Duke Nukem Forever review controversy

I'm conflicted. On one hand, I've never given two shakes about anything that resembled a first-person shooter and wasn't New Vegas; the Duke in particular strikes me as trying way too hard to be cool for some bullshit postmodern take on irony. On the other, I'm eagerly waiting for Saints Row: The Third. Then again, that game is in a genre I adore and didn't spend most of my life in development hell.

edited 18th Jun '11 1:13:05 AM by KitsuneInferno

You really are mad...unbelievable. Get some sleep.

The controversy is overblown. People gave it more shit than it actually deserved mostly due to hype backlash. When something does not live up to their expectations, already project dislike or bias towards it, or doesn't meet a level of political correctness, it is condemned. Can't say I blame them, when reviewers become professional they have a sense of duty to project the video game industry to mainstream audiences as grown up, so they condemn it now. The only ones who vocally ostracized 3D were parents and TV commentators ragging on it due to its offensive content.

edited 18th Jun '11 1:35:53 AM by ninjaclown

Ukon, if you're so worried about a derail, then don't respond and move on with your life. If you hate this thread so much, why did you even come back?

On topic, I feel that even if the reviews were not tainted by misplaced nostalgia, Duke probably wouldn't rate well in the first place. I recently played the game at a friends house, and the gameplay was so damn dull. There was literally nothing that stood out in any way. Add in the tasteless jokes that forgot they were supposed to, you know, be funny, I doubt this game would have been met with more than a resounding "Meh."

edited 18th Jun '11 1:31:22 AM by GIG

<Mod Hat ON>

Y'know there's a section in the forum rules that says, "don't post in a thread just to talk about how much you don't like the thread."

This applies to everyone.

Consider this an official warning.

<Mod Hat OFF>

If you don't mind, Ukon, would you please clarify what you specifically dislike about Duke Nukem? (hopefully pertaining to the review?)

If he has something against the series itself, shouldn't he say it on the actual DNF thread, or even on the actual review section of the DNF page, not the thread about the multiple angry reviews?

I can only say I applaud Duke Nukem Forever meeting the disgust and condemnation a mediocre and embarassing game deserves.

You haven't been on topic, you've just been talking about why you hate something instead of the actual topic at hand. This isn't a bash thread, this is a thread asking "Was the vitriol justified?", not "Post your opinions and barely tie them in the actual topic."

If you would take your opinions to the review section instead of throwing them around here, that would probably sate your need to vent and be received much better.

Punishing people for giving negative reviews seems a bit...well...1984 to me. "How dare you not like our game!" and so on.

And that's all I'm going to say on the subject.

edited 18th Jun '11 3:08:24 AM by FarseerLolotea

In my opinion: Duke Nukem Forever is not actually a bad game. The shooting game-play is nothing spectacular, yes, but it is also bad - in fact, it is perfectly average. And I liked the puzzle/platforming sequences. Some of the puzzles are pretty clever, and most importantly they are all easy or short enough to not become frustrating. Actually I had more fun solving some of the puzzles than I had in any FPS created in the last 2-3 years that I played.

While the humor (or "humor", whatever strikes your fancy) is infantile and crass(and backfires spectacularly in at least one instance: You know the all-favorite Hive level) there is more than enough people who like, or at least tolerate that kind of jokes, so it is more a matter of taste than an objective flaw.

If I absolutely had to, I would rate this game as a strong 7/ weak 8, and I think that would be more or less universal score, if this game was not called Duke Nukem Forever. 12 years worth of hype and inflated expectations damage this game more than any flaw in the actual game would ever manage. (Although I fully understand most of the reviewers: This is definitely not a game that was worthy of waiting 12 years for)

On a final note: Ironically enough, despite the shitstorm in reviews, the game is selling very well. It dethroned Co D from the first place in GB for a while, and is in top 5 of Steam Best Sellers since release, among others.

edited 18th Jun '11 4:21:13 AM by Drakovicz

The game sold well right out of the gate which suggests that gamers bought the game before reading a single review. The reviews may still have an effect on the game although Duke Nukem Forever is so hyped, it should be the most review proof game in video game history.

Based on the footage I've seen it's an obviously sub-par video game so I tend to agree with the reviews. My main complaint would be that it forgets it's supposed to be an action game and often just faffs about for long lengths of time without any signs of cleverness.

The shooting works and the joke are kind of not really funny is not 7 level. Brotherhood is 7, bioshock two is 7, duke is an easy 4.

I don't know...Bio Shock 2 should be more like a 6(original is 8), while DNF should be 5-ish.

Gameplay isn't all that bad, dated, yes, but look at how long ago this game was made, that was expected. The shrinking part is cool even to this day though.

The main problem was that theres too little combat...too little enemy variety, and the finishers are kinda bland.

Overall it's biggest crime is being dated and being sold and released as a new and awesome game(which it isn't).

edited 18th Jun '11 1:21:10 PM by Signed

Then what about: "Shooting while not spectacular works well, with puzzles providing welcome, if flawed diversion and humor will be considered funny by many, despite (or maybe because) being offensive and often pretty stupid"?

The game is flawed and was hyped far too much to be anything else than disappointing but pretending that it is without virtues or awesome moments is incorrect.

Bioshock 2 being 6 huh? I guess I have pretty weird tastes then, because I thought it was almost as good as, and in some areas (gameplay, characters other than main villains...) slightly better than original.

edited 18th Jun '11 1:36:30 PM by Drakovicz

The problem with judging Duke Nukem Forever based on old-school shooters is that it's missing some stuff that people like in old-school shooters such as non-regenerative health, less linear level design, and the ability to carry more than two weapons.

A lot of reviewers of Duke Nukem Forever were astonished that it even came out and were willing to cut it some slack just based on that.

edited 18th Jun '11 1:30:59 PM by CBanana

Bioshock 2 is better than the original. It just doesn't innovate as much as it should.