'BioMenace' Resurrection: Apogee Classic Coming to Steam in Fall 2025

[Nomad76]

Apogee Software, famous for making Duke Nukem and publishing early Id Software hits like Commander Keen and Wolfenstein 3D, has more games that people should know about. One good example is BioMenace, a fun and colorful side-scrolling shooter they put out in 1993. The story follows CIA agent Snake Logan as he tries to save a city and its people from the evil Dr. Mangle's plans. Surprising for some, a joy for others, Dosgamert announced on social media yesterday that Rigel Gameworks is working on a remaster set to launch in Fall 2025 on Steam.

This updated version of BioMenace will feature improved graphics and technical enhancements; however, to cater to gaming purists, it will also include an option to switch between the original and remastered visuals, keeping the authentic experience intact for those who prefer it. The original game featured the 'Keen Dreams' engine from Commander Keen, which ran on MS-DOS. James Norwood, who later designed Shadow Warrior, created this game while Bobby Prince known for his music in Wolfenstein 3D and Doom, wrote the soundtrack. The remastered BioMenace will have the original 3 episodes (36 levels in total) plus one brand-new episode, spanning a range of diverse environments including cities, underground caves, and secret high-tech labs.



Remastered features

• Enhanced graphics including widescreen support, smooth scrolling & movement (60 FPS or higher), and parallax scrolling backgrounds
• Modernized HUD & UI
• Switch between original and remastered graphics at any time
• Controller support
• Full Steam Deck support
• Rebalanced difficulty
• Gameplay tweaks and new mechanics, including weapon/grenade type switching and infinite lives
• Mid-level saves and quick saving
• Completion and stats tracking
• Steam Achievements & Leaderboards
• Includes original Bobby Prince soundtrack - plus brand new AdLib music

View at TechPowerUp Main Site | Source

 

[QuietBob]

Oh the memories! I never finished this game, but how could one forget such handome mullet and tache?
I guess the remaster will give me a reason to finally complete it.

 

[mechtech]

that pic brings back memories of simpler times

 

[[XC] Oj101]

This is amazing. It’s one of the first games I ever played, one of my top five to date, and certainly the first I finished without cheats, yet 90% of people I speak to have never heard of it.

 

[Chaitanya]

It has been available for free from Dosgames and Gog for quite sometime. Love the game only recently managed to finish all 3 parts of the games. Had only finished 1st part during Win 95 days.
Edit: Ant town level certainly was quite difficult to clear and the cheats work on remaster as without them some levels are nearly impossible to clear.
Edit 2: If anybody wants maps to all the orignal levels including locations for hidden objects there is link to 3D realms legacy site(still online).

3D Realms Site: Bio Menace Maps

 

[mikesg]

This is going to be a new record in negative reviews or positive broken smiles on steam... the more you play the more it changes, gives you less ammo, health, and everything one-shots you. Not too far from the Lion King.

 

[ZoneDymo]

I was just going to comment how much it looks like Duke Nukem 1 and 2, should be fun

 

[Prima.Vera]

To be honest, some games are just made to be played on a CRT monitor.

 

[ZoneDymo]

To be honest, some games are just made to be played on a CRT monitor.

well actually a lot of games were made to be played on a CRT monitor

 

[Prima.Vera]

well actually a lot of games were made to be played on a CRT monitor

I mean, those games just look way better on CRT than on an LCD. The CRT has no single native resolution, so those games that were made for 320x240 will look terrible washed out and smuggy on a LCD screen.

 

[ZoneDymo]

I mean, those games just look way better on CRT than on an LCD. The CRT has no single native resolution, so those games that were made for 320x240 will look terrible washed out and smuggy on a LCD screen.

yeah yeah I know, I was just being cheeky hence the winky emote.