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Duke Nukem 3D PC
Duke Nukem 3D Image
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Metascore
89

Generally favorable reviews - based on 8 Critics What's this?

User Score
8.8

Generally favorable reviews- based on 251 Ratings

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  • Summary: Prepare yourself for the ultimate 3D Slugfest. Murderous aliens have landed in futuristic Los Angeles, and the humans suddenly find themselves atop the endangered species list. The odds are a million-to-one. Just the way Duke likes it. Dive into realistic 3D scenarios, with 28 totally realistic levels, as you drive the sinister aliens through the streets of LA, out to an orbiting station, and onto the surface of the moon itself! An you'll be armed to the teeth with 10 hi-tech weapons. Clear crowds with the pump action Assault Shotgun, blast through enemies and walls with the Rocket Propelled Grenade, splat enemies under foot after blasting them with the Shrinker, cut through trouble with the 3-barel Ripper machine gun, set DukeMatch traps with the wall-mounted Laser Mine, watch enemies shatter after cooling them off with the Freeze Cannon, and 4 more! [FormGen]… Expand

Critic Reviews

Score distribution:
  1. Positive: 8 out of 8
  2. Mixed: 0 out of 8
  3. Negative: 0 out of 8
  1. PC Gamer
    93
    It's the ultimate game for unleashing all your pent-up aggression. It is the most astonishing game we've laid our eyes on for ages! In fact, it makes pretty much every PC game we've ever seen - "Doom" included - like slightly dull. Honestly! [July 1996, p.78]
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  2. Computer and Video Games
    93
    It's more inventive, and more entertaining, than "Doom." I know they've had long enough to get it right (but so have many others, who've tried and failed). [PC Zone]
  3. Game Revolution
    91
    Where Duke really excels is it's beautiful backgrounds. The game settings are magnificently rendered. They have all kinds of animated objects built into them, and the attention to detail is terrific. Hopefully, with Duke Nukem on the scene, the days of endless identical looking corridors and rooms are finally gone for good!
  4. All Game Guide
    90
    Prepare yourself for total meltdown. [Box]
  5. Adrenaline Vault
    90
    Alien scum in the final version of DN3D are still tricky devils ducking for cover, teleporting in and out, lying in ambush, and even laying traps in later episodes. However, the monsters are still stupid enough to walk into a tripbomb so overall intelligence isn't perfect.
  6. GameSpot
    88
    It's rare when a game comes along that really kicks your ass. 3D Realm's full version of Duke Nukem 3D is just that kind of posterior pummeler. With its free-flowing 3D action, over-the-top weapons, and ruthlessly attitudinal protagonist, Duke Nukem will have PC gamers worldwide rubbing their rumps with spine-tingling glee.
  7. Computer Games Magazine
    80
    Gameplay is ultimately what we're interested in, and in this area, Duke is the king. But so what? If 3D Realms really wants to impress us, they can move beyond this type of gameplay.

See all 8 Critic Reviews

User Reviews

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Score distribution:
  1. Positive: 28 out of 32
  2. Mixed: 1 out of 32
  3. Negative: 3 out of 32
  1. Iainfixie
    Jun 15, 2011
    10
    One of my favorite games growing up, I loved everything about Duke 3D. The gameplay and humor defined an era of budding FPS gaming on the PC, this title still holds up to this day.… Expand
  2. Wesker500
    Mar 13, 2012
    10
    Duke Nukem 3D was the first action video game I ever played in my life when I was 5 years old and after playing it for 1 hour, I ended up missing countless days at school, forgetting loads of homework because I was playing Duke Nukem 3D non stop for months, as of 2012 Duke Nukem 3D remains to be one of the greatest first person shooter games of all time.… Expand
  3. ixvo
    May 21, 2012
    10
    The first FPS, that is "doom-like" as they used to be called, to feature such an extensive interactivity! Turn lights on or off, shrink to the size of a mouse to go through pipes, freeze your enemies and blow them to pieces, or kick ass (you can actually high kick your enemies anytime through a hotkey) !… Expand
  4. MondiPR
    Jan 30, 2014
    10
    For me one of the games that marked my life playing computer games with DOOM another brutal games of that time I had to buy it to have it in my collection for a true gamer must have this game on your computer.… Expand
  5. Pomornik
    Jun 15, 2011
    10
    Best classic FPS ever! I feel really sorry for all of you guys who never played it, you childhood must have been terrible :) But nothing wasted, you can still go play it! If you cant stand the graphics try the high res pack (or whatever its called). But personally i prefer the classic one, with 2D models. Oh nostalgia!… Expand
  6. Amig
    Jun 19, 2012
    9
    A great old school FPS game, just as fun to play today as it was back in the 90's. Hunting for keycards, tapping walls for secret areas and shooting sprite-enemies with an arsenal of fancy toys is a very refreshing break from all those "realistic" modern shooters. But what really "makes" this game is the protagonist - his quips just never cease to entertain. And if the archaic controls put you off, there's an excellent mod called DukePlus, which implements keyboard and mouse controls, along with a bunch of other modernizations and fixes. So, if you ever feel like knocking some alien heads good ole 90's style, look no further. Duke 3D has what you need.… Expand
  7. Nickkix37
    May 19, 2013
    3
    Growing up I always believed that this was a generic copy of Doom. I know now that I am incorrect in thinking that, but the game play was similar. The game is suspenseful even today. A game that would be great for bets, to see you can last the longest. The old school game had around 28 levels. Today they have thousands of mods and levels.… Expand

See all 32 User Reviews

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