In a nostalgic twist for gaming enthusiasts, the once-celebrated Duke Nukem franchise has resurfaced with a tantalizing glimpse into its past. The character, known for his brash demeanor and over-the-top antics, once dominated the gaming landscape across various platforms, from the humble Game Boy to the iconic Nintendo 64. Among the many projects that never saw the light of day was the PlayStation 2 title, Duke Nukem: D-Day, also referred to as ‘Man of Valor.’ Developed by the now-defunct studio n-Space, this game was reportedly nearing completion before it was ultimately shelved. However, a prototype build from 2001, featuring twelve playable levels, has recently been made available on the Internet Archive.
The individual who uploaded this prototype playfully suggested that it could be considered “90% complete.” While the game indeed contains a significant amount of content, it is clear that it remains in an unfinished state. Despite the absence of cutscenes or voicework, the core action sequences are intact, albeit in a rudimentary form. Players find Duke beginning his journey in a contemporary strip club before embarking on a time-traveling mission to confront the Third Reich and their extraterrestrial allies on the beaches of Normandy, culminating in an assault on an alien mothership in the Antarctic. Although less extravagant than its predecessor, Duke Nukem: Time To Kill, the thrill of shooting Nazis retains its appeal.
The controls reflect a bygone era, reminiscent of the pre-dual-analogue age of the PlayStation 1. Players navigate using the left stick for movement and turning, while shoulder buttons facilitate strafing. The face buttons allow for shooting, jumping, and executing a Max Payne-style dive to evade enemy fire from a variety of Nazi soldiers and their reptilian counterparts. However, weapon drops are scarce in this prototype, though Duke’s infinite-ammo golden Desert Eagle proves to be a reliable solution, firing rapidly at the player’s command. While the game’s framework is present, it lacks the polish and cohesion expected from a finished product. Thus, it is not a casual play experience, yet it serves as a fascinating artifact for those interested in gaming history.
To experience this prototype, players will need either a PlayStation 2 capable of running third-party software or an emulator such as PCSX2. Some users may encounter challenges in finding optimal settings for smooth gameplay, as certain textures, including skyboxes, may appear glitchy. Nevertheless, the prototype remains playable, and n-Space has generously left several debug tools accessible, allowing players to jump directly to any level and explore the development team’s early vision without much hassle. Interestingly, the game was reportedly in development until 2003, suggesting that a more refined version of D-Day could still be lurking in the shadows, waiting to be discovered. One can only hope that it won’t take another two decades for that version to emerge.
