Duke Nukem Forever

 PC
User Score
5.8

Mixed or average reviews- based on 1276 Ratings

User score distribution:
  1. Positive: 488 out of 1276
  2. Mixed: 358 out of 1276
  3. Negative: 430 out of 1276
Buy Now
Buy on

Review this game

  1. Your Score
    0 out of 10
    Rate this:
    • 10
    • 9
    • 8
    • 7
    • 6
    • 5
    • 4
    • 3
    • 2
    • 1
    • 0
    • 0
  1. Submit
  2. Check Spelling
view
per page
  1. MathewRD
    Jun 14, 2011
    7
    Games like Call of Duty can easily appeal to anyone. Duke Nukem, however, cannot. It has a very limited fanbase and makes itself that way with its inappropriate humor and its lack of effort in the development of it all. This is not to say I disliked it. I actually, enjoyed it for the most part. The story isn't deep, the gameplay is simple, and the humor is still there from the originalGames like Call of Duty can easily appeal to anyone. Duke Nukem, however, cannot. It has a very limited fanbase and makes itself that way with its inappropriate humor and its lack of effort in the development of it all. This is not to say I disliked it. I actually, enjoyed it for the most part. The story isn't deep, the gameplay is simple, and the humor is still there from the original duke nukem games.

    The thing that really brings this game down is the lack of development put into it. All items have the same grab animation (You swing your arm and effortlessly pick stuff up), interactive objects are hardly interactive (Pick up a donut, and you just swallow it whole).

    But beyond the occasional having-your-bullets-not-registering, the game isn't bad. It has it's flaws, and we really shouldn't see flaws like this in 2011, but it still feels like the Duke Nukem we've come to know and love.    … Expand
  2. Zoydude
    Jun 14, 2011
    10
    Don't believe the rubbish about this game being poor. It's enjoyable, funny, and action packed. And isn't that the best we can hope for in a shooter?
  3. NoMoreLogins
    Jun 14, 2011
    2
    DNF is a sloppily made console port of Generic Shooter 2011. It's gameplay mechanics are copied straight from pretty much every modern console shooter (regenerating shield, 2-weapon-limit, extremely linear gameplay, pseudo quicktime events, checkpoints, choked FOV) and noticeably get in the way of having fun - it's kind of hard to enjoy the game with button prompts in the middle of yourDNF is a sloppily made console port of Generic Shooter 2011. It's gameplay mechanics are copied straight from pretty much every modern console shooter (regenerating shield, 2-weapon-limit, extremely linear gameplay, pseudo quicktime events, checkpoints, choked FOV) and noticeably get in the way of having fun - it's kind of hard to enjoy the game with button prompts in the middle of your display while you're trying to actually play. Duke even puts down a console controller within the first 10 mins of the game, as if daring the player to use a keyboard and mouse to play.

    Multiplayer is no fun either - numerous crippling bugs and design flaws exist, from the unbearable lag, to the mysterious multiplayer security bugs which Gearbox refuses to disclose, along with the lack of internal security protection, leading to easy cheating. Spawn points in multiplayer maps are poorly designed and no spawn protection is afforded to players, which makes griefing rather amusing.

    While Duke Nukem 3D was kept alive for a long time by a dedicated mod community and the support of 3D Realms, having released the Build editor, there have only been cookie-cutter community-placating responses from Gearbox on the release of a DNF editor, but no actual evidence of one which is forthcoming. This, along with their eagerness in removing the in-game console (to prevent multiplayer bugs - *face-through-desk*) does not bode well for this game being fixed/redone correctly and kept alive by the community's talented mapmakers, artists, modders and programmers.    … Expand
  4. gameproveteran
    Jun 14, 2011
    10
    Rock solid shooter that made me LAUGH on so many occasions!! What other shooter game delivers that? The Duke is back, the goofiness, craziness we loved is still there and augmented to a whole new level... spend some good time playing it, maybe the only game I truly enjoyed in recent years. These stupid reviewers do not understand the context of the game, the Duke's world.. so to speak..Rock solid shooter that made me LAUGH on so many occasions!! What other shooter game delivers that? The Duke is back, the goofiness, craziness we loved is still there and augmented to a whole new level... spend some good time playing it, maybe the only game I truly enjoyed in recent years. These stupid reviewers do not understand the context of the game, the Duke's world.. so to speak.. and even saying silly things like 90' graphics, while it clearly runs on the current gen. engine... suckers.… Expand
  5. Grounder
    Jun 14, 2011
    10
    This game is a blast despite its shortcomings of a two weapon limit, autoregen health, and linear level design. It genuinely feels like I'm playing a DUKE NUKEM game again.
  6. Skyrilla
    Jun 14, 2011
    8
    Whereas one might be a little mixed at the beginning and its age marks, one shouldn't fear that it's all stale throughout the game when you can clearly notice the build-up in its quality progression. The various Duke landmarks, quirks and classic moments and the sheer anticipation make this game worth every penny spent on my goodie-filled special edition. The music adds amazing depth andWhereas one might be a little mixed at the beginning and its age marks, one shouldn't fear that it's all stale throughout the game when you can clearly notice the build-up in its quality progression. The various Duke landmarks, quirks and classic moments and the sheer anticipation make this game worth every penny spent on my goodie-filled special edition. The music adds amazing depth and the interactivity and world-in-a-world experiences offered by getting shrunk are great. Definitely a fan game, but if I am to seperate myself from that standpoint (and that's tough), maneuver around the (granted) aged engine which they managed to milk nicely and simply appreciate the game for its value, then I'd have to say it has done a great job at keeping the open-minded player entertained with gratuitous amounts of action interchanged with puzzling, Duke humor and nostalgia. A person has to bear in mind what this rough gem has gone through and simply understand it, but given the amazing Duke community and their modding skills, I am not at all afraid.

    'Course, it could just simmer down to simply stating, "Love it or hate it."    … Expand
  7. StavrosDim
    Jun 14, 2011
    4
    Gameplay
    Gameplay is far away from 'classic' as we know it from Duke Nukem 3d,but it isn't like a modern game's either.
    Duke's health (ego) auto regenerates,but that doesn't make the game easier at all. The game uses a "trial and error" unforgiving system,and you are going to loose lots of lives because you didn't guessed correctly what will happen next. The game demands from you to do    Gameplay
    Gameplay is far away from 'classic' as we know it from Duke Nukem 3d,but it isn't like a modern game's either.
    Duke's health (ego) auto regenerates,but that doesn't make the game easier at all.
    The game uses a "trial and error" unforgiving system,and you are going to loose lots of lives because you didn't guessed correctly what will happen next.
    The game demands from you to do what you must do very accurately,and what exactly you have to do is something you will discover yourself after dying numerous times and trying anything your mind can imagine.
    Some aliens can kill you with a single hit,or two in most cases,and when the game throws 4 to 5 of them on you suddenly and they come from places you've already been before and you didn't so anybody,or it might just spawn them right next to you,having you flanked and surrounded,and then dying.
    The game will be throwing hordes of monsters again and again,and there will be times the next wave of aliens will come before your ego replenishes from the last fight.
    There will be times you will die by a single hit,from an enemy not even visible on the screen.
    There is a 1 weapon limit,and it's bad not only because it doesn't fit Duke's character,but also because it doesn't fit the rest of the gameplay.
    There will be times like this:
    * You have two weapons with ya,the ones ideal for the situation on the level you are in to.
    *Suddenly and unexpectedly your screen goes black and you go to next level.
    *You find a room full of enemies that you weren't prepared to fight,because you doesn't have the ideal weapons for them.
    *You search around to find an ideal weapon,and there are no weapons at all before that room.
    *You exit the game,and re-load the level you completed some moments ago so you will exit it with the right guns this time.
    Playing DNF's campaign is going to get you frustrated and furious,and if you ever broke gamepads or keyboards while playing a game,I assure you that DNF isn't for you.
    The game's interactivity doesn't excite.
    There is less interactivity in DNF than in DN3D that came 14 years ago,and somebody would expect that a game 14 years later would have at least the same amount of interactivity if not more.
    But it's not like that.
    In DN3D you would shoot the toilets,and water would come out from the pipes,but not on DNF.
    In DN3D you would shoot the pipes and natural gas would come out,but not on DNF.
    In DN3D you would shoot a cash machine and money would pop out,but not in DNF.
    The list could go on,but I guess you got my point.
    Level design is linear on all levels,and there is only one route to go.
    You won't get lost as you did on DN3D's complex levels.
    In DNF there aren't secret rooms or entire secret levels either,and that limits replay value and vanishes the exploration feeling and factor that was dominant on DN3D.
    If you try to explore around,the game will punish you with invisible walls.
    There are many invisible walls and the developers could just remove them and let us go on some places,or place physical hurdles,to make it at least reasonable.
    There are too many QTE's and you will have to mash the buttons on your keyboard or controller as fast as you can,but they appear with such a frequency they get annoying IMHO.
    There isn't variety on the game's puzzles.
    You will have to redo the same the same type of puzzles again and again at different levels,and the most common is the barrel type.This puzzle requires you to look around to find all the barrels and then place them to the right spot.
    That's it. Repeat on next level.And on the one after.And again later.
    Duke Nukem Forever is a game that won't keep you interested enough to finish it because of its story or its gameplay,but because of stubborness.
    You have to be very patient and stubborn to keep playing it to the finish and tolerate its bad story,bad graphics,and its punitive gameplay.
    Most likely it's a game won't play again after you finish it once,if you ever finish it.


    Last Words
    Duke Nukem Forever was one of my most anticipated games for years.
    There have been many promises,even more speculation and even more wait,that lead to very high expectations and too much hype.
    When the game finally released,it wasn't "The best game of all time" as 3D Realms once promised,but instead it didn't even catch up with its predecessor,and DNF fell much lower.
    Lots of wrong design decisions,abstract and uncompleted ideas,and bad execution make this game not good enough to stand along the rest of the series. It made me believe that it would be better if it would never come out,so we could all stay with memories of a game that would be the best game of all time,even if we could never play it.    … Expand
  8. Franken
    Jun 14, 2011
    9
    Epic game, reminds me what FPS games are all about.

    Bug free 10-12 hour campaign. Great humour and dialog. Fantastic interactive mini-games. And solid multiplayer. Dont listen to all these guys trying to hate on it due to dated gameplay (its called retro, i.e. it feels more like half-life 2 than black ops) or that its 'offensive' (dont like the humour dont play it, not hard huh?)    Epic game, reminds me what FPS games are all about.

    Bug free 10-12 hour campaign.

    Great humour and dialog.

    Fantastic interactive mini-games.

    And solid multiplayer.

    Dont listen to all these guys trying to hate on it due to dated gameplay (its called retro, i.e. it feels more like half-life 2 than black ops) or that its 'offensive' (dont like the humour dont play it, not hard huh?)

    Most of them are just trolling so they gain alot of hits on review sites, since being controversial gets more hits these days.

    Must buy! - From a very patient avid PC gamer.    … Expand
  9. SmutLord
    Jun 14, 2011
    8
    Old school style perfect for somebody that gets bored with mindless cod that is hacked up. I can make first every time in a game like cod but getting my ass kicked a little on some parts makes duke worth it. Plus the humor, works for me in a PC skinny jean world, I will take this any day. The graphics aren't amazing but they work for the game.
  10. Evis03
    Jun 14, 2011
    3
    The graphics are dire. Seriously dire. Modern ideas as to what constitutes good graphics have polluted the game (there is no colour that is not a shade of brown or black), and half of the game is played in the dark, meaning you need to use the crappy night vision which somehow makes the game look even worse, as well as giving you a headache. The draw distance and distance blur is extremelyThe graphics are dire. Seriously dire. Modern ideas as to what constitutes good graphics have polluted the game (there is no colour that is not a shade of brown or black), and half of the game is played in the dark, meaning you need to use the crappy night vision which somehow makes the game look even worse, as well as giving you a headache. The draw distance and distance blur is extremely short, so much so that it is often shorter than the range of some fire fights. Even on Ultra, this game looks like Doom III.

    Gameplay is a horrible mishmash of ideas from the past and the present, and few of them play off well against each other. For some insane reason you can only carry two guns. Seriously Gearbox? Youâ    … Expand
  11. Dubya
    Jun 14, 2011
    9
    This is a really good game. Sure it's graphics aren't state of the art. Graphics never make a game. The gameplay, however is fantastic. The weapons felt nice and powerful. The monsters put up a fight. And the levels looked neat and the interactivity was crazy. How many games out there allow you to pick up a rat and put it in a microwave? Only this one. All of Duke's humor many of youThis is a really good game. Sure it's graphics aren't state of the art. Graphics never make a game. The gameplay, however is fantastic. The weapons felt nice and powerful. The monsters put up a fight. And the levels looked neat and the interactivity was crazy. How many games out there allow you to pick up a rat and put it in a microwave? Only this one. All of Duke's humor many of you remember from Duke 3D is still there and in droves. There are many, many new Duke lines, plenty of babes and lots of asses to kick. The game is riddled with puzzles that are a nice break from the gunplay. There are tons of easter eggs hidden all over the place. Overall this game is one ass kicking good time. Don't listen to the so called "professional" reviewers at big time gaming site and magazines. Some of them had it out for Duke since day 1. The game isn't perfect however. No game is. The loading times for consoles are somewhat long and very annoying when you die a bunch of times. There are some blurry low resolution textures in some areas. Occasionaly you might fly back after bumping into a wall. Thankfully none of these issues are gamebreaking. If you are tired of boring serious military shooters like Call of Duty, then Duke is the way to go.… Expand
  12. Jross
    Jun 14, 2011
    8
    The game is simply fun. Not great, not bad, just fun. I'm personally dumbfounded by the terrible reviews it has been receiving as the game as a lot of variety, cool weapons, likable enemies and allies and Duke Nukem humor to top it off. If you don't take this game too seriously it can be a lot of fun.
  13. RoMeJo
    Jun 14, 2011
    10
    Had to give this a 10 to offset the typical rage 0's thrown down by emo kids and crybabies. Sadly this game can't really get much respect in the current age we live in. Too many people overly sensitive and too easily offended. Cry me a river folks. This game will be fun for any old school type guy or fan of the series in general. It is by no means perfect and my true score would be closerHad to give this a 10 to offset the typical rage 0's thrown down by emo kids and crybabies. Sadly this game can't really get much respect in the current age we live in. Too many people overly sensitive and too easily offended. Cry me a river folks. This game will be fun for any old school type guy or fan of the series in general. It is by no means perfect and my true score would be closer to 7.5 - 8 . Regardless, this game is loads of goofy fun and it will bring back memories. Enjoy the game for what it is folks. If you are overly feminist, easily offended, or too sensitive, dont waste your time on this. This game is not for emo cry babies. I could continue to ramble but. "It's time to kick ass and chew bubble gum... and I'm all outta gum."… Expand
  14. Axelskull
    Jun 14, 2011
    0
    my real score would be a 3 or a 4 but with all these untruthful 10s being thrown around im forced to give it a 0 to balance it up.

    the graphics are horribly outdated for a game that's released in 2011. The engine needs to be put down. The graphics are horrible, the game play is repetitive, and generic. I was expecting to be disappointed, but not by to this extent. true duke fans should    my real score would be a 3 or a 4 but with all these untruthful 10s being thrown around im forced to give it a 0 to balance it up.

    the graphics are horribly outdated for a game that's released in 2011. The engine needs to be put down. The graphics are horrible, the game play is repetitive, and generic.

    I was expecting to be disappointed, but not by to this extent.

    true duke fans should pretend this garbage never came out, and to hold a hope that the future may one day yield a good duke game we've all waited for.    … Expand
  15. nomercy
    Jun 14, 2011
    8
    Duke Nukem Forever is a heavily underrated game, probably because of biased reviews that judge the game for the most part on it's long production time. Instead of looking at the trouble this game has seen over the years, and realising it's a miracle this game eventually DID come out even though everyone lost hope, they expected a game that surpasses all the current games by 10 years.Duke Nukem Forever is a heavily underrated game, probably because of biased reviews that judge the game for the most part on it's long production time. Instead of looking at the trouble this game has seen over the years, and realising it's a miracle this game eventually DID come out even though everyone lost hope, they expected a game that surpasses all the current games by 10 years. That's not realistic now, is it? When we look at Duke Nukem Forever, there's really only one thing that you can complain about which is the graphics. They are pretty dated, and to modern gamers that's a disaster. Personally, I don't care about graphics. For me gameplay comes before anything. And when it comes to gameplay, this game got everything that makes it a Duke game. You got all the things you did back in Duke Nukem 3D back in this game, as well as some extras. Playing pool, paying a visit to the toilet or even testing if your outlet still got electricity on, it's all back in this game. You can also play on someone else's computer and watch pictures of women, play air hockey with another person (NPC), play Pinball, Basketball, take drinks and snacks from a vending machine, etc. In short: It's got all the fun factors that we know Duke from in this game. Of course there's also the usual Duke one-liners, with some of them being extremely funny, as well as the usual steroid pills and Holodukes. Not to mention, Duke has beer now as well!

    The story is a little bit on the short side... and so it leaves us Duke fans craving for more, which we hopefully will get. To Summarize: Do NOT let game magazine reviews have too much influence on your choice whether or not to get this game. The game is really not as bad as they claim it to be. If you liked Duke Nukem 3D, you will more than likely enjoy this game.    … Expand
  16. inidu
    Jun 14, 2011
    0
    This game plucks features from other, better games, but the features never really cohere into a whole. The entire project seems unfocused and nonsensical. Combat with the strictly reduced arsenal is punishing for all the wrong reasons -- it is annoying to backtrack for that one useful gun. The humor is not action-movie parody, it's just bathroom humor. And even that's giving it too muchThis game plucks features from other, better games, but the features never really cohere into a whole. The entire project seems unfocused and nonsensical. Combat with the strictly reduced arsenal is punishing for all the wrong reasons -- it is annoying to backtrack for that one useful gun. The humor is not action-movie parody, it's just bathroom humor. And even that's giving it too much credit. The graphics are ugly, lumpy, and desaturated, and the gameplay is among the worst I've ever experienced. I tried hard to like this game, but it just wasn't any fun, didn't make me laugh, and was remarkably poorly executed.… Expand
  17. spinx
    Jun 14, 2011
    9
    9 Although not perfect on level design and technology, Duke Nukem forever is a fun experience where you can laugh out loud behind your pc screen.

    Interactivity, humor and obscene over the top action is something you don't see that often anymore in games, destroy concrete around pillars, check, solve puzzles, check, shoot limbs of enemies, check, have cool body awareness, check, have    9 Although not perfect on level design and technology, Duke Nukem forever is a fun experience where you can laugh out loud behind your pc screen.

    Interactivity, humor and obscene over the top action is something you don't see that often anymore in games, destroy concrete around pillars, check, solve puzzles, check, shoot limbs of enemies, check, have cool body awareness, check, have animations for nearly every action, check, these are things you don't see in any fps all together...

    Duke Nukem forever is a great game with its flaws, but it shows gamers the cool no-nonsense, not to serious gameplay of the time when gaming was fun! not serious military **** as every game of today.    … Expand
  18. randir14
    Jun 14, 2011
    8
    I've been a Duke fan ever since the first game on DOS, so I was eagerly awaiting DNF. Finally it's here...but is it worth it? Yes, yes it is. It feels like a modernized Duke3D in terms of humor and interactivity, but I believe 3D Realms made some poor decisions towards the end of development: you can only hold two weapons at once, you have regenerating health instead of picking up medkits,I've been a Duke fan ever since the first game on DOS, so I was eagerly awaiting DNF. Finally it's here...but is it worth it? Yes, yes it is. It feels like a modernized Duke3D in terms of humor and interactivity, but I believe 3D Realms made some poor decisions towards the end of development: you can only hold two weapons at once, you have regenerating health instead of picking up medkits, and the levels are linear without many secrets. Other than that the game is awesome. The multiplayer is fun as well, and there's an entire set of Duke one-liners that can only be heard while playing online. As you level up you unlock customization options (hats, t-shirts, glasses, etc.) There is also a feature called "My Digs" which is basically a giant apartment where you can unlock features seen in the single player, such as gym equipment, a pool table, air hockey, pinball, and various pieces of Duke memorabilia. You can then go around the apartment interacting with all that stuff. As a Duke fan I give the game an 8.5, but the game might be less appealing to players who have no prior history with the character.… Expand
  19. Quibble
    Jun 14, 2011
    8
    Overall Duke Nukem Forever provides a solid old-school FPS experience. It wont win any awards in terms of ground-breaking gameplay (that isn't to say it doesn't have it's moments) and yes, the graphics engine looks dated when compared to more recent titles. However... once depth of field and motion blur are disabled the engine looks much sharper and definitely does not deserve the amountOverall Duke Nukem Forever provides a solid old-school FPS experience. It wont win any awards in terms of ground-breaking gameplay (that isn't to say it doesn't have it's moments) and yes, the graphics engine looks dated when compared to more recent titles. However... once depth of field and motion blur are disabled the engine looks much sharper and definitely does not deserve the amount of criticism it has received from fans and "professional" reviewers.

    If you love Duke Nukem 3D and, like myself, are looking for an entertaining sequel, then you'll definitely enjoy Duke Nukem Forever. Sure it has its problems and yes, it's not really worth the 14 year wait... but lets be honest here, any reasonable person would adjust their expectations accordingly and just be happy that we finally have a chance to play it.

    With an unwaveringly loyal fan base and the correct tools, Duke Nukem Forever has enormous potential.

    Always bet on Duke :o)    … Expand
  20. asdf7326
    Jun 14, 2011
    9
    Fun Game, Great Game play, Challenging at times, like most good games should be. Al you people hating and just feeding into hate hype. This is a great game. This is a true sequel to the original. Only bad thing is that the game need more multi-player and some mod tools. Port to xbox and ps3 I hear is a bad port example. Bad load times, Bad graphics... the pc version had comparable graphicsFun Game, Great Game play, Challenging at times, like most good games should be. Al you people hating and just feeding into hate hype. This is a great game. This is a true sequel to the original. Only bad thing is that the game need more multi-player and some mod tools. Port to xbox and ps3 I hear is a bad port example. Bad load times, Bad graphics... the pc version had comparable graphics to the newest games and 30 second load times. overall I find this a fun game to play, I'm going through my second run right now.… Expand
  21. Filidor
    Jun 14, 2011
    9
    There are a few things you gotta keep in mind when you are playing this game. Duke Nukem...Duke Nukem...and Duke Nukem. Many of the reviews I have read simply don't seem to understand Duke Nukem or the intentions of this game. This game was everything it was supposed to be. Do not expect candy and flowers. Expect Duke Nukem to be Duke Nukem with bad jokes, harsh language, and plenty ofThere are a few things you gotta keep in mind when you are playing this game. Duke Nukem...Duke Nukem...and Duke Nukem. Many of the reviews I have read simply don't seem to understand Duke Nukem or the intentions of this game. This game was everything it was supposed to be. Do not expect candy and flowers. Expect Duke Nukem to be Duke Nukem with bad jokes, harsh language, and plenty of explosions. This game follows along the same lines of game play as 3D did. It is pretty linear, another outrageous storyline, plenty of fun gunfights and bossfights that are classic Duke. However, that being said. This is not 3D. This is not the groundbreaking game 3D was. Has its flaws like all new games but that doesn't make it the awful crap most people here are trying to make it seem. If you can take maturity and classic politically incorrect humor than you will like this game. So in summary, if you do not have "Balls Of Steel", you will not like this game as it was not created for an audience like you.… Expand
  22. MB_
    Jun 14, 2011
    1
    Chronically bad. No guns for the first hour or two of game play, just endless unskippable exposition and annoying characters. The graphics and humor constantly remind me of Postal 2, I guess as it uses the same tired old game engine.

    As a Serious Sam, run and gun fan I am sorely disappointed. What on earth were they thinking. I can honestly say I didn't get far in the game, after the ten    Chronically bad. No guns for the first hour or two of game play, just endless unskippable exposition and annoying characters. The graphics and humor constantly remind me of Postal 2, I guess as it uses the same tired old game engine.

    As a Serious Sam, run and gun fan I am sorely disappointed. What on earth were they thinking. I can honestly say I didn't get far in the game, after the ten occurrence of 'tap space to continue' I closed it, deleted it and told all my friends where to stick it.

    So many smarter, prettier and frankly more fun games out there. Why bother releasing this tripe at all. Let sleeping dogs, no let dead dogs lie.    … Expand
  23. ChancyWancy
    Jun 14, 2011
    8
    It's far from perfect â
  24. bittermann
    Jun 14, 2011
    2
    WOW...so disappointed in this game. Bad graphics, vulgar one liners trying to be funny but fall way short and linear game play. Wait for the bargain bin if you must have this for nostalgic reasons!
  25. jst68
    Jun 14, 2011
    10
    Duke is back! Do I need to say more? I was hoping that they kept things similar to the old game without going too much overboard or, even worse, getting pulled into the CoD wagon. And, they pulled it off. The single player campaign has some great moments and it is filled with Duke's humor. Most recently released FPS can really learn something from this one. A good,humorous story litteredDuke is back! Do I need to say more? I was hoping that they kept things similar to the old game without going too much overboard or, even worse, getting pulled into the CoD wagon. And, they pulled it off. The single player campaign has some great moments and it is filled with Duke's humor. Most recently released FPS can really learn something from this one. A good,humorous story littered with puzzles and many details to discover make this a fun experience nobody should miss. Enough said. Time to get some bubble gum...… Expand
  26. cmoyano
    Jun 14, 2011
    10
    give this game a chance..yes, its not revolutionary, yes, its not up to par with todays standards..if ur a pc gamer from the 90's u will give this game the chance it deserves and ou will play as if you were playing it in the 90's, cause thats where it belongs...thats how it feels...dont go expecting groundbreaking stuff, expect it as it is...a duke nukem game..full of charm, nonsense,give this game a chance..yes, its not revolutionary, yes, its not up to par with todays standards..if ur a pc gamer from the 90's u will give this game the chance it deserves and ou will play as if you were playing it in the 90's, cause thats where it belongs...thats how it feels...dont go expecting groundbreaking stuff, expect it as it is...a duke nukem game..full of charm, nonsense, nasty awesome stuff...… Expand
  27. PC-Gamer-Fan
    Jun 14, 2011
    0
    One of the worse games ever made on any platform. It has so many issues/problems & is certainly not even close to being a full price game or acceptable 2011 game.

    1: Game is not even finished its an alpha version at best. 2: Gfx are very dated/bland/boring/horrible looking. Textures are missing/incomplete or just blank colours. 3: Gameplay is linear/boring/uninteresting. 4: Art    One of the worse games ever made on any platform. It has so many issues/problems & is certainly not even close to being a full price game or acceptable 2011 game.

    1: Game is not even finished its an alpha version at best.
    2: Gfx are very dated/bland/boring/horrible looking. Textures are missing/incomplete or just blank colours.
    3: Gameplay is linear/boring/uninteresting.
    4: Art design is very very lacking.
    5: Humour & game content are in places quite offensive this is not a game for children/teens as it contains sexist & pornographic humour I do not feel belongs in a computer game at all.

    This game feels to me like a highly cynical cash grab to recover some of the lengthy development budget wasted (boy was it wasted here!). After so long you would reasonably expect something which at least matches Duke Nukem 3D/Manhattan Project well this manages to be vastly inferior to both of them & you have to wonder why this is considered to be a full price game when it would have looked & played poorly 10 years ago!

    Gamer beware this truly is one of the worse games ever made & without the Duke Nukem name would be a budget price at launch & is quite rightly getting a lot of negative reviews.    … Expand
  28. aconway11223
    Jun 14, 2011
    10
    As a female gamer who has logged countless hours in Black ops and Left 4 Dead 2, this game is not only refreshing but absolutely hilarious. From the moment I started the game I was laughing non stop, and even on easy the challenge of the game is actually invigorating. The interactive world is so much fun, and the fact they put so much time into the sayings and the things you can do, I amAs a female gamer who has logged countless hours in Black ops and Left 4 Dead 2, this game is not only refreshing but absolutely hilarious. From the moment I started the game I was laughing non stop, and even on easy the challenge of the game is actually invigorating. The interactive world is so much fun, and the fact they put so much time into the sayings and the things you can do, I am so thrilled I decided to buys. Not for the easily offended or people with a weak sense of humor, but if you were either those then why did you even look at this game in the first place! Happy alien hunting!… Expand
  29. FudgeSociety
    Jun 14, 2011
    9
    This game isn't as groundbreaking as DN3D. But it has everything it needs to make a Duke Nukem game. The beer, the **** the bad mouth humor, and some blood. Anybody who says this game is bad is whining because it doesn't look like your fabled CoD series. Well news to these **** WE DON'T WANT GAMES TO LOOK LIKE COD. CoD is just fast paced, no logic, brain stimulation. Duke Nukem requiresThis game isn't as groundbreaking as DN3D. But it has everything it needs to make a Duke Nukem game. The beer, the **** the bad mouth humor, and some blood. Anybody who says this game is bad is whining because it doesn't look like your fabled CoD series. Well news to these **** WE DON'T WANT GAMES TO LOOK LIKE COD. CoD is just fast paced, no logic, brain stimulation. Duke Nukem requires you to think a little, unlike CoD where the object of the game is to kill everything that isn't marked green. Games like DNF are games that will go down in history as a badly reviewed game, but a fan loved game. I recommend this game to TRUE GAMERS. Any regular CoD players should let this one by, you will find this game far too hard for your brain capacity.… Expand
  30. LavitsChaotix
    Jun 14, 2011
    10
    Dude this game is $#@&%#@ EPIC! A must buy. Non stop comedy. The Game is designed to feel like the Original Titles. There isn't any fancy new game-play style. Just good old Duke. So you haters gonna hate.
  31. re-critic
    Jun 14, 2011
    1
    This review contains spoilers, click expand to view. 1.advantage: it's Duke Nukem Hero! DefectS: everything else. horrible graphics, dull gameplay, unfunny humor, absolutely not interesting multiplayer, missing physics, awkward controls… Expand
  32. MellerYeller
    Jun 14, 2011
    6
    I wanted to like this game but the only people who will get a kick out of this game are fans of the Duke Nukem character and just want more of his style and humor. The shooting mechanics and overall gameplay is mediocre at best although it has its moments sometimes but doesn't really stand out. The second issue is that unlike the classic DN3D this game follows recent hits like Call of DutyI wanted to like this game but the only people who will get a kick out of this game are fans of the Duke Nukem character and just want more of his style and humor. The shooting mechanics and overall gameplay is mediocre at best although it has its moments sometimes but doesn't really stand out. The second issue is that unlike the classic DN3D this game follows recent hits like Call of Duty where in levels you basically go in a straight line shooting enemies with some cutscenes along the way. Boring and not Duke Nukem's style at all. I'd say it's "decent" but unless you just hunger for more Duke I would wait until the price drops.… Expand
  33. TheGreenBaron
    Jun 14, 2011
    10
    It's funny that I read all the critic reviews bemoaning that the game does not blow them away on all fronts, and how dare Duke not have really evolved as a character since DN3D. 'It's horrible it's terrible it's painful to play!' they all scream.

    And then, buried somewhere in the mass of verbiage, there's the line 'But it's fun.' I think that single line sums up this game. It's not    It's funny that I read all the critic reviews bemoaning that the game does not blow them away on all fronts, and how dare Duke not have really evolved as a character since DN3D. 'It's horrible it's terrible it's painful to play!' they all scream.

    And then, buried somewhere in the mass of verbiage, there's the line 'But it's fun.' I think that single line sums up this game. It's not MEANT to be a Halo Gears of War: Call of Battleground Honor. Yes, the mouse aiming is terribad on occasion. I'm betting on a patch soon on that. And really that's my only complaint about it.

    It's a fun game. Period. Do I dislike the bits of all the other modern cover based shooters that snuck into it? Sure. But, am I going to whine about it and deny that I enjoyed the game thoroughly? Hell no.    … Expand
  34. Philchief
    Jun 14, 2011
    8
    This game is far from perfect in many respects, but I think that any reviewer that would give it a 5/10 or lower is either greatly lacking perspective or expecting a masterpiece that they were never going to get in the first place. This game was not made in 15 years, it was finished shortly after Gearbox was put on the case, which was only around 20010 or so, meaning that you really couldThis game is far from perfect in many respects, but I think that any reviewer that would give it a 5/10 or lower is either greatly lacking perspective or expecting a masterpiece that they were never going to get in the first place. This game was not made in 15 years, it was finished shortly after Gearbox was put on the case, which was only around 20010 or so, meaning that you really could not anticipate it to be perfect, and you should give them credit for making a fine game in the time allotted. Also, you cannot deny that it does return to its old school roots in many classic ways, especially in the interactivity and humor. Others I know were expecting a game not unlike Call of Duty, which was a foreboding sign not only for this game prior to release, but also remains a scary thought for the gaming industry as a whole.

    This game makes up in a department that I often find myself missing these days, Charm. The game world is vibrant in its environments and ridiculously interactive. Yes, there is some gross humor out there, and yes, sometimes the odd design does lead you into the next area too soon, leading to your exploration being cut short and missing an opportunity to improve your Ego bar. But I was absorbed by the world this game had created around me, the interactivity and different (often exaggerated) characters charmed me in a way that was slightly reminiscent of one of my favorite games of all time, Earthbound.

    Is this game one of my favorite of all time? Oh no, never. But is it worth a play just as much as any other shooter Activision/Microsoft is crapping out these days? Oh yes.    … Expand
  35. Detinator73
    Jun 14, 2011
    9
    Duke Nukem Forever is a defined good FPS game that has been in the makings of 14 years. By the release date, I decided to grab the PC version as the game had a good quality. The multiplayer action that I've experience is good, but I had disconnecting issues probably because the game was released on North America launch date. The single player is good as the story follows the game through.Duke Nukem Forever is a defined good FPS game that has been in the makings of 14 years. By the release date, I decided to grab the PC version as the game had a good quality. The multiplayer action that I've experience is good, but I had disconnecting issues probably because the game was released on North America launch date. The single player is good as the story follows the game through. You get to face many enemies in the game and there is a lot of interaction. One downside to this game is that you could only hold "Two weapons" which you would decide on which weapon you would like to keep. Jon St. John's voice acting is back and Duke is back then ever. I rate this game a 9/10 mainly because of the well defined action FPS gameplay...… Expand
  36. D3sol4tor
    Jun 14, 2011
    10
    This review contains spoilers, click expand to view. "Hail to the King!"
    Lange, wirklich lange mussten die Duke Fans warten! Bis auf ein paar kleine nicht so schöne sachen (aussenlevels, nicht ganz so schlaue Gegner), Geb ich dem Duke trotzdem volle Punkte: Weil er einfach der King ist und seid langen mal wieder ein Char ist, der nicht nur stumpsinnig rumlatscht...er rockt einfach - weil er so ist wie er ist!!!

    "Let`s Rock!"    … Expand
  37. Wolfabio
    Jun 14, 2011
    10
    Hell as frozen over, pigs have flown and Duke Nukem Forever is finally here and whilst it could never have lived up to its hype it has broken the boundaries of what can be put into a game. The game is basically an old school shooter with modern graphics and references. If you want a game that's realistic or a new modern day shooter then you'll want to pass this. If you want a fun, actionHell as frozen over, pigs have flown and Duke Nukem Forever is finally here and whilst it could never have lived up to its hype it has broken the boundaries of what can be put into a game. The game is basically an old school shooter with modern graphics and references. If you want a game that's realistic or a new modern day shooter then you'll want to pass this. If you want a fun, action packed and adrenaline thrilled campaign with great set-piece moments, humours dialog and that Duke Nukem attitude then settle back for one great steroid and beer fueled ride. Defiantly not a game for "Cod Kids"… Expand
  38. Havok316UK
    Jun 14, 2011
    10
    Duke Nukem is great fun! thats what its all about. Who gives a flying f*ck that the graphics are UT engine, they still look very good!!! People who rate it low are just whining pathetic most likely COD players!. Duke Nukem is everything I exptected Dukes Ego, funny comments, crudeness and interaction. Its a great game to play its not serious and hilarious in most parts. People forget whatDuke Nukem is great fun! thats what its all about. Who gives a flying f*ck that the graphics are UT engine, they still look very good!!! People who rate it low are just whining pathetic most likely COD players!. Duke Nukem is everything I exptected Dukes Ego, funny comments, crudeness and interaction. Its a great game to play its not serious and hilarious in most parts. People forget what Duke is about!… Expand
  39. wardad71
    Jun 14, 2011
    10
    Anyone who gave this game a rating of 6 or less is nothing more than a whiney douche p*ssy anal retentive troll not worthy of the fun the game brings. IT'S FUN. Is it revolutionary? No. But then I wasn't expecting that. Been playing it for a few hours now and having a blast with the Duke. Anyone complaining about graphics, your IQ is probably below 80. If you want revolutionary, goAnyone who gave this game a rating of 6 or less is nothing more than a whiney douche p*ssy anal retentive troll not worthy of the fun the game brings. IT'S FUN. Is it revolutionary? No. But then I wasn't expecting that. Been playing it for a few hours now and having a blast with the Duke. Anyone complaining about graphics, your IQ is probably below 80. If you want revolutionary, go somewhere else. If you want a trip down memory lane with an old friend, you shouldn't be disappointed. Maybe if this game does half decent, they can have the means needed to produce a "better" product or whatever these idiots seem to think the game doesn't have. The demo doesn't do the game any justice, if you still aren't for sure to get it or not, wait til there is a sale on steam and pick it up.… Expand
  40. zardon
    Jun 14, 2011
    10
    Let me just say that I have never played a Duke Nukem game before. That being said, I really enjoy this game so far. I don't know why everyone thinks the graphics suck, I think they're all right. Guns are solid, and Duke's one-liners are hilarious. So far, I'm at the casino, the aliens are fun to fight, shooting is solid
  41. batmobiel
    Jun 14, 2011
    10
    Graphics bad? maybe. Graphics fun? Yes! Gameplay mechanics bad? Nope! Gameplay mechanics fun? YES! i really love todays games like The Witcher 2, Mass Effect, Company of Heroes to name a few, but when I play (and just to play 14 years ago) Duke Nukem I expect plain funny fun! Well, Duke Nukem Forever delivers that with only a small compromise, the graphics... well I don't care! The 10 isGraphics bad? maybe. Graphics fun? Yes! Gameplay mechanics bad? Nope! Gameplay mechanics fun? YES! i really love todays games like The Witcher 2, Mass Effect, Company of Heroes to name a few, but when I play (and just to play 14 years ago) Duke Nukem I expect plain funny fun! Well, Duke Nukem Forever delivers that with only a small compromise, the graphics... well I don't care! The 10 is for the fun to be had with DNF, if you are able to enjoy life, eghegheheheeee!… Expand
  42. mfriis
    Jun 14, 2011
    1
    Duke Nukem Forever is a collection of minigames with short passages of regular FPS gaming. Even getting the game started takes 45 painfilled minutes while Duke admires himself, posters and signs autographs.

    It's a bad game, don't buy it.
  43. devilmaylol
    Jun 14, 2011
    10
    I do not get the hate for this game. The toilet humor is pretty bad and the AI is dumb as bricks but the actual game itself has a lot of variety. There is plenty of puzzles, driving levels, boss battles, and cool levels. The design is a bit dated but if you weren't expecting that, I don't know what to say other than this game was in development for 12 years, it's going to show it's age.I do not get the hate for this game. The toilet humor is pretty bad and the AI is dumb as bricks but the actual game itself has a lot of variety. There is plenty of puzzles, driving levels, boss battles, and cool levels. The design is a bit dated but if you weren't expecting that, I don't know what to say other than this game was in development for 12 years, it's going to show it's age. The beginning levels were kinda of boring but every review I have seen suck focuses on those levels and the toilet humor. Makes me wonder if they played the game from beginning to end. I saw IGN's gameplay commentary video and the guy was very early in the game already complaining about it, didn't seem like it was going to get a fair chance after seeing that. Now this game is no 10/10 but it certainly deserves better than what the reviews are saying. I'm giving a 10/10 because I know that is going to get downvoted pretty bad.… Expand
  44. cleppy
    Jun 14, 2011
    10
    Don't going in thinking 'it's been 12 years, I better see something amazing'. That's like going into a comedy movie and expecting to see oscar performances. Drop your expectations back down, remember, it's still just a game. Look at the lead character. he's a campy, one liner from a time of better movies, and silent protagonists. The gameplay gets switched up alot, and while no singleDon't going in thinking 'it's been 12 years, I better see something amazing'. That's like going into a comedy movie and expecting to see oscar performances. Drop your expectations back down, remember, it's still just a game. Look at the lead character. he's a campy, one liner from a time of better movies, and silent protagonists. The gameplay gets switched up alot, and while no single mechanic really stands out, they are all still solid and they work well. The star of the show is what you bought this game for, and the Duke shines, he is raunchy, sexist, and above all.. it's hilarious.

    If you want an award winning game, go somewhere else. But if you can drop your huge expectations, crack a few beers and have a good time.. pop this sucker in. I'm lovin it. Hail to the king, baby!    … Expand
  45. MP83
    Jun 14, 2011
    8
    Despite the two-weapon system, the lack of jet pack in single-player campaign, and rather linear level designs, I had a good time with this game. I guess it helped that I had rather low (realistic?) expectations on what to expect from this. If it had the old weapon system from Duke Nukem 3D, I would rate this game a 9.
  46. Carnifex
    Jun 14, 2011
    6
    Duke Nukem Forever is a nice change of pace from the current FPS heavyweights. It has a similar kind of charm as a throwback action movie. A mix of campy humour, sex, and a ton of violence. Alot of effort was made to bring back the old Duke feel and I think the development team(s) did a good job. Probably one of DNF's biggest strengths. Level design was interesting at times and dull atDuke Nukem Forever is a nice change of pace from the current FPS heavyweights. It has a similar kind of charm as a throwback action movie. A mix of campy humour, sex, and a ton of violence. Alot of effort was made to bring back the old Duke feel and I think the development team(s) did a good job. Probably one of DNF's biggest strengths. Level design was interesting at times and dull at others, about what you'd expect from all but the very best FPS's. Gameplay is comprised of not just killing hoards of aliens but also puzzles, vehicles, and mini games (reminds me of Deus Ex). The graphics are on par with Halo 3, polished but dated by todays standards. All in all I had fun kicking @$$ with the Duke after all these years.… Expand
  47. Borodon
    Jun 14, 2011
    9
    Duke Nukem Forever delivers exactly what I was expecting for. It's a fun shooter, with it's flaws, sure, but it's still a game with its own characteristics. Don't go and compare DNF with CoD or Halo, they are almost different genres. Duke has personality, have his lines, his sense of humor. The others? Just silent protagonists. Hail to the king, baby!
  48. anotherzen
    Jun 14, 2011
    9
    This game has been in development hell for ages, it shows. When you think about it, something that has been worked on, on and off for 13 years. You don't expect it to be a game that has been in continuous development and polishing for 13 years, I think many people get this wrong. Its been started, ended, restarted, changes graphic engine at least 3 times, been through financial hell andThis game has been in development hell for ages, it shows. When you think about it, something that has been worked on, on and off for 13 years. You don't expect it to be a game that has been in continuous development and polishing for 13 years, I think many people get this wrong. Its been started, ended, restarted, changes graphic engine at least 3 times, been through financial hell and back and to hell again. This is a game that should have come out around 2001-2003.

    Now, enough defending its production cycle and the obvious reason for why the game is as oldschool as it is. If you are able to let your mind wander back 10 years when you play it, you will understand everything about how the game plays. And then you will have fun.. that is if you like Duke Nukem and not just what you think you like because you have read somewhere that Duke was fun but you never played it because you where to young or never bothered recently because the graphics are so bad..

    The game is quite good, at least that is what i think. There is a lot of variety, diving stages, turret stages, strip club, tons of mini games and hidden fun. Especially the tinyDuke levels are pretty well designed. Bosses are fun, and the guns are good too. And i didn't even experience a single bug on my playthrough. That's got to be a first right? Still not without it flaws, its a nostaligafest of the rare, and i know most people wanted a UnrealHalf-LifeHaloUnchartedSeriousSam game.. But all you get is Duke Nukem, and that is all I wanted.    … Expand
  49. nongame
    Jun 14, 2011
    9
    Not as ground-breaking as its predecessor, Duke Nukem Forever nevertheless brings in some much needed fun into the genre with a memorable single-player campaign with humorous details littered throughout and some semi-old school pacing.

    The 12 hour SP campaign is unusually compelling, has some great moments and the interactive ego boosters you find are rewarding. The story and character    Not as ground-breaking as its predecessor, Duke Nukem Forever nevertheless brings in some much needed fun into the genre with a memorable single-player campaign with humorous details littered throughout and some semi-old school pacing.

    The 12 hour SP campaign is unusually compelling, has some great moments and the interactive ego boosters you find are rewarding. The story and character is essentially over the top satire and a lot of the humor references other games and pop culture. The puzzles are great, supplying a pacing one finds in past Valve titles and are all very engaging. Most levels feel unique and a few provide interesting twists to gameplay. Many of the scripted sequences lack polish and a few areas appear downright bare when nothing happens. The FBA animations are world class and create cinematic events to immerse you in a rather zany action hero.

    The weapons are a smart mix of conventional, alien and fun. A limited carry capacity for primary guns stresses environmental interaction and map domination. The separately mapped explosives and powerups make for clever tactics. Boss fights provide unique challenges and end in amusing fatalities in keeping with the series. Duke's ego, itself a parody of regenerating health systems, provides some respite from the occasionally punishing combat and brutal enemy characters.

    Graphics are a mixed bag as Vegas looks like a dull attempt at realism and many outdoors areas in general don't have the vibrancy of most indoor levels, which are rendered well. Post-processing effects often tend to miss the mark and some explosions and weapon effects don't always look too good while other effects and dynamic soft shadows look very nice. The level geometry is mostly for the low end and while static meshes are detailed, this is a game that's meant to run better than it looks.

    Overall, it's a remarkably fun, un-PC game and despite the lack of polish in many areas, makes for a uniquely hand-crafted experience that stays with you. I'd recommend this to fans of the Half-life series who don't mind a varied pace. But those interested in graphics or more polished titles with tighter, combat to combat scripting like the Call of Duty series might want to wait till this one is on sale.    … Expand
  50. MacGruber
    Jun 14, 2011
    10
    First Duke3D forced me to buy old 486, and i played Duke3D without the sound. I was waiting for all these years and this Duke Nukem does not dissapoint. The graphics are really decent and much better then on xbox360. Im enjoying every minut of it. Black Ops and Crysis 2 kids will probably disagree with me but odlschool fans will appreciate DNF.
  51. Nukkus
    Jun 14, 2011
    10
    Quite frankly the greatest game of our generation. From the rock solid humor to the smooth graphics, all is good here. I can;t speak for the issues people are having with the console versions, but the pc version is top notch! Game of The year, BABY!!
  52. packseat_86
    Jun 14, 2011
    8
    Dated graphics and long loading times :(. But the game play is fun with intense battles, plat forming, driving and some puzzle solving. And though it has a regenerating health system it is much more challenging than i.e. Halo. All in all a great game packed with some dated graphics.
  53. WildFire15
    Jun 14, 2011
    7
    If you're sick to death of Call of Duty clones and want something that doesn't take itself even vaguely seriously, you can't go wrong with Duke Nukem Forever. Whatever you do, don't go in expecting this game, with an infamous development story, to be the second coming or anything.
  54. Jogge
    Jun 14, 2011
    9
    The game really was everything what i expected and even more. Gameplay is good, maps are good and characters are good. I thought that only 2 guns with you would be weird in Duke but actually i didn't even notice that when playing because the shooting was so fun and worked so well. Beer, steroids, monster, puzzles, "little duke", etc worked well and was fun. Those who want graphics or justThe game really was everything what i expected and even more. Gameplay is good, maps are good and characters are good. I thought that only 2 guns with you would be weird in Duke but actually i didn't even notice that when playing because the shooting was so fun and worked so well. Beer, steroids, monster, puzzles, "little duke", etc worked well and was fun. Those who want graphics or just multiplayer can eat bubblegum but those who want good singleplayer first time in years: it's time to kick ass!… Expand
  55. Ggdograa
    Jun 14, 2011
    4
    A definite letdown. The game feels unfinished and most of the gameplay mechanics are just horribly dated. It doesn't seem worth the wait but the main problem is that it just feels out of place now. If you're after an example of old school gaming done right then go and play something like Bulletstorm, but as it is, this game just doesn't hold it's own and as a standalone title, it'sA definite letdown. The game feels unfinished and most of the gameplay mechanics are just horribly dated. It doesn't seem worth the wait but the main problem is that it just feels out of place now. If you're after an example of old school gaming done right then go and play something like Bulletstorm, but as it is, this game just doesn't hold it's own and as a standalone title, it's borderline rubbish.… Expand
  56. Talos84
    Jun 14, 2011
    2
    roughly 14 years....really sad. i expected so much more. i should have known it the demo was really what it was going to be like. too bad Duke had to go down this way.
  57. Pipemastersven
    Jun 14, 2011
    8
    Ask yourself, what were your expectations of this game? For years this was expected to bring about a revolution in gaming. But what did â
  58. jmc8888
    Jun 14, 2011
    8
    This will focus on multiplayer. It's fun. It reminds me a bit of Team Fortress 2 in the cartoonish, fast and fun action. Of course it's different than that, but has its similarities aside from not having different classes (but with all the varied weapons it is like different classes). Freeze rays, rocket launchers, lasers, shotgun, shrink ray, pistol, rail gun, etc. Although I haven'tThis will focus on multiplayer. It's fun. It reminds me a bit of Team Fortress 2 in the cartoonish, fast and fun action. Of course it's different than that, but has its similarities aside from not having different classes (but with all the varied weapons it is like different classes). Freeze rays, rocket launchers, lasers, shotgun, shrink ray, pistol, rail gun, etc. Although I haven't seen any 'speed' changers...you run as fast no matter the weapon. If you are worried about the older nature of the tech as it has to do with a controller, the 360 controller for pc works no problem. So no worries there.

    You might need to sign in through the friends sign in thingy on steam if the multiplayer is greyed out, and make sure the steam community is enabled.

    The running around small can be a plus, as it can allow you into places you normally can't get to. Sometimes to hide, other times for powerups. It does make them harder to shoot and they can still shoot back but it appears it's weaker for them? Freeze ray will freeze them for a time, and of course if you get killed before finishing them off, they will unfreeze and be fine. There are lifts, that will launch you, sort of like Halo (but not all the way across the map). As hinted, the levels can have multiple stories. Just like most modern shooters, your health will regenerate if you run away and hide. You can duck and jump, but no double jump or crawl. The unlock gear is unlocked pretty easily. It is whacky. For instance I now have a pumpkin with one thing, and another unlock gives me no eyes. Pretty cool, and while there are only 3-4 things you can change about duke, there are many different things any of those 3-4 things are, so there are many whacky It's a bit simplistic, but again it is fast and furious, multiple ways to get from point a to b, and is just plain fun. Level design is pretty cool, it is varied, and the levels aren't all the same color. If you want a non-military style online shooter experience, this can satisfy that need. I can't speak for single player as I'm not focusing on that in this review or score. The graphics are a bit dated, but with the cartoon feel it doesn't exactly matter. Again team fortress 2 style graphics ain't bad either, just don't expect dx11 motion blur. It installs dx9.0c so, it's just a few years standard stuff. The online multiplayer can vary quite a bit depending on how the game is setup. One match had basically shotgun, others had all the weapons. C4 type explosives with detonator, as well as trip mine type. Beer (damage dampener), Steroids (makes you bunch harder), and other stuff, like double weapon damage....someone said UT3 sort of stuff is also about right...but implemented with duke's style.

    I haven't seen all the maps, nor used the jetpack, but I'm sure that would make it even more varied. Two hours played went by fast. dm, tdm, king of the hill, and capture the babe (flag) is what I've noticed. They have a button for dlc, so who knows what they add in the future.

    Overall when you consider it isn't CoD, and tries to be what it is, it's satisfying and simple, yet varied. For multiplayer I give it an 8. (I rarely give 10's unless it's skyrim [assumed] good). So 8 for multiplayer is good. Some might see the lack of kill streak bonuses like getting an airstrike and such and give it lower, but if you know going in what it is, and notice the subtle differences it has with such and thought put into the level design there are some zany times to be had that differentiates it from most other shooters and provides a refreshing take from the great but similar military style multiplayer shooters. You can make up your own mind on whether or not it's worth full price, but there is little excuse to not pick it up when you see it on discount going forward. At $45 on steam pre-order I'm satisfied with the purchase. It should be compared more against the Team Fortress 2 types, then CoD/Battlefield/Resistance/Killzone/Halo types. There was room in the genre for one of these, and it fits that niche nicely. I wasn't one who waited for it, so i'm not a fanboi of this game. I might of played the original back in the day in high school, but don't really remember it. So I didn't come in with any past expectations nor loyalty to the brand. If you can get past that it doesn't use dx11(or 10) style graphics, and put it in its proper place, and don't judge it off one server's variation of the game, it's a fun game. Enjoy. Remember 13 years in development is a skewed number, they redid the game a couple of times, and bought it off the scrap heap a ~couple of years ago.    … Expand
  59. Dimuscul
    Jun 14, 2011
    9
    Cool game with a lot of detail, and I mean a lot of detail. Gameplay is old school, engine is outdated (after 12 years, what did you expect? lol) ... but the game is fun and hilarious.
  60. gromit
    Jun 14, 2011
    3
    This game was so disappointing, The original Duke Nukem was so much fun as it was original, humorous and to top it off was a great fun game to play. This thing fails on so many levels it is hard to know where to begin, The graphics are poor but that can be excused as you don't buy this game for the graphics. The game is incredibly linear, The humor dated and really just identical from theThis game was so disappointing, The original Duke Nukem was so much fun as it was original, humorous and to top it off was a great fun game to play. This thing fails on so many levels it is hard to know where to begin, The graphics are poor but that can be excused as you don't buy this game for the graphics. The game is incredibly linear, The humor dated and really just identical from the previous game 14 years ago, hell you don't even get to use any weapons till you have stumbled around in incredibly boring story line for 20-30 mins, To top it off the controls just seem clunky. Perhaps this is one sequel that really would have been better off left unmade.… Expand
  61. ZeroAX
    Jun 14, 2011
    10
    Very funny, very fun game. Don't listen to the reviewers. They've been blinded into thinking that all FPS games should be the same, and anything different they can't understand/accept. A 10 in my book.
  62. Zzgashi
    Jun 14, 2011
    6
    Duke Nukem's iconic macho humor is as strong as ever, with all it's hidden ego items, which rewards players for spending time dicking around and finding ways to pat themselves on the back (though less so later in the game). This rewards players by increasing the size of Duke's ego, which is apparently powerful enough to stop bullets (but getting shot still makes him feel bad). The levelsDuke Nukem's iconic macho humor is as strong as ever, with all it's hidden ego items, which rewards players for spending time dicking around and finding ways to pat themselves on the back (though less so later in the game). This rewards players by increasing the size of Duke's ego, which is apparently powerful enough to stop bullets (but getting shot still makes him feel bad). The levels have some wonderfully novel and creative design. It's a breath of fresh air against all the modern shooters of nonstop shooting to find puzzles intermittently placed between shootouts, and allows for a stronger narrative characterizing Duke. The best joke of all is that after 15 years in development the game still feels rushed, and shooting simply isn't fun. Of all the fantastic weapons in Duke's arsenal, he's only allowed to carry two at a time, and not anywhere near enough ammo. For a game about kicking ass and chewing bubblegum, Duke spends way too much time looking at the ground trying to find the right tool for the job. Mid fight duke can refill his ego by humiliating and executing aliens, which is an entertaining idea, except Duke's default and constant ego regeneration is so fast, that such maneuvers are hardly worth doing. The regeneration also heavily encourages players to just turtle up behind cover and hide whenever they get hurt, which is very uncharacteristic of Duke Nukem, and sometimes results in long drawn out standoffs without the specific gun Duke is supposed to use (which can often be found nearby without any in world explanation). On harder difficulties all these problems are made worse, as duke has to spend more time hiding to recover ego, and it's more important that you have the specific gun the developer wanted you to use for that part.

    Duke Nukem could of been an exciting blast from the past, but instead a halfassed attempt to "modernize" it ruins the game and makes it play like a cheap, and clunky Call of Duty clone.    … Expand
  63. dosse91
    Jun 14, 2011
    5
    After 13 years of development this should've been one of the best games ever. instead, what we got is a really mediocre shooter. the first problem of this game is that the gameplay doesn't really feel like duke nukem anymore. i mean, remember how many weapons you could carry in duke3d? in this one you can only carry 2 weapons, some pipebombs, some steroids and a beer. the beer sucks too,After 13 years of development this should've been one of the best games ever. instead, what we got is a really mediocre shooter. the first problem of this game is that the gameplay doesn't really feel like duke nukem anymore. i mean, remember how many weapons you could carry in duke3d? in this one you can only carry 2 weapons, some pipebombs, some steroids and a beer. the beer sucks too, if you drink it you'll take less damage but you'll be drunk for the next 30 seconds and almost unable to see enemies. who thought this was a good idea???? another thing that pisses me off are... those puzzle levels like the duke burger. i mean, there's nothing wrong with something that challenges your mind, but was it so necessary to put this levels in a game called DUKE NUKEM???? duke nukem is all about killing enemies, jokes and maybe finding some keys to open doors, not wasting half an hour wondering where the **** you're supposed to go!
    second problem: pathetic graphics and physics. about the graphics i don't even know where to start, they're just dated, and the post processing is excessive. about the physics... i don't know what to say, they feel like they come from a game from the 90's.
    third problem: stupid errors and confusion. here's an example. [spoiler] there's a level where you have to find a **** there's a door locked with a combination of 4 numbers. you can find the combination by watching a security camera. the combination that you find is 4168. if you type that, it doesn't work. after some time, i discovered that the correct combination was 4768, but on that camera it was 4168. this is just pathetic. if the guy who made that drawing wasn't able to draw a 7, he should've changed the combination to something else, something that would generate less confusion. [/spoiler] fourth problem: vehicles and mini games! the controls are ATROCIOUS! they're a crime against humanity!
    fifth and last problem: difficulty. i have nothing against hard games. duke3d was pretty hard too, but it was 1996! in 2011, people doesn't play hard games anymore! they give up after some tries.

    the only redeeming factor for this game is that it's duke nukem, the jokes still make you lol. they're a bit dated, but they're still funny.    … Expand
  64. BoTheMastaOfAll
    Jun 14, 2011
    9
    Let me just say that I have never played a Duke Nukem game before. That being said, I really enjoy this game so far. I don't know why everyone thinks the graphics suck, I think they're all right. Guns are solid, and Duke's one-liners are hilarious. So far, I'm at the casino, the aliens are fun to fight, shooting is solid, storyline is basic and funny, and there are nice little breaks fromLet me just say that I have never played a Duke Nukem game before. That being said, I really enjoy this game so far. I don't know why everyone thinks the graphics suck, I think they're all right. Guns are solid, and Duke's one-liners are hilarious. So far, I'm at the casino, the aliens are fun to fight, shooting is solid, storyline is basic and funny, and there are nice little breaks from the shooting. I don't care that it took 14 years to make, it's a good game. The only reason I took off a point is because of the two weapon limit. Not a fan of it.… Expand
  65. Knihovnik
    Jun 14, 2011
    9
    Kick ass game worth waiting (for me). Sure, the graphics sucks, but who cares? Duke doesn't need graphics like Crysis to kick some asses. The game has everything - babes, puzzles, mini games, cars..
next
Page:

Awards & Rankings

14
#14 Most Discussed PC Game of 2011
29
#29 Most Shared PC Game of 2011

Critic Reviews

All reviews »
Metascore
54

Mixed or average reviews - based on 48 Critic Reviews

Critic score distribution:
  1. Positive: 7 out of 48
  2. Mixed: 24 out of 48
  3. Negative: 17 out of 48
  1. GamingXP
    Sep 12, 2011
    55
    Duke Nukem Forever would be quite decent if one felt entirely certain it's intended purely as a self-parody. As is, it doesn't do the expectations, the buyer or the Duke justice – oh, had he rather remained a vaporware legend!
    Read full review
  2. PC Gamer UK
    Aug 6, 2011
    29
    Petty, nasty and anachronistic. Duke is only relevant as a warning from the past. Avoid these mistakes, developers. [Aug 2011, p.76]
  3. FiringSquad
    Aug 1, 2011
    72
    Bottom line: Duke Nukem Forever was not worth the 15-year wait, nor is it worth paying the full $50. However, I cannot deny that I thought it was both fun and funny, which at the end of the day is what this franchise is all about.
    Read full review
See all critic reviews »