Press space repeatedly to do an action. Release <em>Duke Nukem Forever</em> “when its done”. It got done, and it got done quickly. Not to mention, it got done terribly, and has aged in a way that is even worse. 

I mean, seriously, I've played games on a mobile phone that have graphics with higher fidelity and draw distance, not to mention gameplay.

![image.png](https://files.peakd.com/file/peakd-hive/holoz0r/aKxYnh2s-image.png)


The original <em>Duke Nukem 3D</em> is so far advanced in terms of gameplay design, fun, action, and even draw distance that there is no comparison. 

For all the computer gaming print media and the hyperbole about the fact that <em>Duke Nukem Forever</em> would be the greatest game ever made, the only pockets it filled where those of the media, marketers, and advertisers. There was little to no actual substance on release. 

<em>Duke Nukem Forever</em> takes its place in history alongside video game lore such as as “Leeeeeroy Jenkins”, and the Zerg Rush, except, those two other things are actually good. 

As a first person shooter, <em>DNF</em> (Duke Nukem Forever), or “Did Not Finish” is barely competent. It has guns, a first person camera, and some environments with unimaginative enemies that shoot at you. Instead of health, you have the rapidly depleting (and regenerating) ego – along with dozens of in-jokes and digs at other popular video game franchises. 

![image.png](https://files.peakd.com/file/peakd-hive/holoz0r/5G3I5Uef-image.png)

Look at the way all these models are exactly the same for every single enemy. Not a shade of variance. 


If there reference to Doom Guy in the original <em>Duke Nukem 3D</em> wasn’t enough, there’s a full fledged set of shiny green master chief (from <em>Halo</em>) armour on offer to the parody gods in this game. 

It isn’t that the development was terrible for <em>Duke Nukem Forever</em> - it is the fact that the game changed studios, engines, and platforms more often that Duke’s harem of scantily clad ladies change their high heels. (If they’re wearing any at all). This is a game that was produced to make money, and take its rightful place in the annals of a generation of gaming as the biggest disappointment ever. 

Having never played this prior, or having had the decade and a half wait between games, my disappointment and outrage is but a minuscule fragment of the collective sigh of agony and groans of despair that the gaming media and gamers heaped upon the release of this title. 

It is corny, it is terrible, and camp – and it doesn’t belong in the year 2020. 

All hail the king, <em>Duke Nukem 3D</em>.