Prototype of Duke Nukem, originally hidden for 24 years, unexpectedly appears.
Strutting his sleazy stuff across gaming platforms, Duke Nukem—a veritable poster boy for video game crimson—was once an undeniable cornerstone of the gaming world. Boundary-pushing though it was, Duke's raunchy antics could be found on everything from the monochrome Game Boy to N64 and beyond.
Revisiting the battlegrounds of yore, Duke Nukem: D-Day ( alias "Man of Valor") was poised to be Duke's debut adventure on PlayStation 2, courtesy of defunct dev shop n-Space. Despite reportedly nearing completion, the game was axed, only to reemerge today as a 2001 prototype, now available on the Internet Archive.
Claiming it's "90% complete," the anonymous do-gooder who uploaded this prototype isn't far off the mark, snagging a substantial amount of game here, albeit in rough form. Dubious as it may be, this early build offers a glimpse into gaming history, both thematically and in terms of art preservation.
Outfitted in a contemporary strip club for a beginning that serves neither man nor Duke well, D-Day sends our protagonist back to the beaches of Normandy for a World War II showdown with the Third Reich and their alien comrades. Culminating in a storm-the-mothership faceoff in the Antarctic, this adventure doesn't stray too far from the traditional "shootin' Nazis" playbook compared to earlier Duke Nukem outings.
Gameplay-wise, the prototype clings to the PS1 era, with the left stick controlling movement and the shoulder buttons managing strafing. Face buttons handle shooting, jumping, and executing a Max Payne-esque sideways evasion to dodge an assortment of Nazi troopers and reptilian cohorts. Weapon drops are few and far between, but Duke's infinite-ammo golden Desert Eagle ought to handle most unpleasantness. The game's core components seem to be in place, considerably raw around the edges, making it less suitable for casual play. In essence, unless you're up for a challenge—and nostalgia's enticing you—this prototype isn't really playable as is.
Playing this relic requires a PS2 capable of running third-party software or an emulator like PCSX2. Emulator settings remain tricky, with many textures, including skyboxes, appearing as a glitchy mess. Nonetheless, the prototype is playable, enough to get a taste of that bygone era. On the upside, debug tools left by n-Space provide convenient access to different levels without much fuss.
The mystery assailant who uploaded the prototype also suggests that development continued until 2003, raising hopes that a more polished, fully-realized version of D-Day might resurface one of these days. Crossing fingers it doesn't take another 24 years to dig that elusive gem out of the archives.
Gaming News and Deals
Stay connected with current gaming news, coveted deals, and hardware packs recommended by the PC Gamer team.
Borderlands 4
: What's what so far
Borderlands 3 Shift Codes
: The golden key connection
Tiny Tina's Shift Codes
: Your free skeleton keys
Best FPS Games
: Top-notch shooting experiences
Dominic "Darkage" TarasonA byproduct of wasted time, salary-free labor, and creeping middle age, Dominic Tarason is a versatile freelancer writing on various topics, with occasional forays into indie PR. A hermit by nature, he dwells deep within the Welsh countryside, where urban reality is a distant dream. Video games provide a vivid escape from the picturesque scenery and crisp country air. Ever in search of something new and bizarre to play, you're welcome to slap him around on Bluesky. The sociable beast he occasionally is.
- Approaching its long-anticipated release, the forthcoming Duke Nukem: D-Day (alias "Man of Valor") promises to deliver an entertaining blend of nostalgia, history, and challenging gameplay on platforms compatible with third-party software or emulators like PCSX2.
- Amid the uncertain promises of a more polished version in the future, gamers can now give this 2001 Duke Nukem prototype a try, joining him on a World War II adventure with a rif Raunchy twist across beaches, strip clubs, and an Antarctic mothership showdown.
- In light of the prototype's reemergence, it's evident that Duke Nukem's unconventional brand of entertainment still holds allure, appealing to both hardcore gamers seeking a challenge and casual players yearning for a taste of gaming history.
