While he was one of the biggest 90’s video game heroes, Duke Nukem has been on a downfall, ever since the long in-development Forever released. However, when a remaster was announced, I was hopeful that the franchise was being given some proper care. It wasn’t the gameplay that convinced me though. The game’s marketing was hilarious, ranging from satire of the current election to Twitter fights with Randy Pitchford. If this can be accomplished so well, will the game be placed in the same light?
Gameplay:
One thing I admire about Duke Nukem is it’s difficulty, as it doesn’t associate with what’s coming out of your average military shooter. Weapons feel meaty and diverse, and the only real goal is to stay alive, and kick ass. This simplicity is what makes Duke Nukem feel so refreshing, showing how it’s gotten better with age.
There’s also new content, and even a rewind option for players unfamiliar with the series harshness. This could be criticized, but I’’ll admit that this does help the game flow better on modern consoles. There’s also choices available for presentation, so you can experience the game in different ways.
Story & Design:
Duke Nukem’s story won’t blow your mind, but the addition of developers commentary does make the game somewhat more compelling. It’s really interesting to see how such a world was built, and what decisions had to be made during development. Some lines are more tailored to game designers themselves, but I nevertheless appreciate the placement.
While the game feels great to play, some of it’s age can be seen in it’s immature humor. It’s a frequent thing to see, and only provides notions of what we can change about Duke Nukem in the future. Hopefully this reaction is also beyond this review, and makes Gearbox act if they are planning a more formal return.
Presentation/ Visuals & Audio:
Price-wise, the game is only $20, which I find to be reasonable, especially with the added content. After all, players will be getting new weapons, levels, commentary, options, and features, so it doesn’t feel like something that was thrown out there for profit.
Conclusion:
Duke Nukem 3D: 20th Anniversary Edition World Tour is a rather commendable way to bring back a former floundering franchise. While it doesn’t achieve success in all fronts, it’s clear passion was poured for players old and new, in order to archive the legacy.
Duke Nukem 3D: 20th Anniversary Edition World Tour gets a 8/10 (Very Good)
We’d like to thank Gearbox Software for giving us a code!
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