Duke Nukem
“Duke Nukem 3D: The Nuke-Hitting Hero”
In Hungary, everyone knows it by this name, but if we were to translate it: Duke, who hits nukes!
The follow-up to Duke Nukem and Duke Nukem II, released by Apogee Software (now known as 3D Realms), is Duke Nukem 3D. The full version of the game was released on April 19, 1996. It’s a first-person shooter (FPS), action-packed game that was available for both PC and consoles.
The Hero
Duke is a macho, sarcastic, cigar-smoking character, and one of his iconic lines is: “It’s time to kick ass and chew bubblegum, and I’m all out of gum!”
He’s a modern-day hero who faces an alien invasion alone, with hard-hitting action scenes and a good dose of humor.
The Story
Duke returns to Earth hoping for a relaxing vacation, but his ship is shot down by unknown enemies. Realizing the severity of the situation, he decides to stop the alien invasion, which has taken over Los Angeles, spreading chaos worldwide and abducting Earth’s women into their incubators. The aliens have mutated the police officers, turning them into “pig cops”. The game takes players through various locations such as urban environments, a movie theater, a red-light district, a sushi bar, a subway, a hotel, a prison, a nuclear waste dump, space stations, and finally the alien mothership!
The final showdown takes place in Los Angeles, where Duke defeats the Cycloid Incinerator, the alien leader, effectively ending their threat.
Weapons Arsenal
- Powerful Kick – for close combat
- Pistol
- Shotgun
- Chaingun
- RPG (Rocket Launcher)
- Pipe Bomb
- Shrink Ray – shrinks enemies
- Microwave Expander
- Freezer – freezes enemies
- Devastator – a fast, double-barrel rocket launcher
- Traps, grenades, and explosives
Duke Nukem 3D Episiodes
I. Los Angeles: L.A. Meltdown
Main Boss: Overlord
II. The Moon and Its Space Bases
Main Boss: Alien Brain
III. Los Angeles: Skyscrapers and Subway Stations
Main Boss: Cycloid Emperor
Expanded IVth Episode: Atomic Edition – 1996
Location: Underground bases, industrial facilities, and laboratories.
Main Boss: Alien Queen
Vth Episode: 20th Anniversary World Tour – 2016: Alien World Order
Location: Paris, Moscow, London, Tokyo, and Antarctica.
Main Boss: Cycloid Emperor
As 3D Realms recalled: “With Duke Nukem 3D, unlike any previous shooter, we wanted real-world locations like a movie theater, strip clubs, and bookstores…”
Rating: M for Mature
Duke Nukem 3D was rated M for mature audiences, meaning it’s recommended for players 17 and up due to adult themes.
Duke Nukem Music
The game’s music was composed by Lee Jackson and Robert “Bobby” Prince, who also worked on the music for the famous Doom FPS. The music in Duke Nukem 3D blends various genres:
- The iconic main theme, Grabbag, is an energetic hard rock piece by Lee Jackson.
- The urban levels feature jazz and funk elements, adding humor and ease.
- The space and futuristic locations are filled with electronic and techno elements.
- Some levels include ambient, tension-building melodies, while others even pay homage to classic action movie soundtracks.
You can listen to the full soundtrack here: Duke Nukem 3D Soundtrack
Striptease? Why Gamers Love It?
Duke Nukem 3D features strip clubs and erotic elements that sparked considerable attention. Players could encounter striptease dancers in various bars and clubs, and by throwing money at them, they would dance in provocative outfits. These features played a significant role in the game’s popularity at the time.
Why Gamers Loved It
The game offered players freedom to explore levels and interact with almost everything, like vending machines, computers, light switches, and toilets. Players could use sewers, doors, and drains to avoid enemies, find health points, portable medkits, and even steroids to speed up movement. Its iconic one-liners and over-the-top, tough-guy style made it a classic.
Sales Performance
Between 1993 and 1999, Duke Nukem 3D was the 12th best-selling PC game in the United States, with 950,000 units sold. By the end of 2002, NPD Techworld reported 1.25 million copies sold in the USA.
Duke Nukem Fan Base
Duke Nukem 3D still boasts an active fanbase, with a community that continues to create mods for the game, including new levels, weapons, stories, and gameplay enhancements. The “Duke Nukem 3D Megaton Edition” is one of the most popular fan collections for the game.
These fan-made creations are freely available and provide endless content for players.
The original Build Engine continues to inspire developers and fans alike.
Will There Be a Sequel?
The rights to Duke Nukem are currently owned by Gearbox Software. There are occasional rumors about new projects, but there’s no official word on a sequel at this time.
Fans are hopeful for a retro-modern continuation of Duke Nukem 3D, in the same style as the original!
For more gaming news, visit: MOHO Game News
The information was compiled and summarized based on gameplay experience, Wikipedia, and with the assistance of AI from ChatGPT (OpenAI).
