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Yes, this is it!
Well, this is the one we've all been waiting for. What with Doom 2 looking a
little dated these days, when the shareware version of Duke Nukem 3D was released,
it was certainly welcomed with warm and open arms. Now, finally, the full version
has been released, and has leaped straight to the top of the PC-CDROM charts.
Is it what everyone had hoped for?
As with the original Doom, for your £44.99, you are given the first episode
that came as shareware, and then two new episodes consisting of around 8 levels
each, which come on a very delightful looking CD with a full colour "Nukem"
logo imprinted on it. And as extra bonuses, you are also given the full versions
of the original two side-on platform shoot 'em up Nukem games, some damn terrific
screenshots of three new 3D action games coming from 3D Realms (more on them
later), and in the \GOODIES folder, a lovely variety of, uhh, goodies.
But since we're really here to discuss what the game is like, let's start with
that. Well, it's all the same really - there's been a few advances from the
v1.0 that was originally released. You can now have crosshairs to help target
your foes, the RPG rockets have smokey tails, you can detonate pipebombs whilst
looking through the security screens, and there's a couple new sound effects
(note: some of these were available with patch updates on the shareware version).
You can read all about the original shareware version in the previous , so, what is actually really new? Weapons!! Yep, four new dudes of destruction await your trigger-happy fingers to cause some major blood spill. Actually, the new weapons are all good fun, but seem to be rather impractical against computer enemies, and more useful against your multiplayer partner(s). For example, remember those laser lines that, when run through, caused a massive and very painful detonation? Now, you can actually lay those lines with some cool bomb placements you stick on the walls. Great for setting traps on any unsuspecting pals who come dashing around corners, but not so good for computer opponents who tend to dawdle around aimlessly when you want them to chase you.
You also have the Shrinker Ray which reduces your enemy to wee mouse size for
a few seconds, in which time you have to desperately chase them around, so that
Ol Dukey might manage to show them the flat side of his boot. The Freeze Ray
quickly reduces the bad guys health to nil, at which point it freezes them solid
- you then have to run at them, and with a hefty kick shatter them to pieces
a la Demolition Man. Great to watch, but once again, if the game was serious,
the RPG would end a conflict much quicker.
The biggest disappointment would have to be the Devastator, which consists of two metal arms of fast rocket launchers. Unfortunately, it guzzles ammo worse than the chaingun, and seems to have very poor guidance.
Levels levels everywhere...
And of course, what you're paying for is some new levels. We all know that millions
(maybe slightly exaggerated) are available from BBS's and Internet sites all
over the world, but these are the official new levels from 3D Realms themselves.
The general opinion is that they're not really anything too special - personally,
I quite liked the second episode. Instead of being down to Earth, you're up
in space, and the graphics have that great futuristic feel to them. Much of
the humour element that was present in the original episode seems to have been
disregarded here, and it's actually time to get scared.
New creatures that have a very large resemblance to the well know Alien movies
fly about, and will cause panic to even the steadiest of hearts. Particularly
this new slime creature that consists of a harmless looking green puddle slithering
across the floor (making quite a back-chilling SHHHCCLICK noise), which when
it gets close enough, jumps up quite suddenly to completely cover the screen,
as if it had attached itself to your face. I hate those things, when I see any
of them, I run around the room in an RPG-shooting frenzy.
It's a shame that there are no new 'cannon-fodder' type aliens, like the Troopers
and Pig Cops - instead you have to fend off against much more powerful aliens,
like the Assault Commander and Sentry Drones. I realise this makes the whole
thing more 'realistic' (if that's possible) and evens the score a little, but
it also achieves in making the game quite thoroughly, and miserably, hard.
I guess if you could complete it in a matter of days (without using the provided cheat codes, that is), then you would all be complaining you haven't got your money's worth. I'm betting, though, that it's the multiplayer we're all looking for mainly. As with Doom and all its clones, this is where the game comes into its ultimate element. The new weapons provide a great new means of splattering your best friend, and the extra levels will provide more variety - noticeably the first couple of levels on the two new episodes are very nicely made for multiplayer.
Quickly, the extras...
The \GOODIES folder contains some FAQ's (Frequently Asked Questions) on the
companies behind the game, and many other good shareware releases. You also
get map builder tools to try and create your own levels, and a sound maker so
that you can taunt your opponent with your own wimpy voice, instead of the meaty
Duke's. Finally, you get all of the sound effects used in Duke 3D in .VOC format,
along with a WAD2MAP converter which allows you to convert your favourite Doom
levels into the Duke environment.
As a special treat, they've also provided screenshots of their 3 upcoming new 3D action games, Blood, Prey, and Shadow Warrior, all of which look fan-fabby-tastic. Particularly, the weapons, which include a dynamite and zippo lighter combo, the ability to rip your opponents heart out, and a whole host of automatic weapons looking more wet-your-pants harder than ever.
As usual, to conclude...
Well, it's Duke 3D, what more are you looking for? When the shareware was released,
everyone went ape-poo about it, and I'd estimate over 80% got on the phones
to order their copy immediately. The other 20% probably had a pirated copy lined
up somehow unfortunately. Point is, everyone wanted it, and whatever I say in
this review won't make a difference. If you want more levels, more weapons,
more monsters, then it's all there.
Of course, since Duke 3D is actually shareware, if you enjoyed using the restricted
version, and have used it for more than a 30 day period, you are really required
to register it, whether you want more features or not.
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