Commander Keen 3: Keen Must Die! Overview
Commander Keen 3: Keen Must Die! is a platform game where the player navigates a series of levels from an overhead map. The protagonist, having previously thwarted an attack on Earth, now travels to the Vorticon homeworld to face their controlling Grand Intellect.
Gameplay involves entering individual stages from this map, each populated by hostile creatures and environmental dangers. The player must guide Keen to the stage exit while avoiding or defeating enemies, primarily Vorticons, with his raygun. Contact with foes or hazards results in losing a life and returning to the map screen.
Movement and exploration are aided by a pogo stick for high jumps. Collectible items include keycards for access, point bonuses that can grant extra lives, and an Ankh for temporary invulnerability. The overall structure is challenging, as the mind-controlled inhabitants of each city are under orders to eliminate the player character.