Culture

Platforms: PC, Mac, Xbox 360, Playstation 3, (2.5/5).

It’s finally out. Duke Nukem Forever. A game we’ve all been waiting fifteen long years for, ever since we first cast our eyes on the almighty landmark of first person shooter history, the granddaddy of interactive violent video gaming: Duke Nukem 3D. The big question on everyone’s mind is what took so long, and is the final result worth waiting more than half our lives for?                                                                                                                                                                        
 
As if you had to ask. Of course not. But you’ve got to hand it to the dudes at production team 3D Realms for being undeniably shit at handling the pressure of following up their one successful blockbuster game. I guess the saying's true; the longer the wait, the bigger the disappointment. A lot had changed in the fifteen years since Duke 3D and Duke has attempted to evolve as well, grabbing innovative elements from many key first person shooters of the last decade, particularly using Halo as a source of inspiration (perhaps due to the fact that this version of the game entered development around 2001). Master Chief’s shield system is there, so is his ability to only hold two guns at a time. There are vehicles, a night vision mode eerily similar to Riddick, and physics based puzzles straight out of Half Life 2. The obvious problem is that these elements aren’t new anymore, the world of gaming has moved on and worse still, with the exception of the nostalgia generating fire fights, most of these elements just aren’t that fun.
 
In spite of the problems, there is a decided attempt by 3D Realms and Gearbox (who saved the project) to keep the vibe of the original game and I believe this is where the game's successes lie. The enemies and weapons are straight out of Duke Nukem 3D (shrink rays, freeze rays, shotguns, pig-cops), and the multiplayer contains all the no bullshit, frag-em-all attitude that one would have expected from the story mode. But for the most part the game is bogged down by attempts to bulk Duke up on modern gaming steroids, which in the world of 2011 just aren’t that modern anymore. If you can look past the mammoth hype and dated elements you’ll find some enjoyable fire fights, familiar enemies and that old Duke charm. Ultimately, if you’re not a fan, perhaps pass this one up. If you are, get into the mindset of 2004 and you might have a semi-alright time.