Bio Menace

Bio Menace is a 1993 run-and-gun platformer from Apogee for DOS, designed by Jim Norwood. It’s built on a licensed version of the Commander Keen engine, but has a much more violent, B-movie style.

Gameplay

CIA agent Snake Logan crash-lands in Metro City during an invasion of mutants. Behind it is Dr. Mangle, and Snake has to fight his way through the city to the doctor’s fortress.

The game is split into three episodes, each with several levels.

• Weapons: Machine guns, plasma guns, super guns, grenades and land mines.
• Hostages: Rescue hostages to get keycards.
• Bosses: Kill bosses for crystal shards needed to exit some levels.
• Difficulty: Two, four or eight health bars depending on difficulty.
• Secrets: Hidden gems lead to secret levels.

The graphics are detailed and colourful, and the controls are smooth, as you’d expect from the Keen engine. The music is weaker. Levels can be long and mazy.

Apogee released it as freeware in 2005, and a remaster came out in 2025.

Verdict

Bio Menace is a fun, solid action platformer with lots of secrets and a cheesy B-movie charm. It’s one of Apogee’s better games of the era.