Summary

Release Year: 1997
Genres: Shooter
Platforms: DOS
Developers: Simply Silly Software
Publishers: WizardWorks Software

Duke Nukem: Nuclear Winter (1997) Review

Duke Nukem: Nuclear Winter is the first and only expansion pack for the groundbreaking first-person shooter Duke Nukem 3D. Developed by Simply Silly Software and released in 1997, Nuclear Winter adds a new campaign with eight new levels, new weapons, new enemies, and new bosses.

The story of Nuclear Winter takes place after the events of Duke Nukem 3D. Duke has defeated the alien overlord Cycloid Emperor and saved the world from an alien invasion. However, the Earth has been left in a state of nuclear winter, and Duke must now travel across the post-apocalyptic wasteland to find a way to restore the planet.

Along the way, Duke will encounter a variety of new enemies, including mutated creatures, cyborgs, and scavengers. He will also gain access to new weapons, such as the Freezethrower, the Devastator, and the Shrink Ray.

Nuclear Winter is a challenging expansion pack that offers a lot of new content for Duke Nukem 3D fans. The new levels are well-designed and offer a variety of challenges, and the new weapons and enemies add a lot of replay value.

Gameplay

Nuclear Winter plays very similarly to Duke Nukem 3D. It is a first-person shooter in which the player controls Duke Nukem as he fights his way through hordes of enemies. The game features a variety of weapons, including pistols, shotguns, assault rifles, and rocket launchers. Duke can also use his fists to punch enemies, and he can kick enemies to knock them down.

Nuclear Winter introduces several new gameplay elements to the Duke Nukem 3D formula. One of the most significant new features is the ability to drive vehicles. Duke can drive cars, tanks, and even helicopters. Vehicles can be used to traverse the game world more quickly, and they can also be used to attack enemies.

Another new gameplay element in Nuclear Winter is the ability to use stealth. Duke can now crouch and sneak around, and he can use silenced weapons to take down enemies without alerting others. Stealth can be a very effective way to complete some of the game’s more challenging levels.

Weapons

Nuclear Winter introduces several new weapons to the Duke Nukem 3D arsenal. These weapons include:

Freezethrower: A weapon that fires a stream of ice that can freeze enemies solid.
Devastator: A powerful shotgun that can fire three shells at once.
Shrink Ray: A weapon that can shrink enemies down to a tiny size.
Ion Cannon: A powerful energy weapon that can fire a devastating beam of energy.
Railgun: A sniper rifle that can fire a single, powerful shot that can pierce through multiple enemies.

Enemies

Nuclear Winter also introduces several new enemies to the Duke Nukem 3D bestiary. These enemies include:

Winter Grunts: Mutated humans who have adapted to the nuclear winter.
Winter Hounds: Mutated dogs that are incredibly fast and agile.
Winter Snipers: Mutated humans who are armed with powerful sniper rifles.
Winter Cyborgs: Cyborgs that are heavily armored and armed with a variety of weapons.
Winter Bosses: Powerful bosses that guard the exits of each level.

Conclusion

Duke Nukem: Nuclear Winter is a solid expansion pack that offers a lot of new content for Duke Nukem 3D fans. The new levels are well-designed and offer a variety of challenges, and the new weapons and enemies add a lot of replay value. If you’re a fan of Duke Nukem 3D, then you’ll definitely want to check out Nuclear Winter.