Common Sense Media Review
By Paul Semel
,
based on child development research. How do we rate?
Lewd shooter perfectly re-created, yet dull by modern play.
Parents Need to Know
Why Age 18+?
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Where to Play
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Duke Nukem 3D 20th Anniversary Edition World Tour
What's It About?
DUKE NUKEM 3D 20TH ANNIVERSARY EDITION WORLD TOUR is an accurate recreation of the classic first-person shooter Duke Nukem 3D. In it, aliens have invaded Earth, and it's up to a meathead with bad one-liners and good guns to save the day. But while it brings this 20-year-old game to new computers and consoles, it also expands the game by adding a fifth section where Duke fights the aliens in Paris, Moscow, and other big cities. It also adds these levels to the game's multiplayer modes, as well as one exclusive to the game's online modes. Plus, for fans of the original, this has both new one-liners as well as the original ones, along with an optional commentary track from the people who made the original.
Is It Any Good?
Although this is a perfect re-creation of a classic sci-fi first-person shooter, the gameplay is somewhat dull and plain by modern standards and full of inappropriate content. It also expands both the campaign and multiplayer modes with new but vintage-feeling levels. As in the original Duke Nukem 3D, the Duke Nukem 3D 20th Anniversary Edition World Tour has you once again using guns, grenades, and your boots to kill aliens trying to take over the Earth. While younger gamers will find this game's visuals and mechanics to be dated, they shouldn't be playing this bawdy game anyway, as it's not only bloody and violent but full of sexual imagery and comments. But if you're old enough to remember the original -- and don't mind the bad jokes -- you'll appreciate how perfectly this recreates this classic game. For that matter, new levels have been added to both the campaign and multiplayer, and they feel like they're as old as the original. Sure, it isn't perfect. The multiplayer is kind of dull and pales next to modern online games, but it also doesn't have the add-ons of previous reissued titles. But for older gamers who'd like to kick some alien butt while making bad jokes, the Duke Nukem 3D 20th Anniversary Edition World Tour is king, baby.
Talk to Your Kids About ...
Families can talk about violence in video games. Does it make a difference that the people you're killing in this game are bad aliens trying to take over the world?
Talk about the impact of visuals in games. While the game has naughty elements, does it make a difference that the gore and sexual imagery are so pixelated that it's not all that gross or explicit?
Discuss language. What do the hero's comments in the game say about him as a person? Do you think it's necessary to make sexist comments when trying to save the world from aliens?
Game Details
- Platforms : PlayStation 4 , Windows , Xbox One
- Pricing structure : Paid
- Available online? : Available online
- Publisher : Gearbox Software
- Release date : October 12, 2016
- Genre : First-Person Shooter
- Topics : Adventures , Fantasy
- ESRB rating :
- Last updated : September 30, 2025
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