Duke Nukem Forever: Critics Aren't Impressed

It's taken some 15 years to get here, but Duke Nukem Forever, the "shamelessly inappropriate" first person shooter video game, has finally arrived.

So far, the critics aren't impressed.

[Emilio_Estevez]

I'm not impressed with critics.

[rabidpancakeburglar]

Agreed. The critics seem to be throwing nostalgia and fun to the side when reviewing the game.

NYC
I'm not saying that it should, I'm just saying that nostalgia always makes a game feel better. Critics are taking the game too seriously.

[RedDragan]

For 15 years of waiting it should be no less than the greatest thing ever made in any part of the entertainment industry.

Truth is, it is very very far from being the best thing the entertainment industry has ever given us.

[NYC_Gamer]

i dont believe any game should get a free pass regardless of nostalgia

[maniacmayhem]

The game is 10+ years old. Of course no one will be impressed.
Maybe if this dropped 10 years ago it would ahv3 been the greatest ever. But with all the CoD's, Battlefields, Halo's and KZ's out, it's just a drop in the bucket.

[Breadisgood]

Nostalgia should be thrown to the side when reviewing a game.

As for fun, they're saying it simply isn't fun - that's not throwing it to the side, that's just the game not being fun.

It seems to me this game is going to get a free ride on nostalgia for a lot of people and that shouldn't be the case.

[Mystogan]

im not impressed either, i don't get what people see in Duke Nukem the game's lame.

[SilentNegotiator]

If you took "Duke Nukem" from the title and renamed the character George, no one would even be this kind to this game.

Giving a game points for "nostalgia" is the dumbest thing I've ever heard. Either it's a good game or it's a bad game.

"Are they really not impressed though? True, some reviews have been bad, but the majority have been over 7/10 and 8/10"
In the 7th gen scoring system where every game gets a 6-10, a 7 is not them being impressed. Not even close.

[RankFTW]

I'm loving this game so far, I'm about half way through I reckon going by what bosses I've killed. Anybody who loved Duke back in the day is going to get on great with this game.

Here's the wikipedia entry on DNF's development, a good and funny read: http://en.wikipedia.org/wik...

[xVeZx]

fun no but nostalgia they definitely have to throw that out the window when reviewing games

[ZombieAssassin]

Ha critics they are pretty much pointless no matter what they review whether it be games/movies/music. Especially in the game industry though, it seems games like Cod get a free pass for not innovating but if other games don't innovate they get their scores lowered. Not only that but the scoring systems are so messed up now, for example people tend to think a 7 is bad but how can it be it's above average (average being 5).

Honestly I wish I could start up a game review site and have actual gamers review them not someone who is paid by a company that is making money off add space for certain games. I don't mean random gamers either I mean more or less people I know because damn near every gamer I know has a true passion for it and wouldn't be swayed by add money/special review packages/bias/etc.

[Theonetheonly]

Duke nukem is the definition of nostalgia, critics are critics.

thats why people always say F(&^K the critics.

duke is in his own category.

[BrianG]

Thank you DrStabwounds for saying that.

I 100% agree

[thesummerofgeorge]

I think with a game like this, nostalgia is relevant to the review. It may be fair to say that without the nostalgia factor, you may not enjoy the game very much, but this game is clearly geared towards Duke 3D fans and most of the humor is a nod to old school Duke fans. Even the gameplay style seems very retro fps... The nostalgia factor is just too big a part of the game to ignore, IMO.

I haven't played DNF, so perhaps I should pipe down, but I imagine it's a mediocre game that has loads of nostalgic fun for fans of Duke Nukem past... Which isn't so bad in theory, nostalgia is a powerful thing, it's enough to make me wanna play it. Either way, I think there's plenty of room for a game like DNF, and I'm happy to see my old pal Duke back in the saddle...

[nopunctuation]

No game is worth waiting 14 years for. Especially when its using an outdated engine. I dont get the nostalgia for this game anyways. Never played it because goldeneye is obviously the better game and that deserves my nostalgia.

[thesummerofgeorge]

"No game is worth waiting 14 years for."

What do you mean "waiting"? No one was just sitting there waiting for 14 years. I wasn't waiting for it, I put it out of my mind and if it came to fruition, great, if not... so be it.

"I dont get the nostalgia for this game anyways. Never played it because goldeneye is obviously the better game and that deserves my nostalgia."

You obviously can't be nostalgic for something you never really played, nostalgia isn't something you choose to have for something.

[headhunter]

once again the media proves it self to be irrelevant when it comes to videogames

[Lykon]

seems like all the negative reviews are little kids saying "buh buh the grafix" ..sounds like a fun game to me i like what i'm hearing about it

[Gordo789]

Brilliant! I mean, did anybody expect this game to review well? It's like going to watch Thor in the theater and expecting citizen fucking kane.

[AlienLion]

Well, I am letting nostalgia do its' thing and I was still not impressed with the demo, to say the least. It felt clunky and unfinished, yes unfinished, yes... UNfinished...

[Pozzle]

Are they really not impressed though? True, some reviews have been bad, but the majority have been over 7/10 and 8/10.

[Pacman321]

7/10 and 8/10 are good scores, but i think some people just expected more because of the 12 years development.

[Pozzle]

The game itself hasn't been in development for 12 years, though. It got canceled multiple times, started from scratch even more times and has been handed over to various developers and teams throughout the years. This version of the game's actual development time was probably very short. Tbh, I'm surprised it turned out playable at all, considering all the shit that went down during development.

[Ravenor]

Are you kidding? Nowadays people look at a 6-7 and think it's bargain bin trash based on nothing more then a number. I'm not surprised to find this kind of sensationalist title on N4G.

[hassi94]

"The game itself hasn't been in development for 12 years, though."

Why does that matter to the consumer? People don't care how many times it's been cancelled - people have been waiting for it for 12+ years (not me, I never played the first ones/

[Pozzle]

Yes, waiting over 14 years for a game is ridiculous. But regardless of how long we've all been waiting for it, it's silly for people say that the game should be a masterpiece because it's been in development for over a decade...when in actual fact, it hasn't. It has barely even had a "regular" development time.

[Gordo789]

didn't you know that if it doesn't get a metacritic score of at least 80 it must be shit. /sarcasm off.

[AngelicIceDiamond]

Its Duke Nukem who cares theres way better games worthy of your dollar.. Skyrim anyone?

[FragMnTagM]

Paid that off yesterday along with Battlefield 3!

That said, I might pick this up as I am a huge Duke fan.

[DarkFantasy]

skyrim isn't even out yet ...

have you played the game to even know how good it is???...no? then STFU!! or i'm gonna rip off you're head and shit down you're neck,BALLS OF STEEL!!!!

Lifes a Bitch and then YOU die.

*Note im getting Skyrim and BF3 as well as DUKE NUKEM for PC room on my self for all of them(well not really it's kinda full,i need a new shelf)

[Organization XII]

lol?

[AngelicIceDiamond]

@DarkFantasy Wow bitch you can't do anything duke is gay just like you, how bout u N Duke get a room queer.

[MrDead]

Since when do critics know how to have fun? I hope the Duke pays you guys a visit. "Eat my game you pukes"!

[darkequitus]

Well, Edge's last review, giving Witcher 2 6/10 reinforced why I make up my own mind.

[Fishy Fingers]

Little dramatic, the average seems to be 7-8/10. Which ever way you spin it, that is a good (or perhaps, impressive) score. Especially when you consider the hype.

[Syaz1]

i smell an excuse for a reboot...

[Excalibur]

My thinking all along was the reviews were going to be split and because people would either over scrutinize it or look at it through Rose Colored Glasses.
Honestly I could have cared less rather the game got a 1 or a 10, it's Duke and he has gone for 12+ years, just the simple fact he was back made it an automatic day one purchase for me.

I've played all the Duke games and there was absolutely no reason to stop now. ;)

[news4geeks]

critics are sexy

[K1LLSburyPWNboy]

PUKE NUKEM should have never been released what a waste. I hope he's done he needs to retire

[genocidegeneral215]

lol did alot of effort go into thinking of 'puke nukem' ? :L

[Pintheshadows]

Lets be fair. It probably strained his braincell.

[Excalibur]

@ K1LLSburyPWNboy

The last time a DN game was released you were probably still playing with the $#!t in your diapers so your opinion doesn't mean squat. ;)

[trainsinrdr]

i agreed because i feel unique when in the minority xD

[ger101]

This is a prime example of why I don't read reviews.

[Chnswdchldrn]

They aren't impressed because the game is mediocre riding on the success on fans who are deceiving themselves into thinking the game is good just because it has Duke in it. I wish that were the case. I was a huge Duke 3D fan but I know a horrible game when I see one and play one, and this is a HORRIBLE GAME. I'm telling the truth

watch all the blind fools who intend on actually wasting money on that hunk of shit disagree with me. I said the truth, now deal with it

also, don't accuse me of being a graphics whore. I thought the graphics were adequate when I played the demo, albeit a bit painful to my eyes due to the effects on screen, but adequate. Its the gameplay that is really lacking. Duke 3D drags its balls of steel all over Duke nukem forevers gameplay. Killing enemies is like no fun at all, and the weapons are seriously dumb and just not fun to use, even though they got things like the shrink ray.

No amount of nostalgia or one liners can warrant the purchase of this ass of a game, well, at least not for true duke nukem fans

[DarkFantasy]

so i'm guessing you didn't play the full game tho?

you seen a few bad review's and played a demo..what about trying something for you're self or do you like being a Lemming..

[Biggest]

Says the lemming that feels spending money on something is the way to truely know if you like it or not. The game sucks in 2011. Had someone released it 6 or more years ago it might have been great. It is not a game worthy of its price.

[Pozzle]

Well, they're hardly "wasting" their money if they enjoy the game now, are they?

Also, way to criticize an entire game based solely on the demo. Bravo.

[mll09]

A demo is a representation of the game and he complains about gameplay, since when have games changed their gameplay significantly after a demo?

[maniacmayhem]

Shouldn't the demo represent the game tho?

Why release a bad demo? If the demo doesn't reel a player in, I doubt he will spend 60 bux to see if the demo was wrong and it was worth the play.

I always say Gamefly that badboy and take it from there.

[Charmers]

Since when has "The Guardian" been the authoritative on video games ? Naturally the Guardian is going to slag it off because it's full of sex and violence. As for IGN I was always of the impression that their reviews were "it isn't COD so it is crap".

I am having an absolute blast with this game. I had really gone off FPS games with their "generic soldier fighting some war I really couldn't give a crap about" story lines. Yes it isn't a perfect game and there is a lot that can be done to improve it, but you could argue that about every damn game ever made.

[DevilishSix]

I am not expecting much from the retail game. A rental or bargain purchase from what I have played.

[jrisner]

hmm they aren't impressed? I've seen 7's and 8's so there you go. Didn't the first Assassins creed get a 7 or so. Yea game reviewers are douches. I think they pretty much mail in the review on anything that doesn't have Halo or COD in the title.

[K1LLSburyPWNboy]

haha fanboys getting all ....hurt cuz a once great game is now worth of gutter trash. I know it's not nice to say bad things about terrible games but u guys are funny defending it. Oh... my bad, you probably all ready wasted sixty dollars on it. Sucks to be you:)

[Excalibur]

Two and out hopefully soon to be one and out.

If N4G were really smart they would revamp the system and give the one bub trolling idiots one bub a day, that way the stupidity would be spread a lot thinner. ;)

[MrDead]

awwww hes having a temper tantrum. Dose little PWNboy want a wolly pop.

Dont worry this game wont hurt you as you wont be alowed to play it for another 10 years, it has naked ladies and rude words in it.

[GoldPS3]

People really don't understand what Duke is about. Everyone want to compare every shooter with COD. I'm getting sick of that. If this game came out 10 years ago I bet it'd get higher scores but who care about the scores.

[Breadisgood]

"If this game came out 10 years ago I bet it'd get higher scores"

The fact that you're trying to defend the game with this statement gave me a good laugh, cheers.

[Tikicobra]

Is anyone surprised by this? Who honestly expected this to be good?

[DrillaKid]

who cares, after the crappy reviews theyve been giving out this gen people should just make their own minds up.

[Big_Dom]

Everyone's a critic.

[mobijoker]

It got zeros???No problem..i'm still gonna get this...It's f**king Duke Nukem man!

[Jacobite]

Get a life, the Duke is not that bad not great either though , but it will pass for what it is cheeky nostalgia fun a day that games took themselves less serious.

[-Gespenst-]

What? But like every review's been an 8/10? That's a great score.

[Ares84]

Like anyone cares. I never agreed with critics anyways.

[Lykon]

same here .. piles of utter shit like heavy rain, COD, GTAIV get 10's ffs ...i'm getting this game

[JamestheScruffy]

Been saying it for months...12 + years of expections can cripple any one, even Mr. Nukem and his well chisled physique

[pepsilover_2007]

well IMO this game is about nostalgia, and that doesnt really seem to be like with reviewers today i noticed that when the new goldeneye came out last novemember

[Lykon]

remember todays reviewers were still in nappies when these games first came out...they just want sophisticated graphics and linear cod clones, they dont know anything else

[aGameDeveloper]

Well said.

[Saryk]

If the critics say that the movie sucks, I go watch it, cause I like it. If they say it will win awards, I avoid it like the plague!

However I like average score like VGrlease give!

[PSWe60]

honest question here guys:

how many times has this game been delayed? How long has it been?

[TheMutator]

critics are for pussies

[Miiikeyyy]

Critics can suck my balls

[jay2]

The lower scores are right :'( very sad........

[DW74]

Sometimes I think this industry and it's "fans" take themselves a little too seriously. God, I miss the 90's.