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Duke Nukem II

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This page details one or more prototype versions of Duke Nukem II.

duke2_beta_superman.png

A late beta-stage prototype of Duke Nukem II was leaked by the warez group Excretion in November 1993, about a month before the final release, where it was seemingly largely ignored until being rediscovered in 2024.

The text files provided by the warez group declare the game to have the subtitle "Disposable Hero" or "Disposable Heroes", presumably as a nod to the Metallica song of the same name. This doesn't seem to appear in the game itself, though...

To do:
More everything!

  • More screenshots!
  • More research!
  • More file analysis!

General Changes#

  • The game opens with a beta-protection password screen. The password is "superman".
  • The graphics for the intro cutscene and menus are a lot rougher. Like, a lot rougher, in the intro's case.

Beta

Final

  • Enemy health isn't affected by difficulty yet.
  • Additional explosion from napalm bombs.
  • Spinning guns can't be destroyed with lasers.
  • Health isn't replenished between levels.
  • There are two grey crystal balls on the roof in E2L2 starting room.
  • The "NUK" cheat doesn't give you a weapon yet.
  • The "EAT" cheat hasn't been implemented.
  • The "GOD" "cheat" no longer mocks you, for reasons listed below!

(Source: Gargoyle)

Debug Cheats#

Holding G, O, and D and pressing Enter will toggle God Mode, which works pretty much as you'd expect it to. In addition, pressing certain keys followed by F12 will activate additional cheats:

  • W brings up a level select screen, allowing you to select your episode and level.
  • R restarts the level.
  • F brings up a weapon select screen. Only the highlighted weapon is visible, press Up and Down to change weapon.
  • K brings up the difficulty select screen.

(Source: K1n9_Duk3)