Duke Nukem Forever: Hands On

written by chevcheliosxx on 16.4.11

MG’s Ian Underwood went behind the scenes for a little hands on with the famed anti hero Duke Nukem. Here’s what went down!

Yes, he’s back!  After a 12 year hiatus, it’s the return of, the not so PC, Duke Nukem getting ready to sow his seed into a sea of FPS titles that take themselves far too seriously.  A huge welcome back to the King of swing,  but can he still cut it with the big boys?  This is what I found out …

Sitting down at the demo unit like an excited 11 year old who had just looked at a page 3 model for the first time I was introduced to the demo that consisted of two levels.  The first level plays itself out in a football stadium were you take on one very large and miffed Cycloid with the second finding you on the open road, driving a big red Jeep, out running alien scum trying to blow you away .

The demo starts off with you in a toilet and in true Duke style the option to take a leak is again available.  Whilst in there an ever too helpful member of the 2k team told me over my shoulder “if you find yourself in a lav and it’s been used, as it were, you can while away the time chucking feces at things!”  ”Really?” I replied ” I thought that trailer was an April Fool as it was released on April 1st.”  ”Really” came the response with a wink and a smirk.  I’m glad to see that our big, bad Duke hasn’t lost any of his style and charm.

When I’d finished with the toilet humour I progressed to a conference room with bodies scattered left, right and centre. While I was there I got the chance to draw up a plan on a white board with very funny comments from one of the officers that takes the proverbial with comments like “That’s just wow!  I didn’t understand any of that but if I did I’m sure that guy over there would still have his arms and at least one of his balls!”  It was really nice to see that Duke Nukem Forever still has some comedic dialogue that will live with you forever.

After the conference room I guided Duke through some hallways and onto a playing field in a stadium were you get to fight a Cycloid.  One of the many foes that awaits our anti-hero.   This battle was intense to say the least as the rocket launcher that you are carrying fires into your enemy with ammo drops provided by a drop ship for when you run out of things to stick at em!  Graphically the environments, enemies and motion looked stunning, smooth and crisp.   There was no slow down and no glaring glitches to speak of.  The level culminates with you punting the Cycloids eye for a field goal, with the camera pulling back to reveal Duke getting, how do I put this err, pleasured by two woman in school uniforms.  Enough said about this but I am sure that there will be some serious discussions on TV about this title and its content.

After this little FMV, I was then in the driving segment where Duke is given a red, jacked up Jeep with a radiation logo on it.  At this point I thought that this game had lost the plot, but when you start to drive around you find out it’s buckets of fun but only lasts a few minutes as to not detract too much from the crazy storyline as you run out of gas and spend the rest of the level on foot shooting pig cops and mutated monsters around every corner.  Just like old times, eh!

The demo as a whole screams quality.  Duke’s solid, with smooth gameplay and is packed with so much dirty humour cilit bang couldn’t deal with it.  I also think with Randy Pitchford at the helm Duke Nukem Forever is going to be a blast and one hell of a ride, delivering all of the un-PC moments that Duke has been famed for whilst bringing to the game a fresh a new take on the traditional FPS classic.  To date Randy’s credits include DUKE NUKEM 3D, Shadow Warrior, Half Life: Opposing Force, Half Life: Blue Shift, Tony Hawk’s Pro Skater 3, Borderlands and Brothers In Arms and I feel that Duke is in very good hands indeed.  So, for one Duke fan after playing this demo I can tell you that this is looking like a solid gold title that will provoke a few nay sayers preaching their naive comments to the masses.  Duke Nukem Forever is set to release on June 10th but with its history for delays I won’t hold my breath just yet!

Written by:- Ian Underwood