Customer Reviews

Duke Nukem: Manhattan Project

5 star:		(20)
4 star:		(5)
3 star:		(2)
2 star:		(5)
1 star:		(10)

 

 

Like many others, I've grown away from the simple computer games of the past, largely because I've had no choice. Almost every game being released actually prides itself on being ultra-complicated to play. I imagine the benefits of complexity are primarily so the player can have fine control over the gameplay mechanics, but this also means investing a great deal of time just learning how to play these games.

Well, I'm very happy to report that "Duke Nukem: Manhattan Project" is not one of those games. This game is one of those addictive-type games that is easy to learn and hard to master. It is a side-scroller in the purest sense, however the graphics are rendered in 3D, making this the most visually appealing side-scroller I've ever seen. And just because its gameplay harkens back to the purity not seen in games in the last 10 years, don't think you can run it on just anything. I recommend at least PII 450 with a 32 meg graphics card to run this at a decent resolution and framerate. I myself am running it on an Athlon 1.2 ghz. with an NVidia GeForce 4 Ti4200. It runs flawlessly at 1024 X 768, and you can go higher if you want. The graphics are beautiful and the gameplay butter-smooth with simple controls. You can use the keyboard or a joystick or both. I was hesitant to try the joystick on a game like this, but I found that it works very well, and is intuitive. You'll be up and running in just a few minutes.

I've really missed this simple kind of gameplay. It's like being back in the arcades again! Duke fires off his irreverent comments just as you'd expect him to. And best of all, the voiceovers are still done by Jon St. John, the same guy who did them in the legendary Duke 3D! The atmosphere of that game has been captured just fine in this game. You have to rescue bouncing babes, and shoot the 'pig-cops', etc. The music is also notable. With most games, the first thing I do is turn the music off. However, the music in this game is so good, I actually turned it up! I guess the music is somewhat repetitive, but it actually sounds good that way for some reason. Hey, it works. There is a 4 MB patch available for this game at Apogee's website, but I haven't experienced any problems yet, and I'm running it right out of the box.

I can't imagine anyone not having fun with this game. Unless you don't like blood and gore, but you can shut that off if you want to and password protect it. All in all, this should hold all us Duke fans until "Duke Nukem Forever" comes out hopefully sometime within the next ten years. Remember, good things come to those who wait.

Some of the comments here are quite funny. The original Dukes were both sidescrollers! And they were fun. DNMP is fun as well, and looks better than I would have thought. I was skeptical but once I saw the gameplay movie on the official site of the game, I was sold... I can't believe they made it so inexpensive. Well, we win, cause this game ROCKS! It feels like Duke and it is the most fun I've had on a pc since Duke Nukem 3D.

If you are sad and hurt that it's a platform scroller, and not another FPS, then you're a little too shallow to enjoy this game. This is what gaming is about, having fun! Take a chance on this one, you won't regret it. I play more DNMP than I do SOFII..and that's saying something.

If you've ever played Duke Nukem I & II, you will probably love this game. This side scroller incorporates a lot of the themes (think cameras and helicopters among others) from the classic games into a 3D environment with good results. Lots of running, jumping, ledges, you know the drill. Lots of funny "Duke-Speak" and a few buxom babes. See how many secret areas you can find, it isn't so easy. The downside of the game is the somewhat repetative nature of the levels and the lack of freedom of movement that comes from a side scroller. Still, it's cheap and fun and will tide you over until Duke Nukem Forever sees the light of day

I generally rely on reading reviews from either GameSpot or Adrenaline Vault, this time, it was a unique one. Generally, they praised the game, but every praise was accompanied by 'if it just wasn't for this little problem' or 'it would've just needed a little tweak here'. I think there's no higher praise than this. If a game excels to the degree that reviewers can only fault it for 'very small problems' as they say, then this game must be close to perfect, and of course nothing can be practicaly perfect.

There are about 9 (?) Duke Nukem games so far as far as I can recall, with only 3 of them could be considered original. The first two games with the first released in 1991 were side-scrollers then they were followed in 1996 with one of the most famous 3D action shooters; Duke Nukem 3D. Since then, the developer 3DRealms has been working on its new title; Duke Nukem Forever, which has nearly got a reputation as a game that won't be released! Since the developer, 3DRealms, want to create a game that will litteraly live forever as it previous one, it's not rushing the secret development at all as most of the games do. It even started a new type of released dates; When It's Done.

The other 6 games (or whatever number they are) are just published/produced by 3DRealms. It didn't develop any of them. The latest one is this; Duke Nukem Manhatten Project, which is a technological return to the style of the first Duke Nukem game ever; side-scrolling.

I must say, if side-scrolling could be all like this, I may think about sacrificing 1st and 3rd person shooters. The engine of the game is incredible, it's capable of doing tons of stuff that I wonder what else they missed. Maybe they didn't utilize some options a lot as some people criticize the game, but it's generally outstanding.

The game uses todays 3D technology to present a well-done approach to 3D Arcade. The camera shifts left, right, up and down. It can zoom in and out, and it can rotate as much as it want, delivering a very unique style of playing. The quality of the textures in the game is very nice and the special effects like fire, smoke and dust are perfectly done (except for fire?).

It's visually interactive, appealing and as much as you want. There're flaws, but most are minor that could be considered negligable to tadays amount of flaws in top games.

The story of the game doesn't need much telling. It's as Duke Nukem describes it "Babes, bullets, Guns; I love this job". Although the game's engine is capable of rendering nice cut scenes, it doesn't utilize that to tell the story, because actually there's not much to tell...

The major thing that furastrated me about the game was related to the playability; it's far too easy. Ammo is everywhere. Health isn't much of a problem. And killing your enemies was never that easy. Even with the bosses. 5 of the 8 were a "piece of cake". Just keep firing your gun at them continously and they will not make a move. But I really regarded Manhatten Project as a fun game to play rather than a one to cause you a headache because you can't pass a door without getting blown away.

The one-lines Duke says are really impressive, like "Someone is gonna pay for making me find these key cards" and "So there's life after death" (when you die and the level is loaded again). Refrences to other material stuff is present as well, like one about Max Payne and another about Trinity in The Matrix; "I know what you're looking for Duke, and I will help you, follow the white rabbit" (but I didn't find any white rabbits along the game ;-0 ).

Great visuals, sound, level design and enemies are a plus for this game. A better gameplay and music score could've made this game something I can't imagine. Anyway, you're looking at a game priced at half the normal price of todays games. And it may even deliver more fun...

People who critisize this game are too stuck on the idea that a game must inculde certain modern standards to be worth playing. Please! Playing computer games is all about escaping reality and being able to enjoy yourself. Who cares if it's not in first person perspective? It's still fun, isn't it? I sure think so.

I'll be honest here, it never even crossed my mind that a new DN game would be a side scroller. I was not too happy after buying & installing it when I started reading about the controls. I actually had to dust off my joystick. I was not looking forward to playing without my mouse/keyboard combo. I've been playing 1'st person shooters since Wolfenstein, thru Dooms, Quakes, Unreals, Voyagers, AvsPs, Rainbow-6s, you name it. I "KNEW" I was going to hate the new game I just bought... I was DEAD WRONG! I just love DN-MP. If you DID have full freedom in these huge levels, you'd probably never complete the game. There's plenty of places to explore as it is. Great graphix, sound, & levels. Couldn't be better. I laughed, I gritted my teeth, I flinched, I cringed, I hollered, I stayed up all night, and Duke rocked baby!
So what's my point? This is the simply the most fun game I've played in about 2 years. You will not be disappointed if you get this great addition to the DN universe. I hope there are add-ons and sequels coming (no doubt, the editor comes with the game!).
Although, DN Forever darn well better be 1'st person! (or at least have selectable point of view). My PC has 256MB ram, fast 7200rpm HDD, 900MHz Athlon CPU, & hardware DX graphix accel. With DNMP set to 1024x758x32, the frame rate was [super]. There may in fact be some games out there with "more technology" or "more realistic" views or whatever, but DNMP is great on its own and it is certainly priced right and today's average PC can certainly handle it and run it well. You don't need a dual-P4-2.0 PC with a 128MB-GeForce-4 video card to have a ton'o'fun.

Dukes newest sidescroller is a success, same ol weapons, sneaky secret areas, babes to save, all new bosses, and enemies. Whats there not to love? If you loved Duke I and Duke II in the past, you will treasure this.

You just must play this game. It's a blast. Great graphics, great sound, and FUN in spades. I play games a lot, but I have not had this much fun playing a PC game for years. I don't know why it is, but this game just works.

and Duke RULEZ!

This game is awesome, it is NOT like the Duke Nukem 3d of 1996 we all remember, the third person shooter, but more like the 1991 version updated with great graphics. I do think it is worth getting if you are a Duke Nukem fan. I found it to be thrilling, can't wait for another FPS from these guys starting Duke.

What's with all the babies whining that this game is not like the original? It's not 1st person, waaaaaa. It's not 3d, waaaaaa. Well, the original Duke Nuken--and the 2nd for that matter--WERE 2d side-scrollers, and a lot of fun! This game is no less fun. It's great! Just because we are in a world now with machines fast enough for 3d doesn't mean a 2d game can't be fun. Geesh, these children probably think the first Castle Wolfenstein was 3d!

DrXenos