"Realistically, second only to Mass Effect 2, is Killzone 3. Mass Effect 2 has a storyline that one could jump into at any point and that is so large in scope, that it can only be put forth as an RPG- and is the only game that in the last 2 years has surpassed Killzone 3. Killzone 3 is the most entertaining storyline to watch, of any game out in the last two years- and this is coming from a person who has spent dozens of hours watching [grey_fox1984] play shooters, but has not touched a keyboard or game controller since Half Life 2. [expletive deleted - "dumping"] on Killzone 3's story is completely unwarranted and is one of the best action MOVIES to be made in the last decade- and ONLY Mass Effect 2 competes as far as story telling goes... I should also point out I'm a big fan of [watching] the Halo games and that I was not impressed by either Killzone 2 or Mass Effect 1." - quote from grey_fox1984's friend Ryan, who dictated this quote after reading the article

@mrchiledonut First of all I personally think the characters are developed in KZ3 FAR better than they are in KZ2 (Rico isn't nearly as annoying, Sev actually steps up as a hero, Jammer is the coolest female character in the series and Narville seems like much less of a hick than he did in KZ2). Second I just don't understand why Kevin insists that KZ3 is one of the worst stories in modern gaming, when it is at the very least, "adequate". I recently played both Crysis 2 (which I know Kevin liked- at least the ending- and am also aware that he played AFTER writing this article) and Battlefield Bad Company 2 (quite a well reviewed game) and neither story kept either myself or my friends (a few of which do not play games at all, but enjoy watching me play on occasion for the entertaining "action movie" aspects of them) half as entertained as Killzone 3. I personally think KZ3's story was more entertaining than 90% of the hollywood action movies released in the past year (including The Expendables- which seemed to be the go-to action film of 2010) and far better than any shooter i've played in the last year with the (notable) exception of Mass Effect 2 (which I completely agree with Kevin on). I just feel Killzone 3 is being portrayed as the black sheep of video game storytelling for no good reason other than a few missed opportunities.

@Kevin-V Kevin, just so you know, there are people out there who have degrees in film, that strongly disagree with your opinion of Killzone 3's story. I personally think it smokes all three of the current generation Halo games, and is far better than the one found in Killzone 2 (with the exception of Jan Templar and Evelyn Batton's deaths, which really only have any pathos if you've played Killzone 1/Liberation). I can agree that they could have gone farther with the soldiers behind enemy lines angle than they did, but it was still a story that kept me intrigued (and not skipping cutscenes) through 2 full play throughs. I think you should cite your criticisms of it as opinion and DEFINITELY not be using it as an example of bad story telling in games.

@biggest_loser I'm happy we've reached an "agree to disagree", but I must also tag on that there is a gigantic difference between forcefully entering a woman against her will and giving her a playful slap on the bum (not that I personally am in to that, but it makes sense within the character that Duke would be). Though again, good debate- it was nice to spar with someone who attempted to back up their arguments; many people on this site just constantly restate their original argument ad nauseam.

@biggest_loser At that point all I can say is that I hope the people who do play DNF are people who see it as humour- and not people who will view him as a role model. The same argument could be made against Grand Theft Auto if no thought is given to its context as a satire (SATIRE in GTA's case, not PARODY- Duke is a PARODY/SPOOF and there is a difference)- but the fact of the matter is, these games exist and will find their audience. All we can do as gamers who do "get it" so to speak, is try to educate other people who might not see the blatant joke that is right in front of them. We also need to remember that the people with the biggest responsibility to educate are PARENTS (nope, not teachers) and hope that they take the ESRB warning into consideration before saying "yes" to the clerk who asks if they are allowed to sell DNF to their 11 year old (which the clerks are LEGALLY required to do- M rated games come with similar fines to selling smokes or booze to minors). I don't mean to be too hard on you, but remember that you are either on the freedom of expression side of the fence, or the censorship side- you don't have to like what Duke does, but you should defend to your death his right to do it! (a statement I hold true to in gaming up until- but not including- rape and the murder of children; two things that are not ever funny and have no place in the hands of the player)

This lack of attention to detail is precisely what is making you miss all of my points- and I'm sorry but I don't ever recognize the "ESRB doesn't work, therefore we should censor the industry as a whole" argument. Parents SHOULD respect the ESRB and SHOULD enforce it on their children. Whether or not they all do isn't my, or anyone other gamer's problem. Where would you draw the line? Certainly Jackass shouldn't exist? what about Eminem or Marilyn Manson? Why don't we just draw the line at Barney and the Teletubbies? Wait! The purple one's gay Get rid of that too! Hold on! Barney's also purple! No more television, music or movies for anyone... and while you're at it, get rid of the books. The ESRB is what we have in place to control video games and it should be trusted. Censoring content is not going to do anything but deprive developed minds from different types of entertainment- because the developing minds will always need parents to steer them right, no matter what is on the market to be steered around. 2/2

@biggest_loser Rambo is very much NOT a patriot. That statement is a perfect example of how people twist their memories of many of those characters. Rambo is a shellshocked Vietnam veteran who spends the vast majority of First Blood terrorizing an American town and maiming several members of the National Guard and police force (but not killing a single one- another detail that is often changed in people's memories). He also ends the second film by laying into Murdock's office with an M60 because he was sent on a suicide mission. He never really supports the American government and is a renegade over all 4 movies. 1/2

@coolguy45 I entirely agree- Rape is the line. If Duke (or any other player character) were raping women, it would loose all credibility as a spoof. Rape is never funny- and while Duke is never portrayed as being with the most intellectually developed women in gaming, they always consent to their interactions with him.

@biggest_loser And if you want me to humour you and give you an example of "where's the critique?" based solely on the trailer: Gigantic, hideous, three breasted alien screams. Duke's reply: "I'd still hit it". That right there is a BLATANT critique of his ridiculous machismo. Duke sees boobs and nothing else matters. You don't need a degree in film/literature to see that as a parody.

@biggest_loser Saying that you have to be told in plain obvious words "THIS IS NOT THE WAY TO ACT IN REAL LIFE" is again, completely ignoring the concept of contextualization. Saying that Duke is targeted at "adolescent and impressionable" young boys is completely ignoring the ESRB warning. In discussing this we have to assume that parents will be vigilant enough to be aware of what their 12 year old is playing, but if you've finished high school and have some level of context in your thinking, it should be clear as day that Duke is, at all times, a spoof. Regardless of the individual action you are performing in the game. He is the unredeemable and will likely remain unredeemed. If he is a role model, he should clearly be an example of what NOT to do. Aspects like the Ego points and being rewarded by boobs are perfect examples of how Gearbox is running with these aspects of his personality instead of shying away from them. Duke should never be a T rated game, he is a HARD M and for adults only. The cheesiness of his lines are INTENTIONAL and are in fact what make him funny. Duke isn't a clever guy- it's not Jon Stewart Forever or Ricky Gervais Forever, it's Duke Nukem- he has his audience (which you are clearly not a part of) and he definitely has his context. Try to see the series for what it is: an over-the-top parody that is not meant to be viewed "seriously"- and stop ragging on it for not being pokemon.