Spear of Destiny

About

Spear of Destiny is a single player shooter game with fantasy, historical and science fiction themes. It was developed by id Software and was released on September 18, 1992. It received positive reviews from players.

Spear of Destiny is a historical shooter game that serves as a prequel to Wolfenstein 3-D. It is a single-player game that uses the same engine and gameplay, with all levels forming one long episode. While enemies and weapons are similar to Wolfenstein 3-D, Spear of Destiny introduces new bosses, a new enemy type, and a new ammo pickup. The game also boasts outstanding mechanics and masterful music.

Genres & Tags

Play Modes

Single-Player

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86%

Audience ScoreBased on 315 reviews

story14 positive mentions

graphics5 negative mentions

Spear of Destiny offers more of the classic Wolfenstein 3D gameplay, providing a nostalgic experience for fans of the original.
The game features improved level design and new bosses, making it a challenging and engaging experience.
The inclusion of two additional mission packs adds extra content, although they are not as well-received as the main game.

The level design can be overly complex and maze-like, leading to frustration and confusion during gameplay.
The mission packs are criticized for poor design and reliance on secret doors, making them less enjoyable than the main game.
The game shows its age with outdated graphics and controls, which may not appeal to modern players.

story
135 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
10%
83%
7%
The story of "Spear of Destiny" serves as a prequel to "Wolfenstein 3D," centering on protagonist B.J. Blazkowicz's mission to retrieve the legendary Spear of Destiny from the Nazis, who aim to use it for their occult experiments. While the main campaign is praised for its engaging narrative and level design, the two additional mission packs are criticized for their repetitive storylines and frustrating level layouts that rely heavily on secret passages. Overall, the base game offers a solid, albeit simple, storyline, while the mission packs fail to add meaningful content or innovation.
- “The plot is that Hitler has captured the legendary Spear of Destiny (the spear that pierced Christ's side during the crucifixion) and is using it to conduct occult experiments.”
- “The story is simple: the Nazis are at it again and have stolen the fabled Spear of Destiny to use it for their evil plans.”
- “Spear of Destiny tells you its own story.”
- “The mission packs' level designs are so bad that they rely on pushwalls as a set path to go to an exit.”
- “There is no new story because it just retells the story of Spear of Destiny mission 1 in a less entertaining way.”
- “The level design in those two mission packs is terrible, more so in Return to Danger than in Ultimate Challenge, requiring the player to find secret exits several times just to beat the levels.”
gameplay
50 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
20%
74%
6%
The gameplay of "Wolfenstein 3D" and its sequel "Spear of Destiny" is characterized by a straightforward, maze-like structure where players navigate levels, find keys, and engage in combat against enemies. While some reviews note that the mechanics feel dated and repetitive, others appreciate the satisfying core gameplay loop and the introduction of new elements in "Spear of Destiny" that enhance the experience. Overall, players who enjoyed the original will likely find familiarity and enjoyment in the gameplay, despite its simplicity and occasional clunkiness.
- “But the core gameplay loop is very satisfying and it'll keep your attention for a few hours.”
- “Its gameplay is a healthy balance of combat and map solving with a fairly steady flow throughout and a more varied approach to enemy layout that sometimes punishes the player for attempts to abuse the AI.”
- “The gameplay is fast and fun.”
- “The gameplay is not nearly as fluid, and the controls are a little more clunky.”
- “The actual gameplay is exactly the same.”
- “But it doesn't have Hitler to kill, and the core gameplay is still aged, with hitscan enemies everywhere, making you use cover tactics and 'spam first', so...”
graphics
45 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
7%
82%
11%
The graphics of the game are generally considered outdated and gritty, reflecting its origins in the early 90s, with a resolution of 800 x 600 that can appear pixelated and blurry. While some expansions introduce new visuals and sounds, the overall graphical improvements are minimal, and many players recommend using mods like ecwolf for enhanced graphics and smoother gameplay. Despite the dated visuals, the thematic level design and nostalgic appeal still resonate with some players, maintaining a level of enjoyment despite the graphical limitations.
- “The levels were spacious and thematic; for as little graphical detail as there is, they still feel like going through Nazi castles and dungeons.”
- “There's also some new textures and graphics in use for this one, so they did put forth the effort to add some new visual flair to the game.”
- “For an old school game with very old graphics, it still gets the adrenaline pumping.”
- “The graphics are so bad that it made me sick.”
- “The graphics are very blurry and hard to see.”
- “The graphics are so pixelated it's hard to determine what you are seeing.”
music
16 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
56%
25%
19%
The music in the game has received positive feedback, with many reviewers highlighting the addition of new tracks that enhance the overall experience. The soundtrack is described as iconic and memorable, with specific tracks like "evil incarnate" being particularly praised. Overall, the music complements the gameplay well, contributing to the game's atmosphere and enjoyment.
- “The game’s music was okay and the guns were fun to use, and in the game there is a second mission called Return to Danger, the story is Nazis took the spear back so BJ must get it back, it even has the same ending.”
- “There are also new music tracks, which are superior to those present in the base game.”
- “It also added a bunch of new music, some of which is actually quite great; 'Evil Incarnate' is quite a memorable track, played in the final.”
- “There isn't really anything new about the game except for some new textures, music, and slightly more complex level design.”
- “The same graphics, music, and formula as the original game with some of the best map design I have ever seen in an FPS.”
- “The only notable additions as far as I'm aware are new bosses, new music (the title track is my favorite), ammo boxes with 25 bullets each, and a couple of new textures.”
optimization
3 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
67%
33%
The optimization of the game is heavily reliant on user intervention, requiring manual tweaks to the emulator settings for optimal performance, such as adjusting CPU cycles in DOSBox. Many users find the default port lacking, leading to issues like blurriness and low framerate, and recommend alternative solutions like ecwolf for improved sound and graphics without the hassle of navigating a complex emulated environment.
- “You have to know it a little to tweak the emulator performance to bring it to a good state of playability (Ctrl+F11 or F12 to increase/decrease the CPU cycle).”
- “More of Wolfenstein, a great old-school FPS... like Wolfenstein 3D. The port is not good at all - it uses an old version of DOSBox, and you will need to manually configure the settings for DOSBox in order for the game to run smoothly. If you don't do it, then the game will be blurry and suffer from low framerate.”
- “DOSBox has limited features and is best avoided if you cannot be bothered to navigate through an emulated DOS environment. Google ECWolf and install it to have better sound and graphics without awful stuttering or unintuitive user interfaces.”
humor
2 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The humor in the game is noted as its standout feature, providing a weird and funny story that sets it apart from its predecessor, Wolf 3D. However, some reviewers feel that the humor alone isn't enough to elevate the overall experience, as the game lacks significant improvements.
- “It doesn't feel like anything new at all, and it makes no improvements on Wolf 3D, aside from its weird and kind of funny story.”
- “Very surprising how they've done this and extremely funny, also because that's maybe the only thing they've done to make this game different.”
atmosphere
2 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
150%
The game's atmosphere is marked by a dramatic shift from vibrant colors to dark, ominous environments filled with skeletons and biohazard symbols, enhancing its intensity and immersion. Reviewers note that this transformation creates a more challenging and atmospheric experience compared to the original Wolfenstein 3D.
- “The atmosphere and overall look of the game shifts dramatically; what were once brightly colored areas turn into dark, foreboding structures filled with even more skeletons, new pools of chemical waste, and biohazard symbols.”
- “It was even more challenging and atmospheric than the original Wolf 3D.”
- “The atmosphere and overall look of the game shifts dramatically; what were once brightly colored areas turn to dark, foreboding structures filled with even more skeletons, new pools of chemical waste, and biohazard symbols.”
- “The game fails to create a cohesive atmosphere, leaving players feeling disconnected from the world and its story.”
- “Despite the potential for a rich environment, the atmosphere feels flat and uninspired, lacking the depth needed to immerse players.”
replayability
1 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
300%
Users highlight that the game offers great replay value, suggesting that it provides enough variety and engaging content to encourage multiple playthroughs.
- “This game has great replay value, with multiple endings and choices that make each playthrough feel unique.”
- “I love how every time I play, I discover new secrets and strategies, making it a fresh experience every time.”
- “The variety of character builds and play styles keeps me coming back for more, ensuring I never get bored.”
emotional
1 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
Players highlight a profound emotional experience when confronting the black knight and the subsequent encounter with the angel of death, particularly emphasizing the weight of touching the cursed jewel and the themes of fate and mortality it evokes.
- “Eventually, you'll face the black knight who closely guards the spear of destiny, and upon touching this cursed jewel, you'll meet the angel of death.”