Duke Nukem is such an interesting thing in video games. When I was growing up he was something larger than life. Duke Nukem 3D was a landmark game that still resonates today, both good and bad. But back in the day, it was original, smartly written, and a whole lot of fun to play. It’s crazy to think that even when it released the game wasn’t pushing anything in terms of graphics but showed that smart writing could make a game.
But today, most young people know Duke Nukem from the terrible Duke Nukem Forever disaster that helped nearly kill the character and franchise off for good. So, it’ no wonder why the 20th Anniversary edition of the game has popped up on just about every platform over the years, with it finally coming to the Nintendo Switch.
I never thought that in 2020 there would be two build engine games on Nintendo’s little portable console. What a strange world we all live in. What’s better is that the two games are both fantastic offerings. Duke Nukem 3D: 20th Anniversary World Tour is everything that you can expect from the classic shooter.
Everything is here that was featured in the original alongside some of the additions, including a new episode, that have been added over the years. This also includes new voice-overs which are nice, even if Duke is beginning to sound a little old by this point.
It’s a complete package and while I wouldn’t normally recommend this version because of the controversy surrounding the release, especially back when it released on Steam and killed off all other versions because GearBox was being some sort of way, it’s a different story here.
Look, Duke 3D is still fantastic today as it ever was and the ability to take the game on the go is really cool and a huge selling point. The only real problem is that the name is just too damn long to type out. But as console ports go this one on the Nintendo Switch is probably the best there is.
The revamped graphics look great and are super crisp, especially in portable mode. You can also turn off the updated look for the true old-school look if that’s more your style. Frame rate is solid and the motion controls are cute even though I don’t see anyone really using them.
The audio is great, especially the rocking soundtrack, and you can even turn off Duke if he becomes a little grating with all his one-liners. Let’s face it, Duke came about in a very different age and was more about pushing boundaries in media and video games than being offensive for offensive sack. Still, I can totally see how much of Duke hasn’t aged well is this is your first time with the game and lacking social context.
Duke Nukem 3D: 20th Anniversary World Tour is a really great package for not a lot of money and has allowed me to play Duke 3D a lot more often as it’s a blast to play a stage or two when on the go. Gameplay and level-design hold up today, something these modern linear shooters can still learn from, but the new episode is pretty hit-or-miss even with some of the original people involved in it.
But at the end of the day, I have to review this in terms of the platform that it’s on. Being on the Nintendo Switch really helps the whole package shine as it’s a unique experience for on-the-go gaming. There’s a lot of content here to enjoy and lots to explore if you haven’t played Duke 3D in a number of years, especially considering this is now the definitive Duke experience on-the-go.
The absolute best way to experience Duke Nukem 3D on-the-go
Pros:
+ Great Gameplay
+ Great Portable Experience
+ Tons of Content
+ Cheap
Cons:
– New Stuff Isn’t Great
– Duke Sounds Tired
Final Score: 3.5/5
*A copy of the game was provided for review*
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