Duke Nukem Forever

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In "Duke Nukem Forever," Duke is back to save the world from an alien invasion with his arsenal of over-the-top weapons and signature style. After a long hiatus, Duke must once again put an end to the extraterrestrial threat, battling pig cops, giant bosses, and using a variety of interactive environments. The game features hours of single-player action and multiplayer modes, providing unadulterated fun and non-stop action.

Genres & Tags

Play Modes

Reviews

67%

Audience ScoreBased on 3,526 reviews

humor569 positive mentions

grinding37 negative mentions

humor
601 mentions
95 % positive mentions
0 % neutral mentions
5 % negative mentions
The humor in "Duke Nukem Forever" is a polarizing aspect, often described as crude, juvenile, and heavily reliant on outdated tropes, including toilet humor and sexual innuendos. While some players appreciate the nostalgic charm and find the one-liners and absurd situations genuinely funny, many criticize the humor as forced, repetitive, and lacking the cleverness of earlier titles in the series. Overall, the game's comedic elements cater primarily to fans of lowbrow humor, with mixed reactions depending on individual taste and expectations.
- “With its nostalgic charm, over-the-top action, and irreverent humor, it's a timeless classic that I'll continue to enjoy for years to come.”
- “Funny game, great voice acting, good lines, and good pacing with a lot of things going on that makes you feel you're actually doing something rather than just wandering around from point A to point B.”
- “Duke is back and better than ever, with level interactability like you've never seen before, hilarious encounters, and awesome weaponry.”
- “It's actually impressive how they've managed to make this game so unfunny... yet at the same time I can't help but like it for that same reason.”
- “Where I don't think this game deserves to be on any 'worst games of all time' lists, it does deserve to be on every 'painfully bland and unfunny' list.”
- “The humor is mostly cringey with a few good lines sprinkled throughout.”
gameplay
509 mentions
23 % positive mentions
61 % neutral mentions
16 % negative mentions
The gameplay of "Duke Nukem Forever" has received mixed reviews, with many players noting its blend of old-school and modern mechanics, but often criticizing its linearity, repetitive nature, and dated design. While some appreciate the humor and variety in gameplay elements, such as the shrinking mechanic and mini-games, others find the overall experience lacking depth and innovation, leading to a sense of frustration and disappointment. Overall, the game is seen as a nostalgic yet flawed attempt to revive the Duke Nukem franchise, with gameplay that fails to meet the expectations set by its predecessor.
- “It has a very solid gameplay, nice soundtrack and sound effects, very cool moments and yes, some flaws, but I surely recommend DNF.”
- “The gameplay is best when not expecting much & after smoking a bowl.”
- “The gameplay is a blend of combat, exploration, and puzzles.”
- “However, towards the end of the game, some players may encounter issues such as monotonous gameplay, lack of variety in quests, and somewhat outdated level design.”
- “The gameplay is some of the worst I've ever experienced.”
- “The gameplay feels cheap; the storyline was okay, but you would have thought all that time in the making the game would have really put a smile on people's faces. Well, it didn't mine; I think it was a total letdown compared to what it could have been.”
graphics
440 mentions
24 % positive mentions
57 % neutral mentions
19 % negative mentions
The graphics of "Duke Nukem Forever" have been widely criticized for being outdated and subpar, even at the time of its 2011 release, with many reviewers noting that they resemble those of earlier generation games. While some players appreciated the art style and found certain environments visually appealing, the overall consensus is that the graphics lack polish and fail to meet the standards set by contemporary titles. Many reviews highlight issues such as poor texture quality, flickering, and a general sense of mediocrity, leading to a perception that the game did not live up to the long wait and expectations.
- “The graphics looked about 5 years out of date by the time this thing came out, but it still has a cool sense of art style and a grandeur and showiness that make the most of the assets.”
- “The graphics are surprisingly good for a game that was in development for 12 years, and the gameplay is incredibly varied.”
- “The graphics are fine, the gameplay is fine, but the attitude is where this game truly shines.”
- “The graphics are ugly, even for the time the game came out.”
- “The graphics look like they are from 2004, but not in a good way.”
- “The graphics are dated, which is okay, but also uninspired and boring.”
story
389 mentions
19 % positive mentions
68 % neutral mentions
13 % negative mentions
The story of "Duke Nukem Forever" is widely criticized for being simplistic, poorly written, and lacking depth, often described as a rehash of the original game's premise of aliens invading and Duke saving women. While some players appreciate the humor and nostalgic elements, many find the narrative to be a weak point, filled with outdated jokes and clichés. Overall, the game is seen as prioritizing gameplay over a compelling story, making it more of a mindless shooter than a narrative-driven experience.
- “The story is cool and still has the dumb funny/toilet humor of the past games, so fans of the classics will enjoy this from start to finish!”
- “The story is simple but effective for this goofy game.”
- “The storyline is traditional like the original games, the humor is very well done, and the levels are fantastic!”
- “The story is terrible, but if you look to Duke Nukem for a good plot, then you really need help.”
- “The story is boring, cliché, and poorly written.”
- “The story just doesn't have that feeling that the old school game had.”
music
77 mentions
32 % positive mentions
53 % neutral mentions
14 % negative mentions
The music in the game receives mixed reviews, with some praising its epic orchestral and metal tracks that enhance gameplay, while others criticize the frequent moments of silence and lack of a memorable soundtrack. Although certain tracks, like the loading music and the original theme, stand out, many players find the overall music experience underwhelming and inconsistent, often feeling disconnected from the action. Overall, while there are highlights, the soundtrack is generally seen as lacking the impact and cohesion expected from a title in this franchise.
- “The soundtrack varies between epic orchestral music and classic metal.”
- “Special mention to the loading music which gives me chills every time.”
- “But, when the game decides to use composed music, they make a point of showing themselves present, bringing intensity in combats and a feeling of carefree in quiet moments.”
- “There is sometimes action music when nothing is happening, and sometimes no music when it should be.”
- “The music is mostly forgettable, with some of the renditions of Grabbag standing out, but otherwise it's fairly mundane battle music.”
- “The music is uninspiring and the voice acting is on par with acting performed in 'Jason X (2001)', but I still find myself smiling as I have Duke brawling his way through legions of aliens.”
grinding
42 mentions
2 % positive mentions
10 % neutral mentions
88 % negative mentions
The grinding aspect of the game is widely criticized for being tedious and poorly paced, often interrupting the core gameplay with unnecessary and frustrating tasks. Players frequently mention that the game feels like a slog, with repetitive missions, clunky controls, and an overabundance of puzzling sections that detract from the action. Overall, the grinding elements contribute to a frustrating experience that many reviewers found to be a significant drawback.
- “You'll need a second life for grinding.”
- “The game could have been good or even average if it wasn't overtly tedious with an ironic ending.”
- “You can tell they were trying so desperately to extend the play time as much as they could with pointless sections like searching for jerrycans when your car runs out of gas or the tedious number of turret sections.”
- “The levels are tedious and boring for the most part; you will only encounter small groups of aliens, your arsenal is restricted to two guns at a time, and the levels are 100% linear and fairly predictable.”
stability
33 mentions
12 % positive mentions
3 % neutral mentions
85 % negative mentions
The stability of the game has received mixed reviews, with some players reporting a smooth experience free of glitches, crashes, or bugs, while others have encountered significant issues such as poor optimization, frequent glitches, and lag during gameplay. Many users noted specific problems like camera issues at checkpoints and freezing on startup, indicating that while some aspects of the game function well, it is marred by a variety of technical shortcomings that detract from the overall experience. Overall, the game's stability appears to be inconsistent, with a notable divide between those who found it enjoyable and those who deemed it buggy and frustrating.
- “Quick load times, good gameplay, no glitches, good frame rate.”
- “No glitches, crashes, bugs, or anything like that.”
- “It's not buggy, there's no game-breaking glitches, it's just fun.”
- “Another being after a whole 15 year dev phase, the game is buggy at times. Every time you get a checkpoint, the game will throw you around and make it lag.”
- “The game has quite a few glitches and is also the victim of some very poor animation in parts.”
- “However, the game is buggy and no attempts have been made to fix it.”
optimization
21 mentions
29 % positive mentions
29 % neutral mentions
43 % negative mentions
The optimization of "Duke Nukem Forever" has received largely negative feedback, with many players citing poor performance, long load times, and glitches. While some users noted improvements in the PC version compared to the Xbox 360, the game is still criticized for its outdated graphics and unpolished mechanics, leading to a frustrating experience even on capable hardware. Overall, the game struggles with optimization issues that detract from its potential enjoyment.
- “The performance is solid.”
- “Great performance.”
- “One more thing I would like to add is how well PC optimized this game seems to be.”
- “Badly optimized, terrible story, a pointless game.”
- “It's somehow really poorly optimized, managing to simultaneously look like absolute shit and give my fairly new gaming laptop a hard time.”
- “Poor optimization, glitches all over maps, just plain garbage.”
replayability
16 mentions
19 % positive mentions
63 % neutral mentions
19 % negative mentions
Overall, the game has limited replayability, with most players noting that it lacks substantial content to encourage multiple playthroughs. While some may find value in achievement hunting or playing on higher difficulties, the consensus is that the experience feels complete after a single run, making it more suitable for a one-time play unless purchased at a discount.
- “The replay value is definitely there!”
- “It was a game that was fun to play through but I don't see much replay value.”
- “The replayability is not there unless you play it on the hardest difficulty or buy the DLC, but it is fun nonetheless.”
- “It took me around 10 hours to finish a single playthrough; the game isn't short enough that it feels unsatisfying but doesn't go on for long enough to make it feel too dull and tiring. It doesn't really have any replay value, but I came out of my run of the game feeling like it was worthwhile.”
- “It's nothing to write home about and practically has no replay value, but it's more or less a shooter of its time.”
- “Another thing is that to me there doesn't seem to be much replay value in this game; you pretty much see everything the first time around.”
emotional
13 mentions
92 % positive mentions
0 % neutral mentions
8 % negative mentions
The emotional aspect of the game is largely characterized by disappointment and discomfort, with players expressing feelings of regret over their purchase and discomfort with the game's misogynistic humor. While some moments evoke nostalgia, the overall lack of emotional depth and reliance on outdated humor left many feeling emotionally drained or even heartbroken, particularly fans of the franchise. The game’s attempt at humor often falls flat, leading to a mixed emotional response that detracts from the overall experience.
- “A lot of the time I found myself wincing with emotional pain listening to it; I think we’ve probably just all outgrown the Duke humor now.”
- “Absolutely heart-breaking and a big smack in your face if you are a Duke fan.”
- “I cried myself to sleep because of this.”
atmosphere
11 mentions
36 % positive mentions
36 % neutral mentions
27 % negative mentions
The atmosphere in the game is characterized by a blend of classic Duke Nukem humor and dynamic gameplay, with well-crafted environments that enhance immersion, such as the ghost town and tunnels. While the soundtrack complements the setting, some players feel that certain gameplay mechanics, like Duke Vision, detract from the overall experience. Despite some criticisms regarding loading times and graphics, the game's unique atmosphere and nostalgic references contribute positively to its charm.
- “Unique atmosphere, game mechanics, and soundtrack.”
- “DNF can construct a cohesive atmospheric world, and we play as Duke.”
- “It has well-made environments - sometimes particularly atmospheric, like the ghost town in the main game or the tunnels in the DLC; the music is fine and fitting; there are several known enemies making a comeback (the Octabrains are back with a vengeance), and of course Duke is his usual badass self, with his hilarious lines and his ever-mighty boot.”
- “Loading times seem to take longer to load compared to comparable games, and at times, it kills the atmosphere and tension.”
- “The atmosphere is classic Duke, but the gameplay suffers horribly.”
- “All it had to do was remove Duke vision (which was ruining a lot of the painstakingly crafted environments, totally ruining the atmosphere) and replace it with a flashlight.”
monetization
4 mentions
0 % positive mentions
25 % neutral mentions
75 % negative mentions
The monetization strategy of the game has been criticized as a cash grab, with players feeling that it relies heavily on microtransactions and intrusive advertising elements. Many users express frustration over the game's design choices, which they believe prioritize profit over gameplay quality.
- “This is a cash grab.”
- “This FPS from 2011 has zoom-in ads, meaning it doesn't actually have ads, it just zooms your screen in some.”
- “The ramps in the cinema driving area were perfectly placed, knocked on their side advertising boards. Pretty much every jump was this except for a few raised areas of carpet which looked like someone swept lumps of dirt under the carpet and just left them there.”
character development
2 mentions
50 % positive mentions
50 % neutral mentions
0 % negative mentions
The character development is noted for its thoughtful design, suggesting a deliberate and meaningful approach to how characters evolve throughout the game.
- “His character design is undoubtedly thoughtful.”