“Who [still] wants some?”

Duke Nukem Forever. Let me rephrase that. Duke Nukem is taking Forever. It’s almost 10 years since we last saw Duke tackling alien scum and his chart rival the Space Marine. Ten years too long.

Thankfully there’s an official 3DRealms trailer that’s been doing the rounds lately suggesting that Duke is well and truly on the way and will be released soon. Or soon’ish. Or something. Anyway, the trailer shows Duke lifting a bar bell, puffing on his signature cigar, while all around him alien creatures get increasingly angry. As the trailer fades to black Duke can be heard saying, “I’m looking for some alien toilet to park my bricks, who’s first?” The original Duke is well known for his cheesy one-liners and the trailer alludes to that same sense of humour. Hmm … I don’t know about you but I’m struggling to get excited by Duke Nukem Forever.

While I wait, forever, for Duke Nukem Forever it looks like 360 owners will be getting the chance to replay the original PC game Duke Nukem 3D. Scott Miller, top man over at 3D Realms, has confirmed that Duke’s seminal PC classic is coming XBLA. Apparently the discussions to get Duke a Marketplace Green Card began last August. I’m not sure if I think 3DRealms just move extremely s l o w l y or whether Duke is constipated and couldn’t force himself to use an alien as a toilet even if he wanted to. And I'm sure he does.

Duke will definitely be on our screens again sometime and it’ll probably be an XBLA appearance first. Forever really is a long time you know.

Trailer

Whoops! Sorry, wrong one!

Here’s the official trailer. Have a listen to his voice at the end of the trailer…

Is it me or does Duke’s voice sound, well, a little, erm, not quite as manly as he used to? Sounds almost like he has a kazoo lodged at the back of his throat.

It's time to kick ass, chew bubble gum and check out the Duke Nukem thread on the Gameov3r FORUM.

Down on your knees and...

...PREY?

If you have a 360, like FPS games, and have yet to experience PREY, where have you been? You may have been in the same place I was. I was on Planet Yysiab. No that's not one of the planets from Geometry Wars Galaxies, it's Planet Yea Yea Seen It All Before. I was so completely nonplussed by 3D Realms offering that despite buying it because it was cheap I still didn't play it. That is until about 4 weeks ago when, inspired by a returning interested in FPS games, I decided to give it some of my attention.

If Venom Games decided that PREY was going to get into training for the Beijing Olympic Games it's chosen event would be high diving. PREY would go straight for the highest board and it's first attempt at a flying forward one-and-a-half somersaults pike would earn it straight 9's. Easily.

Vertigo is not something that PREY has a problem with. Prey prefers to stand at great heights, play with gravity and generally mess with your head. I was in awe of this game's use of gravity when I first walked up a wall and then stood on the ceiling firing round after round at the alien invaders. Certain large rooms contain new born planets, very Magrathea, and once you get yourself onto one the gravity changes, relative to the size of the sphere you're on. It's very elegant and seeing the main chamber from all angles while you run around the baby planet blasting aliens is a lot of fun.

The main character, Tommy, has the special ability to Spirit Walk and to visit the Spirit World. He is a Cherokee after all. Ok, so it's a bit cheesy but it works incredibly well and adds a fresh element to the game. When Spirit walking you are separated from Tommy's body and can go where Tommy normally couldn't go. This adds plenty of opportunity for puzzles and little bit of thinking outside the box for the player. If Tommy loses all his energy he's returned to the spirit world where you play a mini game shooting red and blue spirit wraiths to try to return your health and spirit levels before returning to the real world. This all keeps the story flowing along nicely and I personally enjoyed it far more that just restarting at the last check point.

Built on Unreal technology the levels are both gorgeous to look at and superbly designed. If you've ever looked at one of M.C. Escher's' impossible pictures you'll know what to expect with PREY's levels. The only difference is that there are more aliens that you have to destroy in Prey.

PREY isn't particularly challenging if you're into FPS games but it's a gaming experience well worth playing. The only area that seems to cause players difficulty is the cube puzzle on level 16. I can honestly say I was out of the cube and back to adventuring and blasting within minutes. It's really not difficult at all and just requires a bit of spatial awareness.

There are moments in this game so awesome that you will stop playing and stare goggle eyed at what's happening on screen. The rest of the time you'll be adventuring and blasting and loving every minute.

I've seen PREY in Gamestation for £7.99 so, while you wait for GEARS 2, do yourself a favour and walk the spirit walk. You won't regret it.