The king is back!

No, Duke Nukem Forever isn’t finally on its way (that’ll be out “when it’s done”), but the Duke’ster has hit the Xbox Live Arcade, bringing the classic Duke Nukem 3D to a new wave of gamers.

If you’ve never spent any time with the Duke, for shame. Awash with controversy and complaints upon release, Duke Nukem 3D hit the gaming scene with an orgy of violence, unashamed mature themes and a wise crackin’, trash talkin’ protagonist out to save the world from alien scum and rescue the babes. Devilishly naughty to play as a young teen, yes, but beneath the blood and boobs was the next great FPS to carry the torch from Doom and one of the last to use 2D sprites. Taking a break from their mad schedule to ensure Duke Nukem Forever is released in this lifetime, 3D Realms jumped back on board to bring back a classic and get fans in the mood for the Duke’s repugnant charm.

Duke Nukem 3D on Xbox Live Arcade ports across the mid nineties PC classic to the Xbox, injecting it with a range of new features in the process. A visual upgrade this is not and Duke is looking every bit as gritty as he did back in the day. Smooth 3D worlds and low-res 2D character sprites. The game still runs at the standard 4:3 ratio, so if you’re going to be playing the title on your lovely new widescreen home theatre set up, prepare for some serious screen bordering. Sound is slightly improved over the original release, but still dated compared to the orchestral scores of modern gaming.


The pixelated boobies that formed the basis of many puberty stricken teen fantasies may have long lost all titillation, but fortunately the gameplay is still as enjoyable as ever. A mass of both high powered and unique weaponry, challenging level design littered with secrets and all the 90’s pop culture references you could ask for. Shooting mechanics are as tight as ever also. Considering Duke was from the days before the WASD keyboard and mouse combo become standard for first person shooters, the controls translate perfectly to the Xbox controller.

Making use of the glorious free hard drive space on the 360, every move you make is automatically recorded in game. Instead of quick saving or relying on checkpoints, you are granted the ability to rewind time and try again. Unlike the old Sands of Time mechanic, you can backtrack to any precise point in the level without punishment. Be it 10 seconds or 10 minutes, the choice is yours. You are able to rewind time after every death, encouraging you to take risks, try new approaches and generally just blitz through the game. It makes the game a hell of lot easier to just kick back and relive the memories, although if you’re a die hard fan looking to enjoy Duke the ol’ fashioned way, you can still rely on the traditional save and load system.

Beyond the practical application in game, these gameplay recordings can also be saved and shared to show off your skill to other players. Every time you play, both in single and multiplayer, a user clip is automatically created. They can then be shared with other players on your friends list, or uploaded to leaderboard spots if you happen to complete a level the fastest, or get the highest score, teaching other players how to improve their skills. It’s not a patch on Halo 3’s Theatre mode, but it’s there for the next time you want to upload your l337 speed run skills and school some n00bs.


With the simplicity of Xbox Live, online multiplayer is easy to jump straight into for a bit of classic Dukematch action. Action is fast, furious and chaotic, with 8 Duke’s running around on screen at once, but a refreshing change from the tense battlefield’s of Call of Duty 4 and Halo 3. There is also the ability to play through the entire game co-operatively with a ridiculous 8 players if you wish, unlocking achievements as you go. Playing through the game also unlocks concept art in the Artwork Gallery, including two shots from the ‘upcoming’ Duke Nukem Forever.

It’s been a long time since I last got my hands on that classic Duke Nukem action and I’m happy to say that the Xbox 360 instalment is truly all about just reliving a classic and enjoying it all over again. The challenge has been toned down, but switching off your brain and just cruising through the game is suitably refreshing amidst all the stellar holiday season gaming hitting store shelves. Sure it might not be the most original title to hit Xbox Live Arcade, and it sure as hell isn’t the prettiest, but Duke is still every bit the classic it was back in ‘96.

Now if only 3D Realms would hurry up and finish Duke Nukem Forever already!