Duke Nukem 64

Infobox VG| title = Duke Nukem 64


developer = 3D Realms, Eurocom
publisher = GT Interactive
designer = Lawliet
engine = Core
released = October 31, 1997
genre = First-person shooter
modes = Single player, multiplayer
ratings = ESRB: M
OFLC: MA15+
platforms = Nintendo 64
media = Game Pak

"Duke Nukem 64" is a Nintendo 64 port of the first-person shooter PC (MS-DOS) video game "Duke Nukem 3D". There are many changes from the PC version. For instance, some weapons use two different types of ammo.

Duke Nukem 64 also included multiplayer modes, allowing 4 deathmatch as well as 2 player co-operative play through split screen.

Duke's pistol can use dum-dum rounds, which are significantly more powerful than the standard ammunition, capable of killing the strongest adversaries in one shot. The shotgun can fire explosive rounds, with devastating results on Duke's enemies; as well as on Duke himself if the player is not careful. Heat-seeking missiles are also available. There are several new weapons as well: a grenade launcher (replacing the RPG), dual SMGs (replacing the chain-gun cannon), the Microwave Expander (from the Atomic Edition), a missile launcher (replacing the Devastator), and the Plasma Cannon (this weapon replaces the Freeze Thrower). The Cannon causes enemies to fade out of existence.

The game levels include real-life locations, such as a bank and a movie lot. There are more fantastic locations, such as a space station overrun by alien biology.

The game is no longer played in episodes, but as one big game, and also includes some levels from the Atomic Edition at various points. All in-game music has been removed, due to the limited storage available on the cartridge; the only music remaining is a remix of the original "Grabbag" theme (on the title screen) and the status screen theme. There are Overlord Clones in tandem with the Battlelord Clones. The new alien boss from the Atomic edition has been added to the game, and the Cycloid Emperor (in the final level) is now a fully rendered polygon character.

Censoring

Perhaps the most noticeable change from the original PC version of the game is the removal of almost all sexual content. The "Red Light District" level was renamed "Gun Crazy," and the strip club and adult bookstore replaced with a gun shop and the Duke Burger restaurant from the Plutonium Pak expansion. However, the game still features a strip bar, with animated strippers in cages, although no nudity is visible. Also, Duke's infamous one-liners have been re-dubbed by the original actor, with potentially offensive language rephrased or removed entirely. Instead of "those alien bastards," Duke says "those alien scum." Phrases such as "holy shit" are nowhere to be found. However, the phrase "It's time to kick ass and chew bubblegum, and I'm all out of gum" was reused. The Steroids, a vaguely controversial power-up item, were also replaced by the much less questionable "Vitamin X."

Crude humor is still present. The player can have Duke utilize a urinal, break the porcelain, then regain health by drinking from the resulting spout of water.

Pop culture

There are also multiple pop culture references. Butt-head, from Beavis and Butt-head can be heard through the drive-thru speaker of the Duke Burger fast food restaurant, admonishing the player to leave, because the place is 'like, closed'. Butt-head cannot be found once the player gains access to the building, however.

On the level Death Row, the corpse of Snake Plissken can be found, prompting Duke to announce, "I guess he didn't escape from L.A." Later on, the player can encounter Hannibal Lecter, from the movie "Silence of the Lambs", standing in his prison cell.

In another level, a reference to the first Terminator movie can be found. This part of the level resembles one of the last scenes from the movie in which the Terminator is crushed by Sarah Connor, with the Terminator's body crushed and its arm sticking out of the machine, to which Duke mutters, "Terminated!"

In the level "Hotel Hell", the corpse of Indiana Jones can be found by entering a secret area behind the pool's waterfall. When encountered, Duke says "We meet again, Dr. Jones".

In the secret level "Area 51" the captured alien fighter from "Independence Day" can be seen in the hangar, and can be entered through a teleporter. Inside is the nuclear missile from the movie.

On one of the Moon levels, the body of Luke Skywalker can be found inside a cave hanging upside down, in reference to the Empire Strikes Back.

There is also a reference to 2001:Space Odyssey on level 8 episode 2, where a tall black rectangle can be found.

Duke's one-liner "It's time to kick ass and chew bubblegum, and I'm all out of gum" is a reference to a line spoken by the protagonist of the 1988 film "They Live".

External links

* [http://www.eurocom.co.uk/index.php/video-games/duke-nukem-64 Duke Nukem 64] at Eurocom
* [http://www.gamespot.com/n64/action/dukenukem64/review.html GameSpot review]
*moby game|id=/duke-nukem-64 |name= "Duke Nukem 64"
* [http://www.gamefaqs.com/console/n64/data/197176.html GameFaqs information page]