Play Hexen: Beyond Heretic Online

Summary

Hexen: Beyond Heretic on the original PlayStation feels like a trimmed‑down echo of its PC sibling. The disc still carries the full FMV cutscenes and the Red Book audio tracks, so the atmosphere is intact, but the game drops the multiplayer mode entirely. I quickly notice the slower scripting and animation; enemies are rendered only with their front sprites and the brutal gore of strong hits disappears, which, combined with a reduced frame rate, makes combat feel a bit sluggish.

All the classic levels are there and their layouts match the PC version, yet the architecture is simplified and the lighting loses some of its depth. This port was built from a beta of the PC build, inheriting tweaks like a more straightforward level design and noticeably weaker fists for the Fighter class. Those compromises explain why the console version earned a harsher reception despite preserving the core hub‑based, three‑class experience.

Storyline

Hexen: Beyond Heretic continues the story after D'Sparil’s defeat in Heretic. The game shifts to the realm of Cronos, which is under siege by Korax, the second of the three Serpent Riders. Three heroes are summoned to end Korax’s threat, and the player controls one of them. The journey leads through elemental dungeons, a wild wilderness, a mountainside seminary, a sprawling castle, and finally a necropolis before the ultimate confrontation with the Serpent Rider.