(Duke Nukem voice) It's time to review a video game.
Duke Nukem 3D is a fun little FPS romp. Admittedly, that is undercutting a little since this game was absurdly innovative for its time, showing just how much you could do with the Build Engine compared to earlier FPS engines. It's just that also a lot those things you can do are such exciting things as "hand $100 bills to strippers" and "say a one-liner in response to gibbing an enemy".
In addition to expanding the possibilities of what you can do in an FPS, Duke nukem features a variety of fun gimmicky weapons. There's something incredibly amusing about shooting an enemy with a shrink ray and then crushing them under your foot.
There is also the character of Duke Nukem. New media is usually inspired by older media, and time and time again video games have taken inspiration from films. Duke is meant to embody the 1980s action movie juggernaut with his penchant for explosions, overwhelming machismo, and goofy one-liners. I must admit, I am a fan of modern Duke Nukem memes where he takes this comical overconfidence to more everyday scenarios. At several point I found myself referencing these memes in response to all the goofy things that happen in this game.
All in all, I had a fun time exploring this older title. I only played the first three episodes that made up the base game, but who knows, maybe I'll give The Body a try. Maybe see if I can find any of the other old Duke Nukem expansions lying around. The vacation-themed one seems particularly amusing to me. And that's not even getting into my desire to play the still-in-development ultra-british fan pack, Duke Smoochem.
If you buy this game, make sure to play it through EDuke32.
Duke Nukem 3D is a fun little FPS romp. Admittedly, that is undercutting a little since this game was absurdly innovative for its time, showing just how much you could do with the Build Engine compared to earlier FPS engines. It's just that also a lot those things you can do are such exciting things as "hand $100 bills to strippers" and "say a one-liner in response to gibbing an enemy".
In addition to expanding the possibilities of what you can do in an FPS, Duke nukem features a variety of fun gimmicky weapons. There's something incredibly amusing about shooting an enemy with a shrink ray and then crushing them under your foot.
There is also the character of Duke Nukem. New media is usually inspired by older media, and time and time again video games have taken inspiration from films. Duke is meant to embody the 1980s action movie juggernaut with his penchant for explosions, overwhelming machismo, and goofy one-liners. I must admit, I am a fan of modern Duke Nukem memes where he takes this comical overconfidence to more everyday scenarios. At several point I found myself referencing these memes in response to all the goofy things that happen in this game.
All in all, I had a fun time exploring this older title. I only played the first three episodes that made up the base game, but who knows, maybe I'll give The Body a try. Maybe see if I can find any of the other old Duke Nukem expansions lying around. The vacation-themed one seems particularly amusing to me. And that's not even getting into my desire to play the still-in-development ultra-british fan pack, Duke Smoochem.
If you buy this game, make sure to play it through EDuke32.