It introduced unprecedented interaction with a virtual world, ushered in the era of online multiplayer, went on to sell nearly four million copies, and changed the genre forever. Profane and half-insane, with a mouthy, steroidal protagonist whose vocabulary was made up of only the most badass quotes from films like Army of Darkness and They Live, Duke 3D took the young FPS genre out of the dungeons and space stations and into the streets and strip clubs. The significance of Duke Nukem 3D, pride of the Clinton years, can hardly be overstated, though Lord knows we try. And now, lo!, it slouches toward GameStop to be born. It has defined “vapourware” - products which are announced, and seem capable of absorbing money, but consistently fail to manifest - for a generation of gamers. The sequel to 3D Realms' groundbreaking 1996 first-person-shooter Duke Nukem 3D, first announced in 1997, DNF has been the Godot of gaming, second only to maybe Ghostbusters 3 in the pantheon of Messianic Geekery.

After 12 years of engagement, anticipation, scrubbed dates, “rocky patches,” juicy gossip, knowing glances between friends and seemingly terminal breakups, gamers can finally book the limo and get fitted for our bridesmaid gowns.ĭuke Nukem Forever is more than simply “long-awaited ” it's the longest-awaited.

Yes, I'm just going to go ahead with the bridal metaphor to describe my feelings at Friday's announcement of a May 3 release date for Duke Nukem Forever.

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