“Duke Nukem 3D” is a first-person shooter video game developed by 3D Realms and published by GT Interactive Software. It was released in 1996 as a sequel to the platform games “Duke Nukem” and “Duke Nukem II” published by Apogee.
The game is notable for its interactive environments, humorous pop-culture references, and the macho persona of its protagonist, Duke Nukem. The story involves Duke defending Earth from an alien invasion, and it’s filled with action, sarcasm, and a lot of satirical humor.
Duke Nukem 3D Facts
- “Duke Nukem 3D” was released by 3D Realms in 1996. It was the third installment in the Duke Nukem series, following “Duke Nukem” and “Duke Nukem II”.
- It was developed using the “Build” engine, which allowed for interactive environments, a somewhat novel concept at the time.
- The game introduced a highly interactive world, where players could interact with many objects that did not directly contribute to gameplay, such as water fountains, light switches, and arcade machines.
- Duke Nukem, the game’s protagonist, was characterized by his macho attitude and one-liners, many of which parodied popular action movies.
- The game includes many pop-culture references. For example, players can find a crushed T-800 terminator, a nod to the “Terminator” franchise, or a partially eaten donut as a nod to “The Simpsons”.
- The game was controversial at its release due to its adult themes, which included explicit violence, sexual content, and strong language.
- “Duke Nukem 3D” had several expansion packs, including “Duke Caribbean: Life’s a Beach”, “Duke: Nuclear Winter”, and “Duke It Out In D.C.”.
- It was one of the first major first-person shooters to include a multiplayer mode, known as “Dukematch”, where players could compete against each other over a network or the internet.
- One of the most iconic weapons in the game is the “Shrinker”, a shrink ray that reduces enemies to a size that allows Duke to step on them.
- The game’s level design was praised for its complexity and the freedom it gave to the players. Many levels had multiple paths and secret areas to explore.
- The game included a built-in level editor, letting players create their own custom levels.
- “Duke Nukem 3D” was one of the first games to feature a voice actor for the protagonist, with Jon St. John providing the voice for Duke Nukem.
- The game’s development was led by George Broussard, one of the founders of 3D Realms.
- The game’s sequel, “Duke Nukem Forever”, was famously in development hell for over 15 years before finally being released in 2011.
- Despite the controversies, “Duke Nukem 3D” was a commercial success and has been ported to a wide variety of platforms, including mobile devices, consoles, and handheld gaming systems.
Duke Nukem 3D Gameplay Tips
- Explore Thoroughly: The game contains many hidden areas, secret passages, and valuable items that are off the beaten path. Be thorough in your exploration to find these hidden goodies.
- Save Often: Unlike some modern games, “Duke Nukem 3D” does not auto-save your progress. Make sure you save often, especially before entering a potentially dangerous area.
- Use the Right Weapon for the Situation: Each enemy type has specific weaknesses, and some weapons are more effective than others in certain situations. Learn which weapons work best against each enemy type and in different scenarios.
- Know Your Environment: Many levels in “Duke Nukem 3D” feature destructible elements and environmental hazards that can harm enemies. Use these to your advantage.
- Conserve Ammo: Ammunition can sometimes be scarce, especially for more powerful weapons. Try to use weaker weapons or environmental hazards against weaker enemies to conserve ammo.
- Use Items Strategically: Items like the jetpack, the holoduke, and the portable medkit can be game-changers if used correctly. Use these items strategically to gain an advantage.
- Dodge and Move: Standing still is a surefire way to get hit. Constantly move around to make it harder for enemies to hit Duke.
- Use Duke’s Mighty Boot: When you’re out of ammo or facing a weak enemy, don’t forget about Duke’s mighty boot. It’s a powerful melee attack that doesn’t require any ammo.
- Listen for Enemy Sounds: Enemies often make distinct sounds. Listening carefully can warn you of danger ahead of time.
Duke Nukem 3D Quotes
- “It’s time to kick ass and chew bubble gum… and I’m all outta gum.” This is one of Duke’s most famous lines, originally a quote from the movie “They Live.”
- “Damn, those alien bastards are gonna pay for shooting up my ride.”
- “Hail to the king, baby!” This line is a quote from the movie “Army of Darkness.”
- “Come get some!”
- “I ain’t afraid of no quake.” This is a reference to the video game “Quake,” a contemporary of “Duke Nukem 3D.”
- “Your face, your ass – what’s the difference?”
- “Shake it, baby.” Duke often says this when interacting with the game’s controversial ‘dancer’ characters.
- “You’re an inspiration for birth control.”
- “I’ll rip your head off and shit down your neck.” Duke says this after defeating a boss.
- “That’s one doomed space marine.” This is a reference to the “Doom” game series, another contemporary of “Duke Nukem 3D.”
- “Nobody steals our chicks… and lives!”
Duke Nukem 3D Cheats
- DNCORNHOLIO or DNKROZ: Toggles God Mode (invincibility).
- DNSTUFF: Gives all weapons, full ammo, all keys, and armor.
- DNHYPER: Makes Duke invincible and extremely fast.
- DNITEMS: Gives all keys, full armor, and all inventory items.
- DNMONSTERS: Toggles monster AI. When off, monsters will not see or attack you.
- DNSCOTTYxyz: Warps to Episode x, Level yz (replace x, y, and z with the numbers of the episode and level you want to warp to).
- DNVIEW: Switches to third-person view.
- DNUNLOCK: Unlocks all doors, forcefields, and more.
- DNSHOWMAP: Reveals the entire map.
- DNCLIP: Toggles clipping mode. When off, you can walk through walls.
Duke Nukem 3D Game Control Keys
- Arrow Keys: Move forward, backward, and strafe left or right.
- Ctrl: Fire weapon.
- Alt: Use inventory item.
- Space: Open doors / use switches.
- Shift: Run.
- Caps Lock: Auto-run.
- A/Z: Fly up/down (when jetpack is active).
- PgUp/PgDn: Look up/down.
- Home/End: Aim up/down.
- Insert/Delete: Lean left/right.
- Enter: Send chat message (in multiplayer mode).
- Esc: Access the main menu.
- F1: Help Screen.
- F2: Save game.
- F3: Load game.
- F4: Sound/Volume controls.
- F5: Change screen size.
- F6: Change view mode.
- F7: Change gamma correction.
- F10: Quit game.
- F11: Change brightness.
- 1-0: Select weapon (1 for Mighty Boot, 2 for Pistol, etc).
Duke Nukem 3D Walkthrough
