History ShoutOut / DukeNukem

** The "innocent?" billboard at the beginning of the level is referring to the OJ Simpson trial, according to the developer commentary in the 20th Anniversay Edition

* The UsefulNotes/{{Playstation}} port (''Total Meltdown'') has a control scheme called "VideoGame/{{Doom}}ed", named such because it's based on the default control scheme of the Playstation ''Doom'' port.

** The same port also add a new episode which features a few levels spoofing popular Playstation games: "Nightmare Zone" is based on the first level of ''VideoGame/TombRaider'', "Trackside Tragedy" parodies ''VideoGame/{{Wipeout}}'' and "Gates Motel" pastiches ''VideoGame/ResidentEvil'' and horror movies.

--> ''"Huh. Guess he didn't escape from L.A."''

* [=E2L7=], "Lunar Reactor" contains a mutilated [[Franchise/StarWars Luke Skywalker]] hanging upside down in stormtrooper armor.

* Sometimes, if Duke steps on a rat, he'll say, "See you later, [[MickeyMouse Mickey]]!"

** The "innocent?" billboard at the beginning of the level is reportedly also referring to OJ Simpson.

** There are ''[[Film/TrueLies True Lies]]'' posters in one level ([=E1L6=]).
** Some elevators in [=E1L7=] play ''[[Music/VanMorrison Van Morrison's]]'' "Brown-Eyed Girl".
** Some assets are also from ''[[VideoGame/RiseOfTheTriad Rise of the Triad]]'' which was also under production at the time:

** One screenshot has the main entrance of a cinema with the movie title "Slashmaster II". This is a reference to the [[SlasherMovie slasher movie]] genre.

** In the leaked beta, there is a mention of a level named "''[[Creator/{{ApogeeSoftware}} Apogee]]'' Arms Hotel".

** A ''BallsOfSteel'' pinball machine in the arcade (Apogee would later release ''BallsOfSteel'' for Windows)

* [=E3L6=], "Rabid Transit", contains a section based on Lex Luthor's hideout in [[Film/SupermanTheMovie Superman: The Movie]]. This area is even accessed the same way as in the movie.

--> ''"[[Film/{{Scarface 1983}} Say hello to my little friend]]."''

* Crossing with DevelopmentGag and WhatCouldHaveBeen in VideoGame/DukeNukem3D part, the Pig Cops can hit the player with their gun, something which the Pig Cops were meant to do in ''3D'', but couldn't.

** Or "[[ShadowWarrior It's all in]] [[Film/BigTroubleInLittleChina the reflexes]]."

* Duke comes across an EDF soldier who knew Duke's retirement "bullshit was just bullshit". He then goes on in a mocking voice about how he just [[VideoGame/GearsofWar helped one of his friends find his wife]] and calls his friend a pussy.

* The first level of the game is a boss fight against [[spoiler: the Cycloid Emperor, last boss of the third episode of VideoGame/DukeNukem3D]], taking place in [[spoiler: the very same stadium...sort of.]]

* Duke's autobiography, "Why I'm So Great," was first mentioned in Duke Nukem II.

* The Railgun in the First Access Demo looks and sounds suspiciously like the VideoGame/QuakeIIIArena railgun.

* Another achievement, for hitting 15 aliens with melee attacks while in BerserkMode is called [[Comicbook/TheIncredibleHulk Duke Angry, Duke Smash!]]

* You get an achievement for sticking enemy with a laser tripmine called [[ShadowWarrior "Sticky bomb like you!"]]

* In one level, "[[ShadowWarrior Lo Wang]] [[KilroyWasHere was here]]" is scrawled on a wall.

* The music played at the Duke Dome, with the air raid siren, is lifted from VideoGame/{{Fallout}}.

* [=E4L9=], "Derelict", is a tanker named ''Valdez 2''.

* The text on the shotgun ammo boxes looks like it reads ''Remington''.
* Episode 3 has the same name as Episode 1 in ''DukeNukemI'', "Shrapnel City".

* The theme music, "Grabbag", is mostly influenced by ''Music/{{Pantera}}'', ''Music/OzzyOsbourne'', ''Music/BlackSabbath'' and ''Music/RickWakeman''.
* Some music is inspired by ''Music/BlackSabbath'', ''Music/{{Megadeth}}'' and ''Music/{{Metallica}}''.

!Duke Nukem and Duke Nukem II

!VideoGame/DukeNukem3D

** Some elevators in [=E1L7=] play ''[[Music/VanMorrison Van Morrison's]]'' ''Brown-Eyed Girl''.

!Duke Caribbean: Life's A Beach

!Duke It Out In D.C.

!Duke: Nuclear Winter

!Duke Nukem: Manhattan Project

!VideoGame/DukeNukemForever

* In the 2001 build, customizable desktop backgrounds include the intro to ''VideoGame/BadDudes'' and pictures of Music/BritneySpears.


!Other Duke games
* In one level of Duke Nukem: Time to Kill, Duke can come across the Delorean from ''Franchise/BackToTheFuture''.

* Low-res Visa and Master Card logos appear in cash registers throughout the original version game. Since the ''20th Anniversary'' version had no reason to license these logos again (they were meant for the "Order now!" screen in the Shareware release), they are replaced with BlandNameProduct versions of the logos.

* Low-pixel Visa and Master Card logos appear in cash registers throughout the game.

* [=E4L6=], "Going Postal", includes a reference to ''TheSimpsons'' - "trab pu kcip", to be viewed through a mirror. It also contains the infamous composite sketch of the Unabomber.
* [=E4L8=], "Critical Mass", has a secret area which is a mock-up of [[TheSimpsons Homer Simpson's]] work area, including donuts on the console and a sign saying "Sector 7-G".

* All of the cash registers have the value of [[TheSimpsons $847.63]]

** Later on, the player encounters [[Film/TheSIlenceOfTheLambs Hannibal Lecter]] standing in his prison cell. (N64 version only)

--> ''"Now this is a force to be reckoned with!"''

* [=E3L7=] is named "Fahrenheit", the music is called "233.778 Celsius" and a fire engine is numbered "451". All of these are references to Creator/RayBradbury's ''Literature/{{Fahrenheit 451}}''.[[note]]Though the song name is a bit wrong, as 451 F is equivalent to 23''2''.778 C[[/note]]

--> ''"We meet again, Dr. Jones."''

** There are also magazines featuring [[Film/JamesBond Moger Roore]] on the cover.

* The title screen is a parody of the poster of ''[[Film/{{ArmyOfDarkness}} Army of Darkness]]''.
* The theme music, "Grabbag", is mostly influenced by ''[[Music/{{Pantera}} Pantera]]'', ''[[Music/{{OzzyOsbourne}} Ozzy Osbourne]]'', ''[[Music/{{BlackSabbath}} Black Sabbath]]'' and ''[[Music/{{RickWakeman}} Rick Wakeman]]''.
* Some music is inspired by ''[[Music/{{BlackSabbath}} Black Sabbath]]'', ''[[Music/{{Megadeth}} Megadeth]]'' and ''[[Music/{{Metallica}} Metallica]]''.

* The [[GuideDangIt secret boss]] [[SphereOfDestruction Wozma]] seems to be a reference to [[VideoGame/FinalFantasyIX Ozma]].

* [=E3L6=], "Rabid Transit", contains a section based on Lex Luthor's hideout in SupermanTheMovie. This area is even accessed the same way as in the movie.

* [=E3L6=], "Rabid Transit", contains a section based on Lex Luthor's hideout in [[Film/SupermanTheMovie]]. This area is even accessed the same way as in the movie.

** There are also an umbrella and a hat hanging under the sign "Steed" in the level - an obvious reference to ''Series/TheAvengers''

* Sometimes, when Duke kills a Pig Cop, he'll quip, "[[GIJoe Porkchop]] [[AscendedMeme sandwiches]]."

* At one point, Duke [[http://cache.gawker.com/assets/images/kotaku/2011/02/dukehalo.jpg finds]] a [[VideoGame/{{Halo}} certain set of green armor]], and snarks, "Power armor is for pussies!" Overlaps with MythologyGag, since Duke found a dead VideoGame/{{DOOM}} marine in ''VideoGame/DukeNukem3D'', which he commented, "[[IncrediblyLamePun That's one DOOMED marine!]]"

* L3, "Land of Forgotten Toys", features [[SuperMarioBros Mario]] playing ''VideoGame/MarioKart'' and a portion of [=E1L1=] from the original ''VideoGame/{{Doom}}'' as part of the level.

* Occasionally after getting drunk, Duke will shout "You're my boy, Blue!" which was one of Will Ferrel's lines from OldSchool.