Game:

Duke Nukem Forever (2011)

Category:

Let's Play

Duration: 37:10

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2

A fangame by AVataRR, probably released February 2004. Download it here: https://www.demonews.com/download/duke-nukem-waiting-for-forever/

Filling the void during Duke Nukem Forever's tremulous development, this 2D platformer doesn't have much in common with the pre-3D instalments, trading the exploration for linear running and gunning. Featuring the ability to carry 4 guns at a time (some with two modes of fire) and pilot a variety of vehicles, it's got some keen ambitions, if perhaps let down by its execution.

Duke moves slowly and enemy fire comes in hot and heavy, but there's far less evasive manoeuvres in 2D space, especially with these floaty jumps. Despite the huge screen resolution, you still tend to get shot at from off-screen -- some weapons have more range than others, but the plasma gun has seemingly infinite range, meaning a viable tactic is to simply fire ahead at foes before you even see them. Using vehicles as shields or spare health bars often feels mandatory, there's not enough verticality to scoot past baddies!

Everyone has access to the same weapons, so you'll face off against enemies with homing missiles and shields as well -- but even enemies have the same energy gauge, so they can only fire for so long. The shield is perhaps the biggest game-changer, deflecting all shots so they'll harm the other side -- this applies even to Duke's shots, so watch out for those rockets or the instant-death sheep gun! Dealing with shielded enemies is an ordeal, and seems to rely on them simply draining their energy and trying to land shots in between its blinking.

The game seemingly only plays each MIDI once, hence why much of the game is in silence. Mission 12 is a seemingly endless tower defence mini-game, and it doesn't even keep track of your score, so I am not sticking around to see if it has an ending.

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