10 Reasons to Love Duke Nukem

10. He's a Hit with the Ladies

            Duke Nukem has always been seen as the hero ready to rescue damsels in distress, though not with the politeness and charm that fairytales may have lead you to expect. He's in this rescuing game for one thing and one thing only, and generally he gets it.


9. He's Not Afraid of Anything

            Duke Nukem is a badass, of that there is no doubt. But while this world is home to many badasses, few would be willing jump huge chasms, venture aboard alien space crafts and to take on beasts forty times their size. For our hero, this is all just a day's work.


8. He's been to the Moon and Back (and everywhere between)

            After you've saved the world (over 12 times) the average day could seem pretty boring. Unless you're Duke Nukem, then your average day consists of winning the World Heavyweight Boxing Champion title, betting thousands of dollars on a single hand of poker and the boarding a space shuttle on a mission o the moon. Well, when the opportunity is there, why not?


7. He Likes His Guns Big

            While he may be a badass, Duke Nukem doesn't just rely on his fists. Offering a wide range of firepower, he doesn't need to read the instructions or research his latest armament, he just picks it up, points and fires. A Shrink Ray? Awesome. A Rocket Launcher? Hell yes. A Microwave Expander? That could be messy…


6. He Loves His Fans

            Duke Nukem may have saved the world from an alien invasion, become a movie star, climbed Mt. Everest, opened a fast food franchise and written a best selling autobiography, but he hasn't forgotten the little guy. While he acknowledges that not everybody can be as awesome as he is, he doesn't begrudge you an opportunity to bask in his glory for a few moments when you meet him: whether it be the signing of his book or the chance to regale you with one of his adventures, he's never too busy to spend time with his fans, even his voice actor interacts with the fans.


5. He's a Global Superstar

            Throughout this list so far we've mentioned many of Duke Nukem's extra-curricular activities, but for some that's just not enough. Well, he also owns a Las Vegas hotel and casino, a troupe of professional dancing girls known as 'The Dukettes' and has a musical based on his life. What's more, in Duke Nukem Forever you'll be given the opportunity to visit his resort, The Lady Killer, first hand. You don't save the world over a dozen times without getting some reward, you know.


4. He's Got Unique Fashion Sense

            Despite being at the forefront of celebrity stardom for over a decade, Duke Nukem's style has never changed. The classic blond flat-top and thick black shades, denim and muscle shirt combo, he's a man that knows what he likes, and doesn't care what you think, because you're just not as awesome as he is.


3. He's Smarter than He Looks

            One of the most underestimated aspects of Duke Nukem's character is his smarts. Yeah he's a cocky gun-totting badass, but he's also the quickest action hero when it comes to taking on logic puzzles. Duke Nukem 3D starts-off all balls-and-brawn action, but after just a few levels there is the demand for much cerebral investment. Simply progressing through the game becomes increasingly mentally taxing, and finding all the hidden secrets within the game is just as much of a challenge as felling the giant enemies.


2. He's a Product of the 80's

            With the average age of a videogame player currently believed to be between their late twenties and early thirties, much of today's audience will have fond memories of the 1980s. Big hair and bigger shoulder pads on the ladies, thick black sunglasses and short, cropped hair on the men, the 80's was unquestionably a decade of unique style. And Duke Nukem is undeniably a product of that heritage.
            It's all about showmanship, a quality Duke Nukem packs in spades. From his thick cigars to the pipe bombs that line his braces, he's a walking homage to the 'bigger, bolder' ethos of the decade. Arnold Schwarzenegger may have become Governor of California and Bruce Willis may have his own chain of world famous restaurants, but Duke Nukem has become the world's first 'real' action hero.


1. He's a One-Line Genius

            One of the most infamous aspects of Duke Nukem's character is his one-liners. From the legendary 'Kick ass and chew bubblegum…' opening to the personality defining 'Hail to the king, baby', Duke Nukem is characterised by each of the few seconds of speech that occurs at significant points in his adventures.
            It's been promised on several occasions that Duke Nukem Forever would continue this tradition, offering the character more quotable quips and snide remarks than ever before.