Episode Null

Modded episode	Keen 2
Protagonist	Commander Keen
Author(s)	Xky Rauh
Status	Complete
Release date	2004-03-11
Discussion(s)	Keen: Modding
Number of levels	16
Secret levels	0
New gameplay?	No
New graphics?	Yes
New levels?	Yes
New sounds?	No
New music?	No
Download	newest ;
Vote	5.00 (4 votes)
Other mods in this series	Episode X, ; Episode Y, ; Episode Z, ; Episode Dash

Overview map of the Narln Ship

Commander Keen Episode Null, aka. XkyKeen 2 is a Keen 2 mod by Xkylyr Rauh. Its events occur immediately after Episode X and Episode Y. This mod was a long-term project started March 18th, 2003, and completed March 11th, 2004.

Technical Information

Graphics: custom graphics by Xkylyr Rauh
Levels: 16 levels
Tools used (incomplete list): ModKeen, CKPatch

Story

Keen parked the Bean-with-Bacon Megarocket on a small but scenic planet and sat down on the shore, soaking in the peaceful sight. Before long, an oddly-shaped craft hummed into view over the horizon. It halted just off-shore from Keen, and a small pod deployed, silently hovering toward him. A creature resembling a humanoid seal with overalls and an enlongated snout approached him with a friendly gesture.

The creature identified itself as a Narln, and explained that the Narln had been allies with the Vorticons before the Grand Intellect took control of them. The Grand Intellect's control over the Vorticons had decimated the Narln home-world. The Vorticons, thoughts clouded by the mind control belts, had been merciless in their methods, enslaving the peaceful Narln and forcing them to build the Grand Intellect's ships and robots. Keen had stopped the Mangling Machine just moments after completion of the Grand Intellect's greatest device yet--a deadly ship that would be difficult to board without help. Fortunately, the Narln kept the plans.

After repairing their cities and rebuilding their lives, the Narln knew that the Grand Intellect had to be stopped at all costs--they designed a ship to prepare Keen for the dangers ahead! The Narln before Keen extended his flipper and formally invited Keen aboard the ship. Keen knew that the hopes and dreams of the Narln were laid on his shoulders, so he accepted their challenge and stepped into the pod...

Information on the Narlns Ship

Although the Narln are friendly, they didn't invite Keen on their ship just to chat--they are training him to deal with the threat of McMire's ship. They can be easily stunned with a single Neural Stunner shot. However, there are some Narlns in Stealth Gear, who shoot back and are more resilient.

Keen has to shoot the Targets to open the path to each level's exit. Some parts of levels are not necessary to complete them; these areas are marked with a helmet symbol.

The wall-crawling tubs of Narln-feed can be stood upon. If a tub of Narln-feed is crawling DOWN a wall, Keen will not be able to jump very high off it.
Like Vorticons, Narlns will not jump in the dark; but Keen will never need the lights off to complete a level.
The translucent Kazzyts are fast, but will only stun Keen, not kill him.
All signs next to switches indicate what position they should be in when the level is completed. Keen may have to flip them once or twice in the process.