Duke Nukem 3D (Xbox 360)

GameSpot editors' review

• CNET editors' rating: 4.0 stars Excellent
  Detailed editors' rating
  Overall score: 8.0 (4.0 stars)

• Reviewed by:
  Mike Feinberg
• Reviewed on: 10/15/2008
• Updated on: 10/16/2008
• Released on: 09/24/2008
• Originally published on GameSpot: Duke Nukem 3D (Xbox 360) Review

Almost 13 years ago, Duke Nukem 3D was released on the PC and instantly made an impact. Its brutal gameplay and humorous tone impressed a growing multitude of shooter fans who were salivating for something more. For fans of the game and the series, rest assured that all of the original, groundbreaking gameplay and content are present here. For those of you who are new to the world of Duke Nukem, prepare yourself to experience one of the better shooters that the mid-'90s had to offer.

Duke Nukem 3D is set in a futuristic, unrecognizable Los Angeles. While our hero was busy fighting in space, aliens took advantage of his absence and annihilated the planet. Duke returns to Los Angeles to find that anthropomorphic, laser-toting lizards and those ever-popular swine police officers have overtaken the streets. These aliens, of course, have left all of the beautiful ladies intact for their personal amusement. Pornography and guns are now the world's only forms of entertainment.

Once the game begins, Duke must single-handedly eradicate the alien threat and take back Earth for what's left of humanity. This task is divided up into four episodes containing six or seven chapters each. Each chapter's basic sequence is kill hordes of baddies, find some keycards, unlock some doors, and eventually detonate a nuclear bomb. This formula may get repetitive, but the varied interactive environments keep things interesting and amusing, and Duke's classic one-liners that will bring a smile to your face.

If you choose, you can take out aliens using just the sweet justice of your killer left boot. Few things are more satisfying than connecting a front kick to a lizard's throat and dropping him instantly. However, there is a large arsenal of equally satisfying weapons just lying around the streets waiting to be used. These weapons range from the standard pistol and shotgun to the freeze ray, shrink ray, and remote-detonated pipe bomb. This arsenal not only makes saving the world feel possible, it also makes it a lot of fun. Also, ammunition is plentiful, so you will be able to use your favorite weapons often.

The abundance of Duke's ammunition and weapon supply is a necessary component because Duke Nukem 3D is a hard game. The level design is varied and entertaining for the most part, but occasionally it might leave you lost and wondering where exactly your red keycard goes. The map you can open is rarely much help, and it can be a nuisance since using it makes the action screen go blank, but enemies are still able to attack and kill you while you're looking at it. This aspect will lead to some unnecessarily frantic moments in an already chaotic game. Also, enemies have seemingly flawless aim. An alien can spot you from across a sizable chamber and usually damage you with lasers, bullets, and rockets. Even the shotgun shells miraculously travel vast distances to lower your health meter.

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