A Duke Nukem game made specifically for the N64.

Original N64europe Review

Duke Nukem fans who are looking to enjoy Duke in 3D will dig this outing on N64. Everything you've come to expect in a Duke game is intact and this time it's in 3D. The typical Duke humor is here, which means that young children should not be playing this game. Posters of scantily clad women (scantily is being generous...) abound in this game as do the sexual innuendo's used in the advertising around New York. And I thought Mayor Rudy cleaned up the Big Apple... Parents take note: This game is as far removed from Yoshi's Story as you can get. Duke's comments are peppered with minor curse words like Damn, Ass and Hell which are now so common place in our society, I wouldn't be surprised if Big Bird started spewing them. What it comes down to, is knowing what this game is about. If you purchased this game for your child without examining the content, you only have yourself to blame when your son is transfixed by the poster of a females almost completely naked buttocks.

Now don't get me wrong. There is a lot to like about Duke; if you are old enough to get "it". The levels are huge and look great if you are using the Expansion Pak. Duke has his arsenal of weapons and his ego damaging one-liners. Why there are even babes to rescue and if you look close enough you'll spot some Simpson's references like the Mr. Plough posters littered through town and even the Erotic Cakes Store from when Homer went 3D.

Just as in Duke's 3D PlayStation outing, Time To Kill, time travel plays a big part. You'll have to erase the alien menace that are threatening to re-write history through four time periods. Luckily Duke isn't travelling light. You'll have close to twenty different implements of destruction to help you along as well as six helpful items such as gas masks, night vision goggles, scuba gear and protective boots. I'd like to know where the jetpack is! With all of these extras, including a handy dandy sniper rifle, Duke almost comes off as a Solid Snake wannabe. But stealth and patience were never Duke's strong points.

Controlling Duke takes a lot of time to get used to. You'll have to find the controller configuration that best suits your style. Thankfully, GT Interactive gives you eight configurations to choose from. The biggest problem with the control is the spazzy camera. It's not bad outdoors where it can swing around a bit, but indoors the camera is a nightmare for the most part while it swings crazily from left to right. Just trying to get through doors is a challenge at first. Expect a good hour learning curve. If you spend some time at the compound before embarking on your first mission, you can go through some training exercises that will help prepare Duke for the battles ahead. Just like in real life however, you really have to be in the thick of things to really gain experience.

Musically Duke is cool but this game isn't about the tunes, it is about the "dry cool wit" of our action hero pal. Although Duke himself (voiced by John St. Jon) sounds like he has some adenoid troubles, I won't be the one to tell him that, lest he give me an attitude adjustment upside the head. Duke cracks wise throughout the game, and although you will hear him repeat himself, Duke is a man of few words. He won't be talking your ear off like Gex and he for sure won't be saying, "Yeah, baby!" ala Austin Powers, a million times.

Zero Hour's one saving grace is its four player mode. Although not quite as nifty as GoldenEye, it still is a blast to play with a few friends. 4 modes of multi-player mayhem are available that will entertain you for weeks to come. The only down point for me is dying. There is no mid level save points and the levels take so long when you have to do it again because you,ve died makes you just want to give up. Duke Nukem: Zero Hour is definately not the sort of game I'll be selling in a hurry. Personal rating 9/10 or 90%

- by James Eastwood