Duke Nukem Forever

 PlayStation 3
User Score
4.9

Generally unfavorable reviews- based on 318 Ratings

User score distribution:
  1. Positive: 88 out of 318
  2. Mixed: 91 out of 318
  3. Negative: 139 out of 318
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  1. SgtFlip
    Jun 14, 2011
    2
    "This'll be interesting." was my first thought when putting the disc into the drive of my Xbox. This proved to be very true, although not in the way I had expected it to be. Duke Nukem Forever is a game that captures very much the essence of Duke Nukem 3D, it is indeed the same Duke we're about to meet. You really don't need more than a few minutes into the intro to realize this. Paying"This'll be interesting." was my first thought when putting the disc into the drive of my Xbox. This proved to be very true, although not in the way I had expected it to be. Duke Nukem Forever is a game that captures very much the essence of Duke Nukem 3D, it is indeed the same Duke we're about to meet. You really don't need more than a few minutes into the intro to realize this. Paying homage to the original is however nothing you can build an entire game on, and being true to the earlier games is the only thing that is done properly within Duke Nukem Forever. Everything else pretty much sucks. Animations are poorly made and implemented with characters displaying snapping and odd movement patterns. You play in first person view yet there is a ton of bugs related to this. Notice especially how the player seems to hover about a feet above the floor and how it's possible to trigger strafing movement without triggering the strafing animation. Facial animations are so poorly implemented that they seem to have no correlation at all with the content of their audio files. The sound is poor as well, with no considerable variations implemented at all. This makes the game sound repetitive and uninteresting. Just try to jump a few times in a row and listen to the grunting Duke lets out as he lands and you'll understand what I mean. The whole game sounds pretty much like this, apart from the few areas that have for some reason been left totally without any ambience tracks making them feel even more out of place and breaking immersion totally. Considering the competing titles Duke Nukem Forever has nothing to show when it comes to visuals either, it simply looks worse than the titles it's supposed to outrun. I've always thought that the most important thing to pull off when doing a game is the gameplay and since this game doesn't even manage that it's not worth anyones time really. There are huge sections with non-existing gameplay and nothing for the player to do while waiting for some pointless movie (with sucky facials and poor sound) to finish. If you want something that feels like the old Duke Nukem 3D but is a bit new and has boobs that you haven't seen before just replay the old game with some downloaded porno in the background, it's pretty much the same thing. And whatever you do, don't buy this game first hand, there's bound to be a huge second hand market for it within short.… Expand
  2. mjfan97
    May 3, 2013
    4
    This game is an unimaginative, uninspired, dull shooter. I mean, what happened to all the early concept art? That looked way better than this game. Instead what we got was a series of lame jokes, repetitive gameplay and design, cheap boss fights and unfunny jabs at other popular games. All of the games referenced, ironically are better than this game! You might aswell play the old DukeThis game is an unimaginative, uninspired, dull shooter. I mean, what happened to all the early concept art? That looked way better than this game. Instead what we got was a series of lame jokes, repetitive gameplay and design, cheap boss fights and unfunny jabs at other popular games. All of the games referenced, ironically are better than this game! You might aswell play the old Duke Nukem games. Did I also mention, all of the mini-games suck? The multiplayer is mediocre too. There is some fun to be had in this game, don't get me wrong. I loved all the titillation enforced by the sexist portrayals of women in the game and some of the shooting segments were fun. I'm not surprised that this game has an abundance of deficiencies in the gameplay. Most of the development time most of been spent on animating the poo and writing out 'forced' jokes.… Expand
  3. FinnMacKool
    Jul 19, 2011
    0
    I'd rather have a conversation about merits of Twilight with the Kardashians than play this game. I have never reviewed a game before but I felt compelled after spending money on this cash-grab. I went back and asked the guy at the game store to wear a ski-mask the next time he tries to sell me a piece of **** like this. The only people who gave this positive reviews must have worked onI'd rather have a conversation about merits of Twilight with the Kardashians than play this game. I have never reviewed a game before but I felt compelled after spending money on this cash-grab. I went back and asked the guy at the game store to wear a ski-mask the next time he tries to sell me a piece of **** like this. The only people who gave this positive reviews must have worked on this game's development and they should go back to crying in their Japanese love pillow than waste our time trying to justify these piece of ****.… Expand
  4. bksag
    Jan 4, 2012
    2
    the game simply put horrible. the texture and animation feel horrid. the gameplay didn't wow me eihter.


    shooting aliens gets boring after a while.
  5. Rye631
    Jan 3, 2012
    6
    I played Duke3d when I was in highschool. I have a nostalgic fondness for duke nukem, and I also like the over the top+totally in bad taste humour of the game. I am pretty sad about this game, I was hoping for some greatness. The best part of duke3d was the neat level design/locations. In 98 or 99, a destroyed city level was really cool compared to the marbled halls in DooM. in 2011,I played Duke3d when I was in highschool. I have a nostalgic fondness for duke nukem, and I also like the over the top+totally in bad taste humour of the game. I am pretty sad about this game, I was hoping for some greatness. The best part of duke3d was the neat level design/locations. In 98 or 99, a destroyed city level was really cool compared to the marbled halls in DooM. in 2011, EVERY GAME has ruined cities. So the specialness is missing. DNF is a mediocre game that the hardcore duke fans will like but few else. It doesn't bring anything to the table beyond some funny one liners and gross out jokes.… Expand
  6. EMelo01
    Jun 15, 2011
    5
    This game was a disappointment. I realize it keeps the "old school" feel to it and Duke is Duke, But other then the funny one-liners, and little fun interactions, there is nothing special about this game. The length of the load screen itself is enough to make me want to quit playing. It can be fun and challenging (on the hard difficulty) and the game is a breed of its own, but this day inThis game was a disappointment. I realize it keeps the "old school" feel to it and Duke is Duke, But other then the funny one-liners, and little fun interactions, there is nothing special about this game. The length of the load screen itself is enough to make me want to quit playing. It can be fun and challenging (on the hard difficulty) and the game is a breed of its own, but this day in age of gaming requires more than just a trademark name and character. (Especially the FPS Genre) I say give it a rent, have a laugh, kick some alien ass, and move on.… Expand
  7. 247Consoles
    Jun 14, 2011
    4
    Sorry but in a cut-throat recession hit community, to release slop like this is a crying shame.

    I appreciate after 13 years, it's a huge achievement to get a game published, but what exactly were the developers thinking? This is people's hard earned money and poor games means store seller's such as myself take a lot of heat when people find excuses to return under-par games. Then    Sorry but in a cut-throat recession hit community, to release slop like this is a crying shame.

    I appreciate after 13 years, it's a huge achievement to get a game published, but what exactly were the developers thinking?

    This is people's hard earned money and poor games means store seller's such as myself take a lot of heat when people find excuses to return under-par games.

    Then there are the graphics which could have been from a Commodore. Hey C4Eva, you seen better right?

    I hate to slate a highly anticipated game, and I didn't for other's but if I let this slide, I wouldn't be a true critic. I am sure the game will bear well with the die hard 40 somethings but I am not there yet and neither is this game. You should have focused on a new userbase as well as the old school fans and it is in this area and the fact it's 2011 that I cast doubt on your abilities, whether it be think - tanking the game or the programming abilities.

    I don't wish to discuss the game in general as I would hate to offend further. Thanks for the news hits but thats as good as it ever got to be honest.    … Expand
  8. R7critical
    Jun 28, 2011
    0
    This is an abomination and offends in every sense of the word. It is like purchasing a box of self-torture and injecting it directly into your ears and eyes. I don't even want to think about this game anymore, just please avoid it. Go play superman 64 or ET for the atari instead.
  9. JohnDenver
    Jun 16, 2011
    1
    This is absolutely the worst game I have played on the PS3 platform. Ever. I was expecting a modern version of the DN series, not a watered down version.

    1) Why would DN start off with no weapons? Kiling alient by throwing trophies is lame. 2) No open world at all. You can't even walk by people in a hallway, you are blocked until the dialog is complete. 3) Graphics look like PS2. 4)    This is absolutely the worst game I have played on the PS3 platform. Ever. I was expecting a modern version of the DN series, not a watered down version.

    1) Why would DN start off with no weapons? Kiling alient by throwing trophies is lame. 2) No open world at all. You can't even walk by people in a hallway, you are blocked until the dialog is complete.
    3) Graphics look like PS2.
    4) Most importantly -- the load time is abysmal. That was the final straw.    … Expand
  10. apebelly
    Aug 18, 2011
    0
    utter garbage , if a wanted to play a ps2 game i would dust off the old machine ,, so glad i hired this embarrassment of a "game" .. i did manage to get my £5 back from a certain high street video game rental shop tho ......... if meta-critic had a negative part to the score slider , this would definitely be a -10
  11. Engineergirl80
    Feb 4, 2012
    7
    I am so sorry to say that I was disappointed with the game. It just wasn't what it was supposed to be. When I was a young girl playing Duke 3D I loved by the game. What kept me playing this game was the amusing rhetoric from Duke and the un-pc themes. This game was just uninspiring and had it come out ten years ago, it would have been great. The graphics were not good and that madeI am so sorry to say that I was disappointed with the game. It just wasn't what it was supposed to be. When I was a young girl playing Duke 3D I loved by the game. What kept me playing this game was the amusing rhetoric from Duke and the un-pc themes. This game was just uninspiring and had it come out ten years ago, it would have been great. The graphics were not good and that made the stick around factor fall away very quickly. Some of the things you had to accomplish were downright mechanically infuriating. I caught myself swearing at the screen in annoyance rather than the swearing at the screen in Duke Delight. Damn.....… Expand
  12. johnny12
    Apr 9, 2012
    8
    duke nukem forever is an intersting game with duke kicking ass agaist the aliens and some great shooting mechanics,but is not satisfying with the strong sexuality and doing some dumb things
  13. mfriis
    Jun 14, 2011
    1
    Duke Nukem Forever is a collection of minigames with short passages of regular FPS gaming.

    Had mediocre hopes for this game but it simply sucks. First 45 mins are spent in a weird "on rails" Duke museum. After that theres only short passages that are actually an FPS. You spent most of your time driving trucks or shooting from a turret. It's dark, gritty and it's age is very visible. Don't buy it
  14. Inuit_Dude
    Aug 3, 2011
    0
    Anyone who liked this game seriously needs to get checked out because it is garbage. It starts you off alright but then it is utter chaos because it just plops you into combat with out any explanation it literally goes "go kill em" and that's it as well the graphics aren't that good for a game of this caliber and made in this day and age and the comedy is stale and dry with constantAnyone who liked this game seriously needs to get checked out because it is garbage. It starts you off alright but then it is utter chaos because it just plops you into combat with out any explanation it literally goes "go kill em" and that's it as well the graphics aren't that good for a game of this caliber and made in this day and age and the comedy is stale and dry with constant immature sex jokes that I was saying back in grade school stay away at all costs and if you have it bring it back in imeadietly while the game stores will still give you 35 $ for it this game was the biggest mistake of my life and was over hyped and turned out to be a piece of crap… Expand
  15. Rangersfan3003
    Jun 18, 2011
    1
    I never wasted money on something so **** stupid in my life. But thankfully I returned this and stuck this trash right back to where it came from, next time I'll wait for a few reviews before I got out and throw money out the window like this.
  16. Master_Race
    Jun 19, 2011
    4
    I rented this expecting old duke not a crappy generic fps.Sure it makes fun of some of this and maybe it was done that way to show the hipocrisy of reviewers that give 10/10 to games with regenerating health and 2 weapons limit and play virtually the same.Still not what i was hoping and totally not worth the 12 years waiting.
  17. Kadeemluvmusic
    Aug 13, 2011
    4
    I think it's time for Duke Nukem to be retired because Forever was a disappointment and a disgrace to make a comeback after 14 years of development issues. I played the demo and it wasn't that even good. I think that this game has been outdated or something, but with a comeback to the FPS format, well I just don't want to conglomerate myself. Duke Nukem Forever was the worst game of 2011.
  18. AgeGamer87
    Jun 16, 2011
    0
    So ok Duke Nukem Forever Is Finally Here!! Wow 14 Years!! Like many gamers i brought this on day one!! but to be honest i am deeply disapointed sure its a old game! but it just feels to generic and outdated plus load times take "FOREVER" henece the name of the game, sure its fun for about half an hour but i am deeply disapointed i mean im grateful that it actually arrived but the game inSo ok Duke Nukem Forever Is Finally Here!! Wow 14 Years!! Like many gamers i brought this on day one!! but to be honest i am deeply disapointed sure its a old game! but it just feels to generic and outdated plus load times take "FOREVER" henece the name of the game, sure its fun for about half an hour but i am deeply disapointed i mean im grateful that it actually arrived but the game in general feels rushed graphiclly its not impressive but it dont have to have good graphics to make a good game. Gearbox should have spent another year on this game even though its been 14 years since its release im sure one more year wouldnt have been that bad to at least bring the Duke into the next generation i have to admit i dont ussualy exchange my games after a purchase but the game honestly feels incomplete. As for the online multiplayer L O L sorry Duke… Expand
  19. hollowfication
    Jul 30, 2012
    0
    duke nukem suck arse was the worst game i played in years i waited for so long for duke nukem to come back. But what they replace us was this rubbish tried to get into it but made me more angry,
    duke nukem use his same old tried 90s catch phrase into 2011 game was not cleaver. It was just rubbish loading time took so long i could make cookies still be half loaded,. Only thing    duke nukem suck arse was the worst game i played in years i waited for so long for duke nukem to come back. But what they replace us was this rubbish tried to get into it but made me more angry,
    duke nukem use his same old tried 90s catch phrase into 2011 game was not cleaver. It was just rubbish loading time took so long i could make cookies still be half loaded,. Only thing that made me feel good about this game was when it ended i like angry joe ending to game flush it in toilet i mean literally and pee on it if u dont know who angryjoe he guy on youtube who review all games. game play get old super fast nothing else is really interesting if game company did this game over again i say hell no    … Expand
  20. IronGuy410
    Jun 19, 2011
    6
    I like to kick off my summers with a brainless, all-out, fun action game and in this respect, DNF didn't disappoint. The action is mostly fun, with Duke blasting enemies with weapons such as shotguns and shrink rays, and taking control of his powerful and fast truck. The fun does get cut off when jumping puzzles are added to the game, which is pretty frequently, but the action picks upI like to kick off my summers with a brainless, all-out, fun action game and in this respect, DNF didn't disappoint. The action is mostly fun, with Duke blasting enemies with weapons such as shotguns and shrink rays, and taking control of his powerful and fast truck. The fun does get cut off when jumping puzzles are added to the game, which is pretty frequently, but the action picks up after these moments and by the end the experience feels satisfying as a whole. The graphics and sound are pretty bland, not too bad but not very good either, with some environments looking pretty good but some looking downright bad, and frequent slowdown and texture pop-in throughout. Jon St John does a great job as the Duke, even if his one liners aren't very great. Overall, if you feel like turning your brain off for the 8-10 hours of the single player and maybe checking out the multiplayer portion, which is also pretty fun, DNF is a good rental. I wouldn't say it's worth buying and if you're one those people who have been waiting for this game since the 90s, odds are you'll be disappointed, but this is a fun rental experience nonetheless.… Expand
  21. RockHotel
    Jun 19, 2011
    1
    I have played video games all my life , but i heard about Duke Nukem a couple of months ago. My friend told me about the new Duke game and said that the old Duke Nukem was amazing and the new one is gonna be even better.So i thought to myself that im gonna try it out. OMFG!!! , i was a freaking dissapointment.I realized how terrible this game is in the first minutes.The jokes wereI have played video games all my life , but i heard about Duke Nukem a couple of months ago. My friend told me about the new Duke game and said that the old Duke Nukem was amazing and the new one is gonna be even better.So i thought to myself that im gonna try it out. OMFG!!! , i was a freaking dissapointment.I realized how terrible this game is in the first minutes.The jokes were extremely unfunny and quite often i didnt understand them at all.Animations just suck , facial animations were uglier than Harry Potter's foreskin and the boobs arent much of a lookers either.The audio is like a broken gramophone.The best example is Duke's jumping.The graphics arent so good either , a lot of bugs.But what decides a good game from a bad one is gameplay and as you might think ... the gameplay sucks as well.So my recommendation..... play the the old one.Everyone loves the old one and im quite sure that everyone will hate the new one.Dont buy the game.The game is just laughable...… Expand
  22. Microloutre
    Jul 3, 2011
    0
    Biggest disappointment of all time. dupidup dup
  23. CPD98
    Oct 28, 2014
    2
    Un juego totalmente desfasado, en chistes, gráficos y jugabilidad. Uno de los juegos mas malos en todo el catálogo de PS3. Podría haber sido un juego para pasar un buen rato y ya, pero ni eso.
  24. gary72
    Jun 14, 2011
    0
    God awful. I was astonished how bad this game was. Aren't games supposed to be entertaining to some degree?? Ripped off. Hail to the King? No thanks.
  25. DUkenUKem420
    Jun 15, 2011
    0
    What started as a promising new game in the Duke Nukem series became a long awaited legend and finally, a community running joke. Fast forward a decade and change later and here we are with Duke Nukem Forever. What can I say that hasn't already been said? It's basically everything you expect from Duke Nukem, minus most of the fun. Everything about the game is pretty boring and theWhat started as a promising new game in the Duke Nukem series became a long awaited legend and finally, a community running joke. Fast forward a decade and change later and here we are with Duke Nukem Forever. What can I say that hasn't already been said? It's basically everything you expect from Duke Nukem, minus most of the fun. Everything about the game is pretty boring and the humor about as dated-- alright I'll cut the **** The game is not good. Half the reason this game was so 'legendary' was because it was a joke. How does any company, not just Gearbox, expect to take the reins and just hope for the best? This game has and never will exceed the expectations people had back then, whether they were good or bad in the first place. This game, fabled for the sole reason of being the one that got away and for all intents and purposes was dead, was resurrected as a shambling horror. This game is just a lifeless zombie wearing a red tank-top and a decayed, yellow buzzcut. This should never have come back, and it is sad to see one of the game industry's longest running jokes become just an incredibly run-of-the-mill FPS in the footnote of an amazingly interesting legacy.… Expand
  26. Amadus
    Jun 14, 2011
    7
    If you loved Duke back in the day, then this is for you. Though the depth of level exploration seems to be lacking in comparison to Duke 3D. I find that to be the only thing missing in Duke Forever that would make it feel truly like a Duke Nukem.
  27. Serij
    Jun 15, 2011
    5
    This review contains spoilers, click expand to view. this game has a very specific taste. first of all you have to be hardened by brutal games as there maybe scenes that strike below the belt to you (for me it was the hive chapter, all those babes *sob*)
    second its an benefit if you like exploring every corner of a game as there is a lot of stuff you can use for no real purpose next to the items that increase your ego i.e. max life.
    and in addition you must be able to get along with a, lets say easy-understandable story but in excuse with vast boss fights (which were some of a good challenge for a person who does not play mainly fps games)
    if you meet these requirements this will be the perfect game for you
    AND if you are then a duke fanboy you will see that gearbox took this job serious as you will find a lot of dukish details like getting hurt in the electric socket, use pool tables, and so on.    … Expand
  28. Vambier
    Jun 14, 2011
    8
    Good duke game! Yes it looks and feels like an 8 year old game but who cares, it's still a fun game. If you liked duke 3d then you're gonna like this one too.
  29. TDK1984
    Jun 16, 2011
    7
    Most of the reviews for this game are unjust. I realize that the time it took for this game to come out automatically ruined any chances of it having a great score. Are the graphics dated? Yes. Are the load times atrocious? I've seen worse. Overall, Duke Nukem Forever isn't a bad game, nor is it a great one. Is it fun? Yes, it can be loads of fun. Is it frustrating? Yes, but for the rightMost of the reviews for this game are unjust. I realize that the time it took for this game to come out automatically ruined any chances of it having a great score. Are the graphics dated? Yes. Are the load times atrocious? I've seen worse. Overall, Duke Nukem Forever isn't a bad game, nor is it a great one. Is it fun? Yes, it can be loads of fun. Is it frustrating? Yes, but for the right reasons.

    I'm not justifying a purchase of this game, since I feel $60 is too much for this finished product. Would it be worth 25-30 bucks? Probably.

    I say rent it, play it, and see for yourself. Not worth perfect marks in any category, but I do feel reviewers slammed this game too hard. I'd say roughly 2 points were docked from every low scoring review just because "it took so long and should have been perfect".    … Expand
  30. j0KKKer
    Jun 14, 2011
    9
    Duke is awesome. That's it.
    Of course with all the hype that's being going on and the blindeness of the reviewers (some of them) contributes for an overall thinking that this game is bad.
    This game is not crysis is not COD is not Halo, neither it is Uncharted or even any other shooter out there. It may be different for the iGNorant reviewers but for me it's a piece of art that I will    Duke is awesome. That's it.
    Of course with all the hype that's being going on and the blindeness of the reviewers (some of them) contributes for an overall thinking that this game is bad.
    This game is not crysis is not COD is not Halo, neither it is Uncharted or even any other shooter out there. It may be different for the iGNorant reviewers but for me it's a piece of art that I will always keep standing by in my brain.
    Sure it isn't the sequel that the fans have been anticipating but it's fun and it's good.Awesome.
    (written by a guy who likes COD)    … Expand
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Awards & Rankings

25
#25 Most Discussed PS3 Game of 2011

Critic Reviews

All reviews »
Metascore
51

Mixed or average reviews - based on 48 Critic Reviews

Critic score distribution:
  1. Positive: 4 out of 48
  2. Mixed: 25 out of 48
  3. Negative: 19 out of 48
  1. Playstation Official Magazine Australia
    Oct 6, 2011
    50
    It's true that there are plenty of superior overall shooters out there that'd murder for a character with a quarter of the charisma Duke Nukem oozes. He's a dinosaur; a two-dimensional mound of muscles with a gun. But that's the joke. Duke Nukem Forever really is a several-year old game masquerading as a new release. [August 2011 p67]
  2. Playstation: The Official Magazine (US)
    Aug 2, 2011
    30
    Forever eschews any hope for a decent story or interesting gameplay in favor of shoving as many boobs in our face as possible. As a result, the game comes up short in every way possible.
  3. Gamers' Temple
    Jul 25, 2011
    20
    Plain and simple, Duke Nukem Forever suffers from being passed around the development table for too long without any updates to its core.
    Read full review
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