No Review Will Ever Explain This Game
There's the very occasional game that defies conventional review. A lot of the time, this goes for games with highly unusual gameplay or something so out there that traditional review criteria aren't going to cut it. Given 'the King' and his troubled development history, this is going to be one of those games.
The gameplay doesn't feel like any first person shooter in recent memory. Yes, there's the standard gun shenanigans and melee attacks, but some relics from an era kept only alive by the Unreal franchise make their return- powerups that directly affect performance. Taking steroids makes Duke stronger, drinking beer makes Duke tougher.
Levels are relatively varied- some are standard run and gun, some have you shrunk to a miniature size and have platforming shenanigans, and some have vehicles. The variety is a breath of fresh air compared to modern day shooters, though the quality is questionable- the vehicles controls feel a bit too uptight, and the first person perspective has never been optimal for 'make this jump or die'.
No review is really complete without talking about Duke. He's a relic of an age where protagonists of his distinct caliber worked. The times we live in are cynical and like to try to defy expectations, so seeing Duke's machismo played completely straight is going to be jarring for a lot of people. Returning to Duke's crass sense of humor isn't going to click with a lot of people.
But playing Duke straight- even if it doesn't work for most people- does distinguish him from his modern colleagues. He doesn't have personal issues, he's just here to kick ass, chew bubble gum, and screw your women.
The game is really not like anything of recent memory, and that's a product of its archaic game design and adapting modern gameplay mechanics to make it 'relevant'. This just means that really, nothing I say can adequately describe what this game is. This is one of those instances where you have to take the plunge and at least rent it.
But for the love of god, try and play it on the PC. If you played it on the 360 and think it's shit, I'd completely understand.
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