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Duke Nukem 3D

EMAIL PRINTxbox360

7.6 User Score:

Generally favorable reviews

Based on 19 critic reviews
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Based on 20 votes
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Game Info

Publisher: 3D Realms

Developer: 3D Realms

Genre(s): Action

Players: 8

ESRB Rating: M (Mature)

Release Date: September 24, 2008

Summary

[Xbox Live Arcade] Duke Nukem, the politically incorrect action hero and ultimate alien ass kicker, defends Earth and its babes from alien invasion in Duke Nukem 3D. This is the award winning game that helped define the FPS genre, introducing unparalleled interactivity, and a main character that spoke. Take the fight to the aliens across 39 levels featuring Hollywood, Los Angeles, a moon base, and alien spacecraft. Innovative items like the Jetpack, HoloDuke, Shrink Ray, or Pipe Bombs allow you to fight the aliens in any style you want. Defeat the aliens, so Duke can get back to some R&R with a stogie, a warm belly, and a bottle of Jack. [3D Realms]

Cheat Codes & Hints: Cheat Code Central

Also On The Web: Official Website

What The Critics Said

All critic scores are converted to a 100-point scale. If a critic does not indicate a score, we assign a score based on the general impression given by the text of the review. Learn more...

1UP

It's not for the kiddies, but if you've got 800 Marketplace points lying around, you oughta come get some.

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Thunderbolt

How well this game has aged is truly a testament to the series. It’s only regrettable that we may never get a true sequel to one of the most iconic entries in gaming history.

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GamePro

After 12 years, Duke still kicks ass. He may not be as good looking as he used to be but he continues to prove that the adage - its not the graphics that make a game great, its the gameplay - will always be true.

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Meristation

The King is back in this new rendition of the classic PC game. 3D Realms brings Duke Nuken 3D to Xbox 360 with new gameplay elements that make the adventure more interesting and also an extremely funny multiplayer that reminds us of classics like Unreal Tournament or Counter Strike. It’s been around for 12 years, but this is still a must have for just 800 Microsoft Points.

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Official Xbox Magazine

Greatness. The one-liners and parodies are still funny, the level design is outstanding. [Nov 2008, p.64]

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IGN

Yet another classic release that makes a wonderful conversion onto Xbox Live Arcade. Some might be put off by its convoluted, old school level design and predictably unattractive appearance but there’s no doubt that it’s one of the fathers of the most popular genre in our industry.

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GameFocus

Its Duke, he is still a bad ass and in the end this version rivals the original with its 8 player Co-op and we finally get a FPS with some cool weapons again. So buy this game… now… and GET SOME!

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Team Xbox

But more importantly, the developers at 3D Realms (yes, the original devs did this port instead of working on something else, ahem) added a few features to bring the experience up to date without severely affecting the core gameplay.

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GameSpot

Duke is back and he's still out of bubble gum. Come get some.

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NZGamer

Just don't play it for extended periods on a big telly - I'm not predisposed to game-induced motion sickness (I've never gotten it before) and Duke makes me want to hurl if I play it too long.

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Game Over Online

You could do a lot worse with your Microsoft Points than to pick it up.

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Official Xbox Magazine UK

The smartest dumb game on Xbox Live. [Dec 2008, p.101]

Eurogamer

Thankfully, while some of its design decisions are more than a little frustrating, it remains a brilliantly entertaining first-person shooter and probably deserves more credit for helping to shape the genre than it has been given. It's a shame the online modes aren't more compelling, but having spent two blissfully nostalgic days battling through the single player campaign, I'm happy to consider it 800 points well spent.

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Gamer.nl

Gamers that played, and liked, the original know what to do: start downloading! Duke Nukem 3D on Xbox Live Arcade is the perfect port, with no expense spared. The extra multiplayer options and the replay function even make up for the high difficulty setting.

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Jolt Online Gaming UK

There’s no getting away from the fact that Duke Nukem has gotten on a bit, and he’s already been around the block a few times on several other systems. Still, as a trip down memory lane or an insight into a key period of FPS development, the Live Arcade version is just about worth the admission price.

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Worth Playing

I'd be lying if I said that Duke Nukem 3D is as good today as it ever was, but it hasn't aged at all badly, and it can teach modern first-person shooters a thing or two about level design and plain fun.

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3DJuegos

Duke Nukem 3D demonstrates that shooters haven´t changed so much from the 90s. Its graphics have aged as badly as its age indicates, but its gameplay is so crazy and funny that it´s still a great title. After all, this is a classic videogame, and the classics should have a place in the collection of every good player.

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X360 Magazine UK

There's no denying thta Duke's level design was pioneering at the time, however, its humour is just as open to chauvinistic interpretation as it always was. [Issue#39]

Xbox World 360 Magazine UK

It's a bridge between loon-o-shooters and interactive modern FPS'. That's it, though. [Christmas 2008, p.60]

What Our Users Said

The average user rating for this game is 7.6 (out of 10) based on 20 User Votes

Note: User votes are NOT included in the Metascore calculation.

Samuel L gave it a9:
As it turns out, FPS Master is the only one who believes that this is a cheesy Doom clone/rip off. Duke Nukem 3D revolutionized the FPS genre and provided a stepladder for future FPS games. Only Quake would surpass DN3D years later. Yet, this game seems as ground-breaking on the XBOX360 as it did when it was released for the PC.

William T gave it an8:
Humor and action abound in tongue-in-cheek style and Duke's "witty" one liners still bring a smirk to the face. While the graphics and game play are dated, there is no denying that Duke Nukem 3D is a classic FPS shooter that any gamer should consider purchasing.

Dylan R gave it a10:
One of the best shooters of its time and still holds its place today. This game helped define the FPS genre with its astounding features. It was one of the first FPS games to feature reloading, breakable walls, and a talking character, especially one with some funny catch phrases. The game still holds its amazing charm playing through single player and with the new addition of online matchmaking it can only get better. This game is a must own for gamers who enjoyed such titles as Doom and Castle Wolfenstien.

Khristian R. gave it an8:
It still plays as well as it ever did. Its one of those classics that people will come back to because of the playability and the addition of Multiplayer. The first time you do the Cinema level. Is it me being fussy or was the music on the original a bit better though. For me Duke is Serious Sam's older brother and the comedy value remains to. I'm all outta gum.

FPS Master gave it a5:
By looking at these over-inflated reviews, it looks like I'm the only one that always thought this series was nothing more than a cheesy Doom clone / rip-off.

Joey G. gave it a10:
Duke Nukem 3D is a game that warms my heart to think about. So many good memories are brought back when I play this game. Duke is still relevant in 2008, and will be for years to come. The online gameplay is finger-numbing fun, and the campaign is just like I remember it. Even if you've never experienced what Nukem has to offer, you owe it to yourself to go out and download this work of art. If you call yourself a gamer, that is.

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Duke Nukem 3D

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