Duke Nukem Time to Kill

Developer - n-Space
Publisher - GT Interactive
Players - 1-2 (2 player split screen deathmatch only)
Extras - Memory card, Analog, Dual shock

The bit on the box

"The greatest action gaming hero is back in an all-new, revolutionary, third-person frag-fest. Rage through the ages with the king of carnage as he frags aliens through the centuries. Duke will fry the bacon of roman centurion pig-cops in ancient rome, joust extraterrestrials in shining armour in the middle ages, shoot it out with alien rustlers in the old west - this time Duke is going down in history!"

Graphics

Duke Nukem TTK starts off with an introductory CG movie that looks fairly behind the times (in comparison with anything done by Namco or Capcom anyway). In fact it comes across almost as more of a promotional video for the band "Stabbing Westward" who does the music for it, rather than an intro for a game. The in-game graphics will make any Tomb Raider or Duke Nukem fan seem at home, combining the multi-levelled and gritty look of both respectively, and doing it successfully so that the style of both work well together. There are still the usual babes and mutant pigs and lizards about, which are all now drawn in polygons, which allow for better animations and death scenes. The new sniper mode is the best addition, something neither the original Duke or Tomb Raider had, and it adds a similar dimension to the game, much like the similar sniper mode did for MDK. The new variety in costumes Duke wears is also nice, though only cosmetic.

Sounds

One thing that has always been the key to Duke Nukem is Duke himself. His funny and often rude one liners have become a well known trait of his games, and Time to Kill is no exception. If anything, there is more recorded speech in this game than there was in it's predecessor, both from Duke and the babes he encounters along the way. The music is themed for each stage, with different time periods being taken into account (the Western levels sound like a Jack Daniel's ad).

Gameplay

If you have ever played any of the Tomb Raider games, then you will have a head start as to the control system on offer here. Even though it is similar and the button combinations are virtually identical, Time to Kill's control system seems clumsier, especially in analog mode (digital feels better even though jumps can still be hard to judge either way). The programmers also seem to have taken a shortcut with the save point system, as you can only save after you have completed a level, which just seems like a way to combat the game's lack of levels (only about 15). A nice touch is how weapon availability changes with each level, for example in the Wild West there are throwing knives and dynamite, while in the Medieval levels there are throwing axes and crossbows. While the split screen two player mode is a nice idea, the frame rate really does suffer and it just isn't as fun when you can see where your opponent is. Still, it does add a bit of replay value.

I feel a verdict coming on

It's a simple case of fact that if you didn't like Tomb Raider then you most likely will dislike this game too. It is also a simple case of fact however that most Duke fans will still go out and buy it, and thoroughly enjoy it. There are excellent touches throughout the game, and many secrets for those with the determination to find them. The weapons are cool, Duke is cool, and there are plenty of babes to chat up along the way. Of course the violence levels are quite high, so it's not one for the children and anyone who has a crusade against sexism or bad language. So what are you waiting for, Christmas? Come get some!

Review by D.R.T.Barrett