Commander Keen 2: The Earth Explodes

Commander Keen 2: The Earth Explodes is a platform game where the player controls Commander Keen to prevent Earth's destruction. A Vorticon Mothership threatens the planet with Tantalus Rays, which must be located and destroyed within specific levels.

Progress is managed from a top-down map of the mothership, which acts as a hub for selecting individual stages. The primary objective in each stage is to locate the exit, with the added task of destroying a Tantalus Ray where one is present. Failure, such as from enemy contact or environmental hazards, results in losing a life and returning to the map screen.

Keen is equipped with a raygun for defense and a pogo stick that enables high jumps. Collectible items include keycards to access locked areas and bonus point pickups; accumulating enough points grants an extra life. The gameplay presents a challenging mix of combat, exploration, and precise platforming.