There have been plenty of titles that have gotten people's panties in a twist, but one of the first was Duke Nukem 3D. A lead character who's a hard drinking, swearing, womanizing, macho man that spills alien blood like its coming from a hose is a parent's worst nightmare - and a gamer's delight. This 1996 classic has finally made its way to XBLA and its first person shooting awesomeness and twisted humor still hold up, making it a must download for series fans and newbies alike.
In Duke Nukem 3D gamers play as...Duke Nukem, who looks like he came straight out of action movie central casting (if his catchphrases sound familiar don't be surprised, some of them come directly from real films). Duke's mission is to save the Earth from aliens who have come to destroy us while enslaving our hot, buxom women. Duke - one of the first video game characters that actually spoke - is rude, tough, egotistical, and cracks more one liners than Bruce Willis in Die Hard. So basically he's a badass and fun to play as.
The XBLA version is almost identical to the 1996 PC version. No revamped model here, just classic shooting action that works just as well now as back in the day. Running, gunning, witty remarks, slightly dated pop culture references (OJ's white bronco being chased by cops on a TV in a bar) and handing out wads of cash for babes to take off their bikini tops and shake their tassles is par for the course. Just think of Duke as the video game version of Arnold Schwarzenegger in Commando, but with even more clich�d lines and enemies who aren't total pushovers.
That isn't to say Duke hasn't been improved. Gamers can now save clips from their single and multiplayer adventures. You can view them later or share them with friends to show what a stud you are. When you die (and you'll die a lot) players can use a scrolling timer that lets them choose exactly when in the level they want to respawn. If you were just about to beat a boss but didn't get off a shot quick enough, you can now go exactly to that time in the game and try again. But the best enhancement is in Duke's multiplayer. The game has always offered it, but now gamers can play with up to seven friends in smooth running co-op and versus modes on any of the 39 maps in the game.
While Duke Nukem is a great title, it isn't for everybody. Its violence, gore and glorification of prostitution - even in its "fairly tame compared to what you can see in a game now but this was made in 1996 so it looks pretty mild" kind of way - make it a title that should be kept away from kids. Younger gamers, who don't have an appreciation for old school shooters, will find its graphics dated and the levels more challenging than they're used to.
Still, after 12 years, Duke still kicks ass. He may not be as good looking as he used to be but he continues to prove that the adage - its not the graphics that make a game great, its the gameplay - will always be true.
Pros: Classic first person shooter gameplay, dirty humor, still kicks ass after all these years
Cons: Levels can get a little frustrating
Sound: 4.0
Controls: 4.25
Graphics: 3.75
Fun Factor: 4.5
Editor's Choice
The Info: Platform: XBLA, Publisher: 3D Realms, Developer: 3D Realms, ESRB: M, Players: One (2-8 online), Price: 800 MS Points ($10)
