What's wrong with Duke Nukem Forever?

I started playing Duke Nukem Forever a few days ago and, so far, have been really enjoying it. I haven't played any FPS platformers for ages so it's really nice to get a game that does it again. The graphics are pretty average but not nearly as bad as I'd been led to believe and the sense of humor is fantastic. I'd been told that it was choc-a-bloc full of corny one liners that came off as sad rather than clever. I'm hearing the corny one liners but almost all reference another game, movie or TV show. I love all the little easter eggs like the "spinner" from Inception, the Bayou rant, the comments about crowbars when you come to a very Half Life 2'esque 3 planks blocking a doorway... everything. Cracked me up when, after the military chief talks up how much America loves you, Duke walks off singing the song from Team America : World Police. Lol.

The old fashioned run and gun with mountains of ammo is fun to play again too, the trophies are fun to get... I dunno. It feels like a very "arcadey" shooter but I'm enjoying it. A bit of brainless fun and something different to the norm.

Anyway, I wanted to know what reasons people have for all the hatred as I'm really enjoying it.

I hate Duke Nukem Forever because it turned out to be something else that should have not been made.

I honestly don't recall Duke Nukem to be a puzzle or platforming game. In the earlier days, it had platforming elements, but not to this extent. Duke Nukem carrying two weapons instead of nine or ten in Duke Nukem 3D is a travesty in itself. Duke, to me, wasn't funny at all and I found the campaign to be boring and lifeless. Overall, the whole game was a mess...if you want to read more of what I thought and why I feel this way, you may as well go here, but needless to say, it was a total disappointment.

Good review, a bit more emotive than I usually like but you made some good points. Seems like you dislike the firing mechanics, one liners, level/puzzle design and, in general, feel it didn't meet what you expected from it/remembered from DN 3D). I stopped reading when you started talking about the ending though. I know this game's story is predictable enough I won't be surprised but I still didn't want to read about it :)

The game is a big pile of dog doings.

Terrible level designs, too much emphasis on puzzles and platforming, limited weapons, LOADING TIMES are WAY too damn long on consoles.RandoIph

Good review, a bit more emotive than I usually like but you made some good points. Seems like you dislike the firing mechanics, one liners, level/puzzle design and, in general, feel it didn't meet what you expected from it/remembered from DN 3D). I stopped reading when you started talking about the ending though. I know this game's story is predictable enough I won't be surprised but I still didn't want to read about it :)

Chickan_117

Don't know about emotive, but alright, that's an opinion and I'm good at accepting constructive criticism when shown. That being said, I didn't spoil the ending at all. All I said was that Duke called the ending exactly the way I and many other gamers that disliked the game called it. I didn't go into specific details as to what the ending turned out to be. That's up to you to find out.

Duke Nukem Forever definitely doesn't suck. It's not my cup of tea, but it's not a bad game, especially for a shooter.

Critics say it sucks because they were expecting the best thing since sliced bread. And the majority of gamers, being the mindless sheep that they are, blindly agreed with the critics because they can't think for themselves and don't have their own opinion.

If Duke Nukem Forever was released at the start of this generation of gaming, it would've gotten 8s and 9s.

i think it's one of the best games released people are sweating the small stuff on a huge scale.the humor felt the same as the old days,the levels were interestingly fun the free ride in the dessert was also enjoyable.it had alot of things to side track you i guess if it isnt CoD it isnt good sad really.....

Because it took 7 years (give or take) to get the game on store shelves, yet it feels like it was completed and ready to ship 10 years ago?

It was a big let down.

Terrible level designs, too much emphasis on puzzles and platforming, limited weapons, LOADING TIMES are WAY too damn long on consoles.RandoIph

I actually liked the level designs and felt the puzzles and platforming were an important part of making it a Duke game. I didn't want it to be another stock standard shooter with a new skin and moral choices tacked on :) Lol... moral choices in a Duke Nukem game. Would love to see them try to make THAT work!

That being said, I didn't spoil the ending at all. All I said was that Duke called the ending exactly the way I and many other gamers that disliked the game called it. I didn't go into specific details as to what the ending turned out to be. That's up to you to find out.

Metamania

Bit annoyed that I finished the game on normal and only got the trophy for Easy though :( I even replayed the final boss on insane just to see if it would pop... nada. I enjoyed it enough I'll probably replay it for the insanity trophy so it's fine but still a little annoying.