| Publisher | Apogee Software |
| Developer | Apogee Software |
| Release date | 1993 |
| Genre | Platform |
Bio Menace is a 2D multidirectional side-scrolling platform game with smooth gameplay which led to the game being praised by reviewers & gamers. The game was created in three parts, the first of which (Dr. Mangle’s Lab) was released as shareware. The other two were released commercially.
The player controls Snake Logan, a top CIA operative, who is sent to Metro City after reports of an invasion by mutants. He crash lands in the city and is forced to complete his mission on foot. In each level the player must find a shard or a keycard. The objective is to leave the level via a gate, but Snake must first either kill the boss (to get the shard) or rescue a hostage (to get the keycard).
Weapons comprise various types of guns, grenades, and land mines. As the player advances it is possible to pick up power ups and ammunition, as well as gems to replenish lives and first aid kits to buff health. Sometimes the level generates an invisible gem that opens an intermediate bonus level on completion of the current one. This can be full of pick-ups but also feature a slew of obstacles and monsters.
Apogee released the game as freeware on December 23, 2005 as a “Christmas present,” and the full game can be downloaded for free on many websites such as GOG, Steam and 3D Realm’s own website.
- Bio Menace was originally named Bio Hazard
- The game uses a licensed Commander Keen engine
- Apart from the engine and music, all game content was created by the game’s designer, Jim Norwood.
- There’s a Commander Keen Easter egg where you can rescue Keen as one of the hostages
Apogee was the king of platform games at the time and this game is more proof of this. AFAIK it’s a rare platform game where your gun actually shoots realistic bullets and not lasers or energy balls that take time to reach the enemy. It makes you feel a great deal more powerful blasting through the monsters, lobbing grenades left and right while rescuing hostages. Because of its grittier style compared to other Apogee platform games, this is probably my favorite just after Halloween Harry
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To play the game, you need to click on the window and type BMENACE1, BMENACE2 or BMENACE3. You may need to reconfigure your controls since in some browsers the ALT key does not work and you’ll need it to shoot.
- Text & screenshots: Arete and RedAvatar
- PIB: RedAvatar
- Video: Dosgamert
- Box art: MobyGames & RedAvatar
