M2: Rapids (Heretic)|E5M2: Rapids]]
 
* [[E5M3: Quay (Heretic)|E5M3: Quay]] (secret exit)
 
* [[E5M4: Courtyard (Heretic)|E5M4: Courtyard]]
 
* [[E5M5: Hydratyr (Heretic)|E5M5: Hydratyr]]
 
* [[E5M6: Colonnade (Heretic)|E5M6: Colonnade]]
 
* [[E5M7: Foetid Manse (Heretic)|E5M7: Foetid Manse]]
 
* [[E5M8: Field of Judgement (Heretic)|E5M8: Field of Judgement]] (Maulotaurs are bosses)
 
* [[E5M9: Skein of D'Sparil (Heretic)|E5M9: Skein of D'Sparil]] (secret level)
 
 
 
'''[[Fate's Path]]''' (Episode 6)
 
'''Sky Color:''' Grey
 
* [[E6M1 (Heretic)|E6M1 (aka Raven's Lair)]]
 
* [[E6M2 (Heretic)|E6M2 (aka Water Shrine)]]
 
* [[E6M3 (Heretic)|E6M3 (aka American's Legacy)]] (has no exit)
 
  
These three levels, seemingly built for Deathmatch are untitled in the game itself and can only be accessed via the "engage##" cheat or the command line (they don't appear on the episode select screen). The first two names resulted from suggestions by designer [[Michael Raymond-Judy]] in an interview with now-defunct website ravengames.com;{{cite web archived|author=|title=Heretic Shadow of the Serpent Riders Insider Info: Behind-the-scenes interview with Michael Raymond-Judy|url=http://www.ravengames.com/heretic/heretic-shadow/insider.php|publication=RavenGames.com|publishdate=|accessdate=8 August 2016|archiveurl=https://archive.is/SHMhn|archivedat=archive.is}} whilst the name of the third map and the "episode name" were unofficially made up by fans and are widely accepted among the community.
+
== Technical details ==
 +
Raven Software has made several changes to the [[Doom engine]], which allow the following new features to be implemented:
 +
* ability of the player to [[Flight|fly]] and [[Free look|look up and down]];
 +
* [[inventory]] system;
 +
* [[carrying sector]]s in the form of wind or water currents;
 +
* [[Heretic ambient sound things|ambient sounds]];
 +
* [[Translucency|translucent]] and pushable objects;
 +
* fullscreen version of the [[Heretic status bar|status bar]];
 +
* several types of ranged attacks for some monsters;
 +
* changes to items that monsters drop after they die:
 +
** some monsters have multiple variants of these items;
 +
** each such item has a programmed drop chance;
 +
** due to coincidence of chances, some monsters may drop several items of different types.
  
Note that E6M3 appears as E4M1 in the original registered version of Heretic, hidden in the same way as the above details for Shadow of the Serpent Riders.
+
Compared to [[Versions of Doom and Doom II#v1.2|Doom v1.2]], Heretic introduced the following new [[lump]]s:
 +
* {{c|[[LOADING]]}} - text screen displayed when loading the game;
 +
* {{c|[[SNDCURVE]]}} - byte array used to set how sounds fade with distance;
 +
* {{c|[[TINTTAB]]}} - to support translucency.
  
==Source code release==
+
== Source code release ==
 
{{main|Raven source code licensing}}
 
{{main|Raven source code licensing}}
On [[Timeline#1999|January 11, 1999]], the [[source code]] for both ''Heretic'' and ''[[Hexen]]'' was released by Raven Software under a restrictive {{wp|End-user license agreement|EULA}} [https://www.doomworld.com/eternity/activision_eula.txt] which [[Raven source code licensing|prohibited many uses of the code]], and was incompatible with the {{wp|GNU General Public License|GNU GPL}}. This rendered it impossible to create a properly {{wp|open source}} [[source port]] (under {{wp|The Open Source Definition}}) for either game. On September 4, 2008, the source code for both games was rereleased under the GPL [https://sourceforge.net/project/showfiles.php?group_id=238655].
+
On [[Timeline#1999|January 11, 1999]], the source code for both ''Heretic'' and ''[[Hexen]]'' was released by Raven Software under a restrictive {{wp|End-user license agreement|EULA}} [https://www.doomworld.com/eternity/activision_eula.txt] which [[Raven source code licensing|prohibited many uses of the code]], and was incompatible with the {{wp|GNU General Public License|GNU GPL}}. This rendered it impossible to create a properly {{wp|open source}} [[source port]] (under {{wp|The Open Source Definition}}) for either game. On September 4, 2008, the source code for both games was rereleased under the GPL [https://sourceforge.net/project/showfiles.php?group_id=238655].
  
==Trivia==
+
== Trivia ==
*Heretic's E6M3 is based directly on [[American McGee]]'s [[Doom II]] deathmatch level [[IDMAP01]].
+
* Heretic's E4M1 is based directly on [[American McGee]]'s [[Doom II]] deathmatch level [[IDMAP01]].
*Heretic, like Doom, has a demo rotation; however, the demos were recorded with version 1.0 of the executable, and were never updated to account for engine changes. Therefore, two of them go out of sync in version 1.2 as well as Shadow of the Serpent Riders. The first demo makes it to the [[crossbow]] and begins shooting at a torch before being slashed to death by Sabreclaws. The third demo goes out of sync almost immediately, the player starts running into walls, shooting at the ceiling and never leaves the starting room.
+
* Heretic, like Doom, has a demo rotation; however, the demos were recorded with version 1.0 of the executable, and were never updated to account for engine changes. Therefore, two of them go out of sync in version 1.2 as well as Shadow of the Serpent Riders. The first demo makes it to the [[ethereal crossbow]] and begins shooting at a torch before being slashed to death by sabreclaws. The third demo goes out of sync almost immediately, the player starts running into walls, shooting at the ceiling and never leaves the starting room.
*A port of Heretic to the [[Sega Saturn (console)|Sega Saturn]] was slated to be released by GT Interactive, but was canceled before release.{{cite web|title=Sega Saturn Magazine Issue 35|url=https://archive.org/details/mean-machines-sega-magazine-35/page/n11/mode/2up|publication=Sega Saturn Magazine|publishdate=September 1995|accessdate=10 May 2021}} [[Hexen (Sega Saturn)|Hexen]] did end up being released for that console, however.
+
* A port of Heretic to the [[Sega Saturn (console)|Sega Saturn]] was slated to be released by GT Interactive, but was canceled before release.{{cite web|title=Sega Saturn Magazine Issue 35|url=https://archive.org/details/mean-machines-sega-magazine-35/page/n11/mode/2up|publication=Sega Saturn Magazine|publishdate=September 1995|accessdate=10 May 2021}} [[Hexen (Sega Saturn)|Hexen]] did end up being released for that console, however.
*[[John Romero]] joked in a tweet that [[Rise of the Triad]] was in the same canon as Heretic and its sequels.{{cite web|author=[[John Romero|Romero, John]]|title=Heretic and Hexen DID take place centuries before ROTT...when the Order of the Triad began... |url=https://twitter.com/romero/status/1087141337177223168?s=20|publication=Twitter|publishdate=21 January 2019|accessdate=9 July 2021}}
+
* [[John Romero]] joked in a tweet that ''[[Rise of the Triad]]'' was in the same canon as Heretic and its sequels, comparing the Triad cult to [[D'Sparil]]'s trident symbolism.{{cite web|author=[[John Romero|Romero, John]]|title=Heretic and Hexen DID take place centuries before ROTT...when the Order of the Triad began... |url=https://twitter.com/romero/status/1087141337177223168?s=20|publication=Twitter|publishdate=21 January 2019|accessdate=9 July 2021}} This would seemingly imply that [[Parthoris]] is in fact our world in the distant past, similar to {{wp|J.R.R. Tolkien|Tolkien}}'s {{wp|Arda (Middle-earth)|Arda}}. ROTT was designed by [[id Software]] co-founder [[Tom Hall]].
 +
* A reference to a Tomb of Desparil can be also found in the title of the [[catacomb3d:Level 12 (Catacomb II)|twelfth level]] of ''{{wp|Catacomb (video game)|Catacomb II}}'', a game [[John Carmack]] wrote for {{wp|Softdisk}} in 1991.
  
 
== Physical media ==
 
== Physical media ==
Line 177: Line 162:
 
HereticSharewareFront.jpg|Shareware cover front
 
HereticSharewareFront.jpg|Shareware cover front
 
Hereticcd3.jpg|Registered v1.2 disc
 
Hereticcd3.jpg|Registered v1.2 disc
Heretic.png|Shadow of the Serpent Riders disc
 
HereticSOTRManual.png|Manual
 
 
</gallery>
 
</gallery>
  
==See also==
+
== See also ==
*[[Demo#Heretic|Built-in demos]]
+
* [[Heretic: Shadow of the Serpent Riders]]
*[[Monster#Heretic|Heretic monsters]]
+
* [[Heretic manual]]
*[[Item#Heretic|Heretic items]]
+
* [[Demo#Heretic|Built-in demos]]
*[[Heretic keys]]
+
* [[Monster#Heretic|Heretic monsters]]
*[[Weapon#Heretic|Heretic weapons]]
+
* [[Item#Heretic|Heretic items]]
*[[Heretic cheat codes]]
+
* [[Heretic keys]]
*[[Heretic music]]
+
* [[Weapon#Heretic|Heretic weapons]]
*[[HERETIC.EXE]], [[HERETIC.WAD]], [[HERETIC1.WAD]]
+
* [[Heretic cheat codes]]
 +
* [[Heretic music]]
 +
* [[HERETIC.EXE]], [[HERETIC.WAD]], [[HERETIC1.WAD]]
  
==External links==
+
== External links ==
 
* {{archived link|http://www.ravensoft.com/games/heretic/view-game/|Raven Software's ''Heretic'' page, last known edition|https://web.archive.org/web/20160403011726/http://www.ravensoft.com/games/heretic/view-game/|archive.org}}
 
* {{archived link|http://www.ravensoft.com/games/heretic/view-game/|Raven Software's ''Heretic'' page, last known edition|https://web.archive.org/web/20160403011726/http://www.ravensoft.com/games/heretic/view-game/|archive.org}}
 
* {{archived link|http://ravensoft.com/gamesdetail.aspx?xmmid{{=}}624&xmid{{=}}7&xmview{{=}}2|Raven Software's ''Heretic'' page, older version|https://web.archive.org/web/20111020125116/http://ravensoft.com/gamesdetail.aspx?xmmid{{=}}624&xmid{{=}}7&xmview{{=}}2|archive.org}}
 
* {{archived link|http://ravensoft.com/gamesdetail.aspx?xmmid{{=}}624&xmid{{=}}7&xmview{{=}}2|Raven Software's ''Heretic'' page, older version|https://web.archive.org/web/20111020125116/http://ravensoft.com/gamesdetail.aspx?xmmid{{=}}624&xmid{{=}}7&xmview{{=}}2|archive.org}}
Line 197: Line 182:
 
* {{dsda2|wad=heretic|title=Heretic demos}}
 
* {{dsda2|wad=heretic|title=Heretic demos}}
 
* [http://www.gamers.org/dhs/helpdocs/hticfaq.html The Heretic FAQ]
 
* [http://www.gamers.org/dhs/helpdocs/hticfaq.html The Heretic FAQ]
* [http://www.mobygames.com/game/heretic-shadow-of-the-serpent-riders Heretic at MobyGames]
+
* [https://www.mobygames.com/game/1929/heretic-shadow-of-the-serpent-riders/ Heretic] at {{wp|MobyGames}}
 
* {{idgames|file=idstuff/heretic/htic_v12|title=Heretic shareware download}}
 
* {{idgames|file=idstuff/heretic/htic_v12|title=Heretic shareware download}}
* {{dw3dd|file=patches/htic13rp.exe|title=Shadow of the Serpent Riders upgrade patch}}
+
* [https://archive.org/details/msdos_heretic_1994_202003 Heretic: Shadow of the Serpent Riders manual] (US version) on the Internet Archive
  
==References==
+
== References ==
 
<references />
 
<references />
  
Line 220: Line 205:
 
{{s-aft-cond|after=[[Doom Legacy]]}}
 
{{s-aft-cond|after=[[Doom Legacy]]}}
 
{{s-aft-cond|after=[[Doomsday]]}}
 
{{s-aft-cond|after=[[Doomsday]]}}
{{s-aft-cond|after=[[glHeretic]]}}
+
{{s-aft-cond|after=[[GLHeretic]]}}
{{s-aft-cond|after=[[Hexetic]]}}
+
{{s-aft-cond|after=[[HeXetic]]}}
 
{{s-aft-cond|after=[[HHeretic]]}}
 
{{s-aft-cond|after=[[HHeretic]]}}
 
{{s-aft-cond|after=[[Linux Heretic]]}}
 
{{s-aft-cond|after=[[Linux Heretic]]}}

Latest revision as of 03:59, 9 February 2024

Heretic title screen

Heretic, released on December 23, 1994, is a hit fantasy/action game by Raven Software, the result of their second team-up with id Software after Shadowcaster. Based on a modified Doom engine, Heretic pioneered an inventory system for real-time item use that has become commonplace in the FPS genre. id Software published the game under its brand. Like Doom before it, the game was initially released as shareware with the ability to call or mail in to receive the registered version. A later, expanded commercial release as Heretic: Shadow of the Serpent Riders was distributed to retail stores by GT Interactive.

Players took the role of a nameless Elven hero (given the name Corvus in Heretic II) whose race, the Sidhe, was nearly annihilated by a horde of evil monsters from another dimension. The first episode of Heretic was released as shareware as a precursor to the full version of the game.

Heretic won several awards for excellence, appeared in such notable publications as USA Today and Playboy, and opened many new doors in the computer gaming software industry for Raven Software and its team of developers. Heretic was Raven Software's most popular, highest acclaimed, biggest selling game to that point.

After its big success, two additional episodes were released for free, upgrading the normal Heretic to Heretic: Shadow of the Serpent Riders (v1.3). The original version of Heretic with three episodes was subsequently discontinued. The expansion was released on March 22, 1996.

Some of the modifications Raven made to the Doom engine for Heretic were flight, sectors that can push the player, an inventory system, ambient sounds, translucency, looking up and down and pushable objects.

Story[edit]

The world of Parthoris was populated by many people who divided themselves into seven great nations, as well as the mystic Sidhe elves. It was these elves who kept the Tomes of Power and the sacred candle flames which eternally burned to represent the armies of the world.

The Sidhe believed in a prophecy of Armageddon, and their prophecy ultimately proved itself true when from the east came the three terrible Serpent Riders cloaked in black. They were great sorcerers, and they demonstrated their power by quelling the wars of the eastern provinces. Soon the men of the seven nations turned to their worship and built a great temple in their honor. Upon the temple was the Sign, a crossed trident, and the worshippers came to call themselves the Order of the Sign. The deeper into reverence of the Riders' dark ways they fell, the more they were sapped of their free will and spirit. Once all of the seven realms were theirs, the two eldest Riders departed, leaving D'Sparil alone to prepare the world for destruction.

Recognizing the fulfillment of prophecy, the Sidhe refused to follow in the worship of D'Sparil and thus they were set apart from the other people of the world. Once sacred guardians, they were now heretics, hunted and hated everywhere they went. D'Sparil's disciples turned the minds of the seven kings toward conquest of the Sidhe realm, and when the Seven Armies marched upon them, the Sidhe Elders extinguished the sacred flames, destroying them all.

D'Sparil was enraged and in the chamber of the Elders he stirred up a storm of white-hot flame, killing them all. The earth burst open beneath their charred bodies and from within poured legions of the undead as well as murderous beasts from worlds beyond. This new army overwhelmed the Sidhe and slaughtered them in untold numbers. In only one day, their civilization was destroyed and their survivors were scattered far and wide. The darkling creatures had carried off the Tomes of Power and the other artifacts of the Sidhe as spoils of war. Left defenseless, it was surely only a matter of time before all Sidhe perished under the Order of the Triad's unyielding fury.

Most of the few remaining Sidhe hid themselves away, but Corvus was determined to have revenge. Heading east into the wilderness he came upon the City of the Damned, where the very air reeked with rot and decay and the only sounds were the screams of foul creatures seeking his blood. Armed only with his staff and Elven wand, he had little hope to survive. So began the downfall of D'Sparil and the salvation of Parthoris.

Heretic skill levels[edit]

Attack of gargoyles in Heretic

1. Thou needeth a wet-nurse: Damage taken is halved; number of monsters is decreased; number of powerups and items is increased; ammo powerups give 50% more than normal. The game automatically uses quartz flasks and mystic urns to prevent the player from dying.

2. Yellowbellies-r-us: Number of monsters is decreased; number of powerups and items is increased. Otherwise similar to skill 3.

3. Bringest them oneth: This is the normal skill level.

4. Thou art a smite-meister: Similar to skill 3, but the number of monsters is greater; the number of items and powerups is decreased.

5. Black plague possesses thee: Similar to skill 4, but ammo powerups give 50% more than normal; monsters attack and move faster (up to two times faster, depending on the monster); enemy missiles fly faster (up to two times faster, depending on type of the missile); cheating is disabled.

The skill names parody the often badly understood Early Modern English common throughout the fantasy genre. 1, 3 and 5 are grammatically non-standard; they should be Thou needest a wet-nurse, Bring them on, and Black plague possesseth thee; the mix of English and German in 4's smite-meister is unusual, and 2 makes an out-of-place reference to Toys-R-Us.

Enemies, weapons, items[edit]

Enemies

Weapons

Items

Notes[edit]

  • 1 Can only be found in the full version of the game.
  • 2 These items make a reappearance in Hexen.

Heretic levels[edit]

City of the Damned (Episode 1, the only one in shareware, sky color: grey)


Hell's Maw (Episode 2, sky color: red)


The Dome of D'Sparil (Episode 3, sky color: blue)


Fate's Path (Episode 4, sky color: grey)

Note: This level, built for deathmatch, is untitled in the game itself and can only be accessed via the engage## cheat or the -warp command line parameter (it does not appear on the episode select screen). Its name and the "episode name" were unofficially made up by fans and are widely accepted among the community.

Technical details[edit]

Raven Software has made several changes to the Doom engine, which allow the following new features to be implemented:

  • ability of the player to fly and look up and down;
  • inventory system;
  • carrying sectors in the form of wind or water currents;
  • ambient sounds;
  • translucent and pushable objects;
  • fullscreen version of the status bar;
  • several types of ranged attacks for some monsters;
  • changes to items that monsters drop after they die:
    • some monsters have multiple variants of these items;
    • each such item has a programmed drop chance;
    • due to coincidence of chances, some monsters may drop several items of different types.

Compared to Doom v1.2, Heretic introduced the following new lumps:

  • LOADING - text screen displayed when loading the game;
  • SNDCURVE - byte array used to set how sounds fade with distance;
  • TINTTAB - to support translucency.

Source code release[edit]

On January 11, 1999, the source code for both Heretic and Hexen was released by Raven Software under a restrictive EULA [1] which prohibited many uses of the code, and was incompatible with the GNU GPL. This rendered it impossible to create a properly open source source port (under The Open Source Definition) for either game. On September 4, 2008, the source code for both games was rereleased under the GPL [2].

Trivia[edit]

  • Heretic's E4M1 is based directly on American McGee's Doom II deathmatch level IDMAP01.
  • Heretic, like Doom, has a demo rotation; however, the demos were recorded with version 1.0 of the executable, and were never updated to account for engine changes. Therefore, two of them go out of sync in version 1.2 as well as Shadow of the Serpent Riders. The first demo makes it to the ethereal crossbow and begins shooting at a torch before being slashed to death by sabreclaws. The third demo goes out of sync almost immediately, the player starts running into walls, shooting at the ceiling and never leaves the starting room.
  • A port of Heretic to the Sega Saturn was slated to be released by GT Interactive, but was canceled before release.[1] Hexen did end up being released for that console, however.
  • John Romero joked in a tweet that Rise of the Triad was in the same canon as Heretic and its sequels, comparing the Triad cult to D'Sparil's trident symbolism.[2] This would seemingly imply that Parthoris is in fact our world in the distant past, similar to Tolkien's Arda. ROTT was designed by id Software co-founder Tom Hall.
  • A reference to a Tomb of Desparil can be also found in the title of the twelfth level of Catacomb II, a game John Carmack wrote for Softdisk in 1991.

Physical media[edit]

See also[edit]

External links[edit]

References[edit]

  1.  (1 September 1995). "Sega Saturn Magazine Issue 35." Sega Saturn Magazine. Retrieved 10 May 2021.
  2. Romero, John (21 January 2019). "Heretic and Hexen DID take place centuries before ROTT...when the Order of the Triad began..." Twitter. Retrieved 9 July 2021.


Official source ports
Based on Name Base for
Doom v1.2 Heretic Hexen
Source code genealogy
Based on Name Base for
Doom v1.2 Heretic BeOS Heretic
Chocolate Heretic
DelphiDoom
Doom Legacy
Doomsday
GLHeretic
HeXetic
HHeretic
Linux Heretic
PmHeretic
Vavoom
wHeretic
WinHeretic
ZDoom