Duke Nukem II
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| Duke Nukem II | |
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| Developer(s) | Todd Replogle Allen H. Blum III Stephen A. Hornback Randy Abraham Robert Prince George Broussard Tom Hall Scott Miller Jason Blochowiak |
| Publisher(s) | Apogee Software |
| Platform(s) | PC (MS-DOS) |
| Release date | December 3, 1993 (PC) |
| Genre(s) | Platform game |
| Mode(s) | Single player |
| Rating(s) | OFLC: G8+ |
| Media | Floppy disks |
Duke Nukem II is an MS-DOS platform game developed by Apogee Software and released December 3, 1993. The game consists of four episodes, the first available as shareware. Not to be confused with the second episode of Duke Nukem 1, it is the second Duke Nukem game, following the 1991 Duke Nukem debut and being followed by Duke Nukem 3D in 1996.
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[edit] Story
The evil Rigelatins plan to enslave earth, and they kidnap none other than Duke Nukem (who was performing in an interview about his new autobiography Why I'm So Great), to use his brain to plot the attack for their forces. Duke breaks free to save the world, again.
Duke Nukem shows much more attitude in this game than in the original, although he "self-censors" his language much more than in the third of the series. For instance, in the scenes between episodes he says "I'll just break free, kick butt, and be on my way," and one of the songs is titled "Kicking Butt and Taking Names," as opposed to the more vulgar term, "ass", for the posterior.
The general story of Duke Nukem II, except some naming differences, was re-used for the 1997 Game Boy Color game Duke Nukem.
[edit] Gameplay
The player's goal is to proceed through the levels, taking advantage of the weapons, health items, and powerups therein. These items are often found in crates. If Duke Nukem can walk in front of the crate, it is safe to shoot and will often contain a beneficial item. However, if Duke Nukem is able to walk behind a crate, it contains a napalm bomb that may inflict damage. The player is ultimately searching for the exit, which will take them to the next level.
The player will need to destroy monsters (most commonly robots, slimy aliens, and men in blue suits) throughout the levels. The basic weapon can eliminate most of them, and the player will also find weapon powerups.
[edit] Weapons
Weapons are found in green crates and look like round coins with one of four letters on them:
- N (default weapon): A short blast that is effective against many types of enemies. The default weapon for the game. (Ammo: Infinite)
- L (Laser): A blue laser that shoots through multiple enemies on-screen, and is slightly more powerful than the default weapon. It can even shoot through walls. (Ammo: 32)
- R (Rocket Launcher): The most powerful weapon available. Except for bosses, this will kill most enemies in a single shot. (Ammo: 32)
- F (Flamethrower): A flame like weapon with lots of ammunition and when shot downwards, double functions as a jetpack to reach otherwise unreachable heights. (Ammo: 64)
The weapons and ammo are carried with Duke Nukem to the next level.
[edit] Items
Items commonly found in Duke Nukem II include:
- Soda Can: (In red crates) Gives one health. If the player does not wish to take health, they may instead shoot it, thereby blasting into the air, and then catch it to earn 2,000 points.
- Six-Pack: (In red crates) Worth six health units. It may be shot for 10,000 points.
- Turkey: (In red crates) Moves quickly once released. This is worth one health. If it is shot before touched, it transforms into a cooked turkey, worth two health units.
- Atomic Health: (In blue crates) Worth one health unit. If the player has full health when they touch it, they earn 10,000 points.
- Glass Orbs: Depending on their color, they are good for a set number of points (Blue=500, Red=2,000, Green=5,000, White=10,000). If they are shot them, they break, and the player only receives 100 points, regardless of color. However, destroying all the orbs in the level calls for one of the secret bonuses (see below).
- Letters: (In blue crates) Big Letters which spell out the word "NUKEM" are located in every level. Collecting them in order grants 100,000 points. If all are collected in mixed order, only 10,000 points are granted.
- Crystal Ball: Hidden in many levels, it is worth 10,000 points. If it is returned to the pedestal hidden elsewhere in the level, the player receives 50,000 points and a helpful hint. The crystal ball can also be destroyed for a bonus at the end of the level.
Duke Nukem is on foot throughout most of the game, but some levels have him inside a vehicle. The game is split into four episodes, each consisting of 8 levels. In the last level of each episode, the player faces a Rigelatin as a boss.
[edit] Crates
Most of the items in the game are found in crates. There are several different colors:
- Red: Contain health items or dangerous napalm bombs. A crate containing a bomb can be identified by the fact that Duke walks behind it rather than in front of it.
- Green: Contain weapons.
- Blue: Contain various merchandise and items for points, such as the NUKEM letters. May also contain atomic health.
- Grey: Contain special important items (keys, cloaking devices, rapid fire powerups).
It is also possible for a crate to be empty.
[edit] Secret bonuses
There are 7 different secret bonuses, which can be obtained in a level. Each of these adds 100,000 to the score at the end of the level.
- Secret Bonus 1: for destroying all surveillance cameras in the level (not available if the level has no cameras). Can be very hard if cameras are squeezed into corners.
- Secret Bonus 2: for beating the level without taking a single hit (difficult enough on "Easy", near impossible on "Hard").
- Secret Bonus 3: for obtaining all the weapons in the level (not available if the level has no weapons).
- Secret Bonus 4: in theory, for picking up all the merchandize in the level. In practice, it cannot be obtained with the exception of one level, where there are no NUKEM letters.
- Secret Bonus 5: for destroying all turrets in the level (not available if the level has no turrets or in boss levels). This can be challenging because turrets can only be destroyed with higher-level weapons, demanding adequate ammo conservation.
- Secret Bonus 6: for destroying all crates with napalm bombs in the level
- Secret Bonus 7: for destroying (not collecting) all glass orbs in the level. This bonus is frequently unbeneficial because all the glass orbs typically add up to well over 100,000 points in each level.
[edit] Cultural references
- In the opening movie, after Duke fires a smiley face into the target at the shooting range just like Mel Gibson in Lethal Weapon, he says in a very Terminator-esque voice, "I'M BACK!!".
- Bobby Prince followed the same tradition of "borrowing" songs (without actually facing legal action) that he used in Cosmo's Cosmic Adventure and Doom, basing the "He's Back" song in Level 1 and a few other "jail" levels, along with the "Squeak" song from Level 5 and several other "factory" levels, on Megadeth's songs "Angry Again" and "Skin O' My Teeth," respectively. Also, both the weapon and other item pickup sounds appear to have been borrowed from Super Castlevania IV.[citation needed]
[edit] See also
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[edit] External links
- Official Duke Nukem II website
- Duke Nukem II at MobyGames
- Duke Nukem Central Informative fansite on Duke Nukem I and II
