A Forgotten PC Classic Gets A Modern Makeover
Before first person shooters took over PC gaming, side scrolling platformers were the big goal. Developers were trying to recreate the smooth scrolling magic of console hits like Super Mario Bros 3 on home computers. That technical challenge eventually led to legendary studios, genre defining shooters, and some underrated platformers along the way.
One of those underappreciated games was Bio Menace, a 2D platform shooter published by Apogee and built on technology closely related to id Software’s early work. While its more famous cousins like Wolfenstein 3D and Doom went on to reshape PC gaming, Bio Menace became more of a cult classic. Now it is getting a second chance with BioMenace Remastered on Steam.
Developed by Rigel Gameworks, this new version aims to keep the original game’s old school charm while making it playable and enjoyable on modern PCs and handhelds.
What Is Bio Menace And Why Does It Matter?
Bio Menace originally launched in the early nineties as a PC platform shooter. You play as Snake Logan, a very nineties style all American action hero battling mutants in a city overrun by bizarre creatures and monsters. It was developed almost entirely by programmer Jim Norwood, who later worked on the Duke Nukem Trilogy and Shadow Warrior.
The game used technology spun out of the same work that helped make Commander Keen possible. That shared technical DNA makes Bio Menace part of a key moment in PC history, where developers were figuring out how to make fast, smooth side scrolling games work on hardware that was never really designed for it.
Apogee eventually released the original Bio Menace as freeware in 2005, and it has been playable through various browser and emulation setups ever since. But like most early nineties PC games, it has aged noticeably in terms of visuals, usability, and quality of life. That is exactly what BioMenace Remastered is trying to fix.
What The Remaster Actually Improves
BioMenace Remastered is more than a simple resolution bump. The developers have gone back through the game and refreshed many core elements so it feels better to play on modern systems while still looking and behaving like a classic DOS era platformer.
Here are the main upgrades:
- Complete visual overhaul The game now features sharper, more detailed pixel art that stays true to the original style but looks much cleaner on today’s displays.
- Modernised HUD and UI The interface has been updated so it is easier to read and navigate, especially at higher resolutions.
- Parallax backgrounds Layered backgrounds add depth to the levels, giving the game a more dynamic and visually interesting look compared to the flat original.
- Controller support Full controller support is built in, so you can play it like a classic platformer on a gamepad rather than wrestling with old style keyboard only controls.
- Steam Deck support The game fully supports Steam Deck, which is a great fit for retro platformers and shorter pick up and play sessions.
On the gameplay side, the remaster adds several features designed to make an old school game much more approachable for modern players.
- Rebalanced difficulty The developers have tuned the challenge curve so it is less punishing while still feeling like a nineties action platformer.
- Infinite lives option If you want to experience the full game without worrying about game over screens, you can use infinite lives and focus on exploring and learning levels.
- Killstreak system A new mechanic rewards continuous enemy takedowns, adding an arcade like layer on top of the core platforming.
- Mid level saves and quicksaving This is a huge quality of life upgrade. You no longer need long uninterrupted sessions to make progress, which makes Bio Menace much easier to fit into a modern gaming schedule.
New Content For Old School Fans
The remaster is not just about cleaning up the original. It also expands the game with brand new content. In addition to the original three episodes, BioMenace Remastered includes a completely new fourth episode.
That new episode features:
- 15 new levels to play through
- New artwork and visual assets
- Additional boss fights to tackle
- Several added mechanics, including two that were originally cut from the 1993 release
For fans of the original Bio Menace, this means there is finally something new to discover after all these years. For new players, it makes the remaster feel more like a complete package rather than just a preservation project.
There is also a free demo available on the game’s Steam page, which lets you test performance and see if the gameplay style clicks with you before committing. Early impressions from hands on time suggest that the remaster runs smoothly and preserves the goofy retro charm of blasting cartoon mutants, even if the soundtrack is not considered the composer’s best work.
At launch, the full version is discounted by 20 percent, bringing the price down to around twelve dollars or just over ten pounds, with the discount running until Christmas Day. For players interested in retro PC history, classic platform shooters, or filling out a Steam Deck library with lightweight games, BioMenace Remastered looks like a thoughtful way to revisit one of Apogee’s lesser known titles without dealing with DOSBox tinkering or ancient difficulty spikes.
If you enjoy exploring the roots of PC action games and want something that sits between pure nostalgia and a modern indie platformer, this remaster is worth keeping on your radar.
Original article and image: https://www.pcgamer.com/games/action/over-30-years-since-release-this-classic-pc-platformer-built-with-the-tech-that-led-to-doom-just-got-a-remaster/
