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Okay, those of you that know my review style know that I do my very best to give each game the benefit of the doubt as well as an honest opinion. This game will be no exception to that process!
Back in the day, Duke Nukem revolutionized the first-person shooter genre for its creativity, its graphics, its hardcore nature, and its overall fun-factor. Yet this game, does not revolutionize the genre in any way...in fact, it might be a small step back.
Now with that being said, it IS a good game, don't get me wrong, however after twelve or so years of build-up, delays, and anticipation, I'm simply warning everyone to not "get there hopes up too high," because the end result may end up leaving some disappointed.
I'm not going to give away any spoilers at all, I'm just going to delve into what people should already know, and that is that the very first level you start off on is, in fact, the one you play in the demo. Note: If you pre-ordered the game, you received a code to play the demo, not to mention it was available for play at various conventions. Now, some of you might be asking yourself, have the graphics improved from those that were available in the demo, and the answer is...No. To put it into comparison, the character modules of some of the monsters/characters looks similar to Fallout 3/Fallout: New Vegas. I can understand a game like that having lessened graphics because it is simply massive (for the lack of a better word). However this game, from what I can tell so far, is not nearly as massive and to be quite honest, there is no excuse for why some of the graphics even resemble Playstation 2-esque qualities. However, to be fair, when I get more playing time in with this game, I'll update my review on the length (level selection and so on) later.
Now, if there is one thing we all know, (or should know), it's that graphics don't make a game, no, what makes a game is whether or not it is FUN or not. Now, with that being said, I must say that this game does have its moments. For example, the humor is definitely there. Like I said, I'm not gonna give anything away, especially any of the jokes, but trust me, those oldschool "one-liners" are back and just as great/cheesy as they were back in the 90s. Also, remember playing the old Duke Nukem games back in the day, and being proud/rewarded when you found a secret? Well so far, those secret areas can still be found in this installment of the franchise (which is definitely a plus in my eyes). In addition, the developers also have chosen to add vehicles into the game, which has the potential to be a nice touch, however in my personal opinion, the camera-work/controls for such vehicle segments could use a bit of improvement, though aside from that, it's a great addition! Despite being (for the most part) linear, there is a surprising amount of exploration that can be had within this game, and for that, I am very happy. No, don't expect a massive world like Fallout 3 (sorry to keep namedropping that game ha-ha), or anything of that nature, but the developers did leave room for some exploring throughout the levels as I stated, which is nice, however back-tracking through levels (unless you count a chapter select) is not included in this exploration process.
Puzzles are back as well, and that feeling of "being lost" that retro-gamers once felt can now be re-experienced (which is either a good thing or bad thing, depending on your style of gameplay you prefer). As far as I'm concerned, puzzles such as these are alright, just as long as they don't become tedious and ultimately result in a thrown controller (as some gamers often resort to :P). The assortment of weapons is pretty great, however the only complaint I have in this department, is that you are only allowed to carry two weapons (unless somewhere further through the game this changes, and if so, like I said earlier, I will update this review). So you need to choose wisely as to which two weapons you wish to play through on various portions of the game before picking up/adding a new one. The lineup of enemies is pretty awesome as well, some of the classic favorites have returned, as well as various new ones.
Multiplayer? Well I'll fill this section in later once I give it a try, but for now, I just wanted to get this initial review out to you all (the public). However trust me, expect an update within the next couple of days. Be gentle though, I was trying to get this review out early so buyer's could get an honest opinion of the game.
So for now, my impressions stand as follows:
Graphics: 3/5
Sound: 4/5
Controls: 3.5/5
Multiplayer: 3.5/5
Fun: 4/5
Overall: 4/5
At the very least, a rental is in order, just to see if you like the game or not. It may not be for some, it might be for others, however at the very least, if you consider yourself a Duke fan, you owe it to the franchise (and yourself) to rent it and try it out. As for buying/purchasing it? Well...personally, I would say go ahead, however for the majority of gamer's out there, this one definitely needs to be tried out before spending your hard-earned dollars on it.
As I mentioned, I'll return shortly to update this review, but for now, be gentle! '
UPDATE 6/15: Alright, so I've had some more time with the game's single player campaign now, and I can say that my rating stays the same. Surprisingly, I still haven't beaten the game, which actually comes as a shock to me, since many reviews complain about the length of the game. So in my opinion (for what it's worth), I actually have no complaints about the length. The levels available are also quite nice so far, and I've found myself challenged with some of the puzzles that the level design has offered me. If by chance you get stuck, or don't know where to go/what to do, we are fortunate to live in an age where we have all the answers at our fingertips (the internet), so just look for a walkthrough on YouTube or whatever website that is convenient for you, though for the most part, I doubt you'll need to resort to such actions.
In all honesty though, I can still say this game offers a decent experience that may not outshine other games on the market, but it holds its ground. Obvious improvements could have been made though, and hopefully in the next one (assuming they make one), they'll be more mindful of their errors and not "rush into it;" which sounds odd being that it took twelve or so years to release this game in the state that its in now. I look forward to what the future holds for this franchise, and hopefully people will give this one a try: just don't go in with high expectations.
Update 6/16: Alright, I've spent yet even more time with the single-player campaign, and I just want to make a couple more notes. I noticed many reviews complain about the load times. Yes, they are persistent and somewhat of an annoyance. These load times not only occur between levels, but also after dying (for the most part, as certain deaths like driving a vehicle in a lake results in an instant respawn). True, this is a problem for most players, and hopefully in the next game (assuming they make one), they'll address this issue and really pull for quicker load-times. However, it is what it is, and there really isn't anything WE can do about it (aside from just choosing not to play the game at all :P).
Also, elaborating a bit on my mentioning of level exploration, I really consider it an absolute treat to walk around a level and take a gander at every single detail of the objects around an environment (I love doing that stuff). Little things that most people might overlook, like labels on foods, boxes, and other various objects throughout a level. I even noticed a fully-functional crossword puzzle on one of the objects within the (small spoiler) Duke Burger level. I'd strongly recommend taking the time to venture around and really take-in the environments that the developers have laid out for us, as you'd really be doing a disservice to yourself in not doing so. At least this proves that SOME thought went into the game. My favorite little "Easter egg" of sorts was going into one of the bathroom areas, and finding writing on the wall that said "867-5309." This is of course a song that was made in the 80s, and I couldn't help but grin when I discovered this. Anyway, I won't give away anymore, but these little secrets and things are definitely out there; ya just gotta' find them! :)
MULTIPLAYER:
Alright, as promised, here are my first impressions of the multiplayer of this game. First off, I love the selections of maps and so on that are made available, even one called "Hollywood" which is the opening level from Duke Nukem 3D (if you pay attention), except it's been turned into a slum; why they did this, I don't really know, but still, it's a fine addition. The weapon scheme is the same as in single player in that you can only carry a max of two weapons to switch off with. The weapons spawn out at various portions of the map, and it's up to you to make sure its safe and clear enough to grab one without being killed! I hosted a server for a while and played a few games, I also played on other people's servers and as far as I can tell, there has been no lag issues at all (keep in mind, this is from my own personal experience, and lag issues may vary from person-to-person). Anyway, perhaps the toughest part about the multiplayer (for me at least) is the aiming; which is also a concern in the single player as well and often feels like I'm having to "spray-and-pray." However if you're a seasoned first-person shooter player, this might not be an issue after getting use to how the game plays out/feels. Overall, the game modes are fairly enjoyable (especially a good ole round of "Capture the Babe" which is a spinoff of "Capture the Flag"), and as long as teamwork is everyone's concern, battles should make for some intense and entertaining moments! The only thing that turns me off is that there are no trophies/achievements for the multiplayer, only in-game unlockables. For some, this is perfect, but this was also the case for Uncharted 2 (well...aside from the 2 trophies it awarded you for simply trying multiplayer), and the reason why I never really got into that portion of that game; though that's another story entirely! However, if you aren't a trophy-hungry gamer like I am, and simply looking for a decent online multiplayer shooting experience, then sure, I'd recommend it. However, keep in mind, this is no CoD, Warhawk, Battlefield, MAG, or Resistance...this is Duke Nukem. Which reminds me, yes, just to clarify, the maximum player count for matches is 8 people. So if you're the type that loves to get involved in massive battles, then I suggest you give MAG a try. Though all-in-all, the multiplayer offered in this game is enjoyable, not great, not awesome, not spectacular, and not poor, not bad, and not terrible; just enjoyable.
So with all that being said, my scores remain the same (although I'll add a score for multiplayer now), and I would still strongly encourage (to anyone) at least giving this game a try at a friend's house, or a rent. Who knows, you may just find a gaming experience that you'll find quite entertaining, or you may not care for it at all, turn it in, and move on to the next game. Either way, these are all just MY opinions on the game, and whether we like it or not, Duke Nukem has returned!
I hope all of this helps. Any questions? Feel free to ask in the comments! :)
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After years of thinking this game wasn't going to come out, if finally hit. This is the real sequel to the original Duke Nukem 3D, a terrific example of how great old school shooters really were. Sure, we had several console games, such as Duke Nukem: Zero Hour and Duke Nukem: Planet of the Babes, but this is the Duke Nukem the gaming community has waited for. The question is, does it make you hail to the king, or should Gearbox blow it out their... well, you get the point.
Before we go into a lot of details, people need to realize who Duke Nukem is. I know a lot of "professional journalist" have deemed this game insanely crude and offensive. It demonstrates sexist attitudes and Middle school jokes, some of which push it too far. Let's clear this up right now. Duke Nukem is a sexist. He's has the bio genetics of several macho men from the 80s and 90s that a lot of us grew up loving. He's the one man army Rambo character, and because of this, all of the ladies love him. He's a parody of the macho men. Women are dumb in the game. They're unable to save themselves. And in the Duke Nukem universe, they're all whores. This is all in the name of offensive parody, sure. So we need to keep this in mind to review this game properly.
The graphics are outdated, using an older version of the Unreal Engine. It looks very similar to another 3D Realms title known as Prey. It almost feels like it would have been just fine in 2007 or 2008. For the most part, at least the frame rate doesn't drop and is generally pretty steady. I kept hearing reports of this occurring, but for me, that was never the case. However, this isn't the ugliest game I've ever seen and is very playable if you're not a completely graphic nut. As goes for the sounds. They're cheesy, and the voice acting is 'meh', but this didn't concern me. It was liking playing through an interactive B-film.
Loading times in the game are horribly long. I had my notebook with me during the entire game because of the extremely long wait between levels. Even after a level is loaded, when you die, you have to reload back to the checkpoint. Fans of Call of Duty know that dying should be as easy as a 3-second wait and then you're back in the action. There was one boss fight that the loading screens became so annoying, I actually had to take a break so I wouldn't want to break the disc.
The story is the real cheese, but perfect for this universe. It's another 'aliens have landed' with the Duke Nukem twist: they have stolen all the defenseless women! So the United States calls upon this one man army to help destroy the wormhole that is stealing women and summoning pig cops and other insane alien scum. You'll go through different avenues of areas throughout the game, ranging from an outrageously fun burger joint to a more dark alien hive area.
One thing that really stands out is the way you can interact with the environment. Most shooters today are strictly shooting galleries with little (if any) interaction. Duke Nukem Forever manages to add a bit of this old flare back into the shooting. However, in this same category, you'll be a little disappointed if you're looking for a complete return to how the old shooters were. Most of the interactions are mini-games and a few odds and ends that you can mess with. It doesn't feel like they evolved interactions the way they could have done. Most multiplayer interactions are missing from the game. In older PC shooters such as Redneck Rampage even, you could play a bowling mini-game during a deathmatch. Where is this type of creativity for multiplayer? Maybe next time, Duke.
This is definitely a kick back to old school shooters, but it does have some newer features that is so anti-old school, it takes the nostalgia merit away from the game. For instance, the game has a two weapon carrying limit. This is nothing like games of our past. It really limits the fun during parts of the game when you have to decide between a shrink gun or a rapid-fire rocket launcher. Another thing that ruins part of the game is regenerating health. Shooters from the 90s (since this is what the game is trying to be) would have had a health pack system, and maybe an armor system. (Also, where is the use of a jetpack?).
The biggest disappointment is from the levels themselves. They're linear, and that's just not how games were done back in the golden days. They're not so direct there there's no way to navigate differently through a level, but the giant maze fields you went through in the past are gone. I'm hoping that Gearbox actually pays attention and returns the game back to it's roots even more next time. Hopefully in a more timely manner.
Multiplayer is a blast and is arena as arena gets. There's even ranks and different costumes you unlock through ranks. However, no weapon unlocks. Every player starts with a pistol and you pick up weapons laid throughout the map. The only problem I had with this is you have to hold down a button to pick up weapons. It would have made more since if they would have addressed this by just removing the two-weapon holding cap. However, it's great fun and very action oriented. There's even a throw back level from the original Duke Nukem 3D that makes you beg for more of the same.
My final thoughts are that while the game isn't near as good as the original 3D, it's at least fun and worth a shot. Gearbox's worst hit to the series was making this title $60. It's not really worthy of that price. But it's not the completely broken and offensive mess the "journalist" are making it out to be. It's a Duke Nukem game with some changed elements. Hopefully, Gearbox listens to the complaints of the gaming community (and not these so-called critics) to fix the issues found in this title to make the game much more like the original.
Buy Duke Nukem Forever Now
In a world of "Call of Duty", "Battlefield", and "Halo", many old-school FPS franchises have been lost in the annals of time. Attempts to recapture old franchises' glory, such as "Doom 3" and "Quake 4", produce competent results that fall short of greatness, simply because they're unable to decide to appeal to modern gamers or their original fanbase. Now, after over a decade of inactivity in the genre, Duke Nukem is back in the playing field. And unlike his 90's brethren, the lovable blowhard knows exactly who he's trying to appeal to. "Duke Nukem Forever" is a throwback to a simpler time in games, and that's why I love it.
We meet Duke twelve years after annihilating an evil race of aliens from Earth, relaxing in a posh suite on the top floors of his own Vegas hotel and casino. Everybody is in a state of unease about a giant alien mothership docked above the city, but Duke is under strict orders to stand down because of the lack of actual hostile activity from the creatures. Standing down is something that he can't do, though, when the aliens break into his hotel and begin to abduct the women. "Not my babes, not in my town!", he exclaims, setting into motion his one-man assault on the hostile army. His journey will take him through fast food joints, destroyed city streets, alien hives, and Hoover Dam. In the end, he learns more about the hidden depths of who he really is.
Okay, that last part's a complete lie, which is a good thing. This game, which would be rather cliche and annoying if made with a straight face, is an over-the-top circus of cheesiness, and Duke is the ringmaster amongst all of the chaos. Instead of trying to make gamers take this game down like it's serious business, they sprinkle in a healthy amount of absurd humor, stemming mainly from Duke's inflated ego, making it less cheesy and more a genuine parody. While some may say this is sloppy design, this reviewer found it a refreshing break from the typically serious FPS games we get nowadays.
Which isn't to say Duke plays anything like those more straightfaced games. Much like the attitude prevalent throughout the whole affair, the gameplay is a strict adherence to 90's FPS conventions, almost to a fault. In between pumping enemies full of ammo from overpowered weapons, you'll solve simplistically irritating puzzles and engage in platforming sections that Duke's girth isn't exactly helpful with. Other critics think of this as some kind of downfall in the game's design, but it honestly isn't. To this critic, these supposed "downfalls" actually make the game more challenging, and more fun to play.
"Challenging" is a key word here, because it seems to pop up a lot in other reviews. Enemies being too hard to kill, or platforming sections being too frustrating. These should really be taken as invalid arguments. In today's day and age, games will handhold you through platforming and combat segments, and only make you do quick-time events to finish off massive bosses or clear huge ravines. The slaying of Chronos in "God of War III" comes to mind. But not this game. While there are a few quick-time sequences, the main brunt of the game overloads you with tough enemies and frustrating jumping segments that you alone have to conquer. It's a very 90's mentality, and one that's refreshing to see in a modern game.
Another thing that's very refreshing is the fact that the set designs are anything but typical. While the graphical "power" is admittedly rough and dated, the environments are all very interactive and inventive. Whether it's being atop Stratosphere Las Vegas while fending off aerial assaults, going through a fast food kitchen being only the size of your foot, or falling from an exploding Hoover Dam, there's a serious amount of originality present in these levels that it's forgivable if the graphics are less than stellar.
Also making up for the lack of amazing graphics is the intentionally ridiculous dialogue shared among characters. While some may have made claims of this game being "sexist", this writer begs to differ. Both men and women are made to look like complete dolts in "Forever", worshiping Duke like he's some sort of god come to Earth, and making remarks that only be described as airheaded, headstrong, and ignorant. Knowing that this is a comedy game, this is supposed to be taken much like the dialogue in an average episode of "South Park" or "Family Guy", and not like it's part of some intelligent narrative. Those expecting it to be are honestly expecting too much.
On the more human side of things, multiplayer is an absolute blast. Seemingly barebones at first, one creation of a match will open up a decent amount of options for you to experiment with. Maps are very fun and varied, with all of the personality and quirk present in the single player levels. Every weapon has a distinctive advantage and disadvantage, and as you play, you'll find what strategy works best for your style. Railguns are powerful, but fail at close range and slow to fire. Devastators fire off rockets at a machine gun pace, but are easy to misfire and kill yourself with. No one weapon is perfect, and that's what keeps matches from getting cheap or reliant on one weapon.
This game embraces what people loved about "Duke Nukem 3D" and perfects it. It never tries to compete with modern FPS juggernauts, with the exception of Duke only being able to hold two weapons, and for the most part maintains it's own identity. While that identity is the furthest thing from perfect, it certainly is different from what we've grown accustomed to today. Whether "Duke Nukem Forever" was worth the wait or not is really up to you, in the end, but coming from somebody who has anticipated this game since he was six years old, this game was worth the 100 shelled out on the Balls of Steel edition. With plenty of replay incentives that shouldn't be spoiled, and promises of plenty of DLC updates, this game isn't going anywhere for a while.
Welcome back, Duke.
Plot: B+ (Cheesy, funny, and nonsensical)
Graphics: B(What they lack in rendering power, they make up for with inventive levels)
Sound: A(Voice acting is pitch perfect, with Jon St John nailing Duke once again)
Gameplay: B+ (An excellent throwback to 90's conventions)
Overall: B+ (Not perfect, but boy, is it EVER a blast!)
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It's bad ass, cheesy, and looks like old duke 3D but with much better graphics and interface. THIS IS EXACTLY WHAT I'VE BEEN WAITING FOR. It's excellent. Don't read into all the tools who don't like the game. Not sure what they were expecting! This is just as lewd and ridiculous as the original.
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I think ALOT of the people who are bashing this game are forgetting that this is a DUKE NUKEM game! Let me explain. In order for you to like this game, first and foremost, you HAVE TO BE a DUKE NUKEM FAN!!! If anyone is expecting a serious story which follows a 2011 storytelling format than this is not a game for you. Duke is about a larger than life hero with cheesy one liners who kicks ass, bangs girls, drinks beer and gives you the middle finger even as he's falling from a collapsing building after blowing up an alien mothership. Some critics think that the game let everyone down because it took 12 or 14 years to make, so in reality no game on any shelve will ever live up to a critics expectations after a very long hiatus. If they stopped making Modern Warefare games in 2011 and then made Modern Warefare 4 in 2025, it won't live up to any expectations no matter how F'N good the game is!
GRAPHICS: First of all, the graphics are not bad. They're not the best, but they're certainly not the worst. I think they are a very solid 4 out of 5 stars. They get the job done and that's what counts. I wasn't expecting the game to look like Uncharted 3 or Infamous 2. The Call of Duty/Modern Warefare games pretty much have the same graphics year after year after year and I haven't heard many people complaining. Graphics matter but they don't determine if a game is good or not (ex. Left 4 Dead 2 for XBox 360, poor graphics but a very good zombie game).
SOUND: I love the music and I love the dialogue. Especially, those shots at Halo and World of Warcraft. PRICELESS!!! 5 out 5 stars. Duke looks like Brock Lesnar except with a manly voice...St. Jon is PERFECT as DUKE!!!
CONTROLLER: Like any other game, you have to play it for a while to get the hang of it. 4 out of 5 stars.
GAMEPLAY: My fortee is fighting games (like Mortal Kombat or Street Fighter) and I'm not really much of a first person shooter or RPG type of guy, but this game and God of War 3 made me reconsider RPG games. I really enjoy playing this game and the multiplayer is also TONS of FUN! Decent shooter. The game almost gets a 5 but my only complain is the loading time. I can wash and dry my clothes in the time it takes to load! 4 out of 5.
I personally recommend this game to ANYONE looking to play a game with an antihero that oozes the machisimo and charisma that a good ol' fashion 90's action hero could bring.
PEACE and HAIL TO THE KING HATERS!!!
