Duke Nukem 3D: World Tour - 20th Anniversary Edition Reviews
The Duke is back in a somewhat new (but very familiar) 20th-anniversary world tour.
While not without some issues, Duke Nukem 3D: 20th Anniversary World Tour is absolutely a worthwhile release of an absolute classic.
A masterpiece to this day, Duke Nukem 3D is done proud by this Switch conversion. It looks and runs briliantly, the online options are a welcome inclusion and it's not compromised in any way from its earlier console release. It's a shame that a handful of previously-available expansion packs are missing, but given the low price of World Tour Edition, it feels churlish to complain. In the words of the Duke himself, come get some.
Apart from the new levels and Duke’s great sense of humour, this anniversary edition doesn’t do enough to drag you away from the wealth of current FPS titles.
Sadly, even Duke’s attitude can’t save the majority of the game, which is the same Duke Nukem 3D that released 20 years ago, from being a labyrinth of key card doors with instances of fun shootouts. Jumping from platform to platform while shooting an RPG at groups of enemies is fun, but the frustration of running into a locked door and realizing a missed a panel in some room earlier is a hindrance that occurs too often. Remastered graphics helps perspective, though doesn’t do much more than that. Developer commentary is sparse and mostly skippable, while a multiplayer mode was given prominent space despite there being nothing to do beyond bot matches. Duke Nukem 3D: 20th Anniversary World Tour is a good romp for those who have never picked up one of the previous eleven ports, but doesn’t offer anything substantial for everyone else.
Duke Nukem 3D: 20th Anniversary World Tour is a polished trip down memory lane of one gaming's most impactful creations. It's true to the spirit of the original while also layering in a few goodies to improve quality of life. It can be rather emotionless at times due to its age, but it serves its purpose well. Welcome back, Duke.
I got swept up in Duke Nukem 3D: 20th Anniversary Edition World Tour, and although I had initially planned on just checking out the new chapter, I ended up beating the entire game over again. There's a reason that these classic games like Shadow Warrior and Rise of the Triad still hold up, and it's mostly due to strong level design that very few developers are striving for. If you like a side of getting lost in mazes with your shooter main course, Duke is ready and waiting.
Duke Nukem 3D: 20th Anniversary Edition World Tour is a fantastic remaster of a true FPS classic. Doing exactly what a good remaster should, this re-release improves in many areas that needed it, while leaving in others; warts and all. The new graphics, sound, commentary, and other features are all cherries on top of what is easily the definitive version of this seminal title.
It is clear that this package had a lot of care put into it. I am glad Duke Nukem has made an appearance on this console generation, yet I really want them to move forward. Duke Nukem 3D is a classic, but after the disappointment of Duke Nukem Forever, I am ready for a truly next generation of the series. I grew up on its lame humor and ridiculous settings. I want a proper sequel so I can once again make those alien bastards pay for shooting up my ride.
If you're a die-hard Duke devotee, then World Tour is probably your holy grail, bringing the original onto new hardware with some gimmicky yet functional additions, delivering the most definitive Nukem romp yet. For the Duke Nukem virgins among you, though, it's probably best putting this back on the shelf to wait for a drastic price drop. Although it's nowhere near the mess that Duke Nukem Forever was, this massive heap of fan service will fail to resonate with those unaccustomed to the breed of shooter found back in the 90s.
It didn’t take long for the muscle memory to return, however, nor did I have trouble finding a lot of the secret areas I’d so often frequented during the mid-nineties.
It's violent, it's lewd, it's offensive, it's Duke Nukem and it's amazing. Hail to the king, baby!
The "charms" of Duke Nukem might not be as potent as they were in 1996, but the frenetic gameplay and clever level design make Duke Nukem 3D: 20th Anniversary Edition a worthy celebration.
Duke Nukem 3D: 20th Anniversary World Tour doesn't enhance the titular protagonist's classic FPS ride in any massive ways. That said, it's a whole lot of fun, and it's perfect for people who want to revisit the game and for those who are fans of old school shooters.
Duke Nukem 3D: 20th Anniversary World Tour holds up well for newcomers even if it could do with a few quality improvements. It's a shame there isn't more for those revisiting, but like everything, it's always nice to have this classic on the go.
Duke Nukem: World Tour may lack some of the expansions of the Megaton Edition, but the fresh coat of paint and bonus episode make it the definitive Duke experience.
Gearbox did a fine job here and the new goodies and content are a huge plus. I do wish the other content from the Megaton Edition were here, but this is still a great addition to your digital library.
Duke Nukem 3D: 20th Anniversary World Tour isn’t the best version of this seminal game, but it’s still a really good one, and offers a lot of bonus content that’ll please longtime fans.
As a bit of a fan, I was fascinated by some of the insights in the developer’s commentary, and content like this elevates Duke Nukem 3D: World Tour above being just another remake.
If you want to wash the taste of Duke Nukem Forever out of your mouth, Duke Nukem 3D: 20th Anniversary World Tour is the palate cleanser we have been waiting for.