Duke Nukem, the man that kicks ass and chews bubblegum (even when he’s out of it), had a pretty rough return to form back in 2011 with his latest, and maybe last outing, Duke Nukem: Forever. Despite the cold reception of the game, there is no denying the thrilling splash he made in the 1990s in the earliest days of full-3D action. From its risque humor to over-the-top bloody shooting action, to the interactivity and diversity of levels, Duke Nukem 3D created another milestone in video game entertainment and game design, and would influence many other action games and first-person shooters. Last year, Devolver Digital, along with 3D Realms, released the Duke Nukem 3D: Megaton Edition for Steam. Today, Devolver announced the release date and details of the game on the PlayStation 3 and PlayStation Vita.
[Editor’s note: above trailer is from the Steam launch of Duke Nukem 3D: Megaton Edition]
Duke Nukem 3D is the defining compilation of one of the most popular and controversial video games of all time. Featuring a juicy, full-fledged “Atomic Edition” single-player, and every expansion pack released for the game, the Megaton Edition lives up to its title. Players will embark on a wild and crazy action-packed adventure with the Duke himself to a tropical paradise, a hellish winter wonderland, and even the great, patriotic halls of Washington D.C. The game is presented in its original, pixelated, mostly 3D glory with Alien sprites and luscious 16-bit strippers, all ready for the party of a lifetime! The game’s entire original presentation is presented, updated for modern controls and interfaces.
Back in 1996, the game established the legacy of loose, thrilling shooting gameplay with totally ludicrous story and plot. There wasn’t a reason as to why aliens were attacking the Earth, only that players can take an assortment of weapons and shoot everything that moves. There wasn’t a reason for why there were pixelated strippers shaking their rumps on a pole in the middle of an alien invasion, only that it was there and that meant the game had style.
Duke Nukem 3D did receive its fair share of controversy and criticism for the time, and established its reputation because no other game was pulling such stunts. Where Wolfenstein 3-D focused on escaping a Nazi fortress and slaying mecha-Hitler, Duke Nukem was about shooting aliens to save babes. Where ID Software’s DOOM saw players as a nameless space marine fighting the demons of hell on Mars, Duke Nukem saw players as a macho, loud-mouthed action hero that shouts all sorts of attitude-driven one-liners and movie-inspired quotes at their enemies. The game saw success on various platforms, including the original PlayStation.
With the game’s release last year, Devolver Digital and 3D Realms continued to update the game, adding more mission packs and online multiplayer. It was a big hit on Steam and this release on PlayStation 3 and PlayStation Vita comes at a great time as the new year just begins. Duke Nukem 3D: Megaton Edition will release next Tuesday, January 6th and will be free for PS Plus Members.
