Why XBLA Duke Nukem 3D is Worth Your Hamilton
Posted on 03 October 2008 by Erik
I see you there, clutching your precious $10 bill as you watch the economy cave in around you. Carefully considering what to invest in, knowing now is not the time for frivolous purchases; you need to make this one count.
Fortunately, Duke is here to give you a few reasons why the Xbox Live Arcade port of Duke Nukem 3D isn’t just some old broad with a new paint job, it’s the maximization of your 10 bucks:
39 levels over 4 episodes - Looking back at when I purchased the Xbox Live Arcade port, the download was deceptively small–faster than downloading a single track for Guitar Hero or Rock Band–but when taking in what’s been presented, it’s not even a question of whether or not the 10 dollar price point is worth it; it’s a flat steal.
‘Rewind After Death’ function - Simply, your mistakes can be rectified. No more worrying about saving your game constantly, or restarting a difficult level stripped down to only your pistol because you rushed into that swarm of Pig-Cops. When Duke hits the asphalt you can restart at any previous spot up until the very second you bit the big one, doesn’t matter if it’s 30 seconds or 30 minutes prior to.
The feature also gives whimpering wusses, previously too scared to move onto a higher difficulty, the gumption to take on the ‘Come Get Some’ and ‘Damn I’m Good’ settings, provided they have the grit to pick themselves off the pavement and try again.
Revives the fast and dirty multiplayer - While the game’s multiplayer mode would be considered standard among mid-late 90’s First Person Shooters, Xbox Live gives it an opportunity to excel by offering an escape from the more plodding FPS we play today.
A Duke Deathmatch can only be described as a half dozen chickens pumped full of steroids, armed to the teeth and then freshly beheaded.
Screw the deliberateness of Halo and damn the pack mentality of Gears of War; Nukem’s multiplayer is about covering ground like a cheetah, instant respawns–so you can kill the bastard that killed you–dealing with sore index fingers from holding down the triggers for entire matches and dog piling on the health packs for that extra edge.
The weapon/item respawn system enables a tactical approach, allowing players to track how long ago someone was in the area by the color of the symbol in place of the item, and winners will often be found monopolizing portable health packs, steroids and atomic health spawns, presenting some method to the madness.
Related posts
Tags | 10, 360, Duke Nukem 3D, Hamilton, port, Xbox Live Arcade
