So what's up with all the Build games re-releases?

[664709cc0dd34Jules]

Seeing as some of you seem to be fans of Build engine games, would you have any recommendations for a polished, mostly vanilla full-episode-length mappack for Duke3D? I'm thinking of something akin to Death Wish for Blood (a must play, BTW) or Arcane Dimensions for Quake - multiple levels, lots of polish and detail (I'm spoiled), but still within the confines of the vanilla game with at most just a very limited selection of additions (no TCs, basically). Single episodes are easy enough to find but for some reason I haven't been able to find any full episodes that tickled my fancy.

[664709cc0df26voodoo47]

didn't they release an additional official episode? yes they did, see Duke Nukem 3D: 20th Anniversary World Tour.

[664709cc0e288Jules]

voodoo47That's pretty much the kind of episode I had in mind, and I have been looking to play it for a while, but isn't it only available to those who own the 20th Anniversary edition and only playable on that specific version of the game? I don't really have any plans to buy that version of the game right about now as I'm happy enough with running the original game files on eDuke32. Otherwise, I wouldn't mind playing it at all...

[664709cc0e3d1voodoo47]

the Raze port does support it, it seems. but yeah, that one is not free if that's what you had in mind. or is it? up to you I suppose.

[664709cc0e870JDoran]

By far the best DN3D mod I have played is Alien Armageddon, which includes three new single player campaigns, plus upgraded/improved versions of the four original DN3D episodes and expansion packs (Duke it out in D.C, and Life's a Bitch), you can now play as either Duke Nukem or two other characters (with their own weapons, upgrades, etc), and you play the game co-op with either a human or an A.I. controlled companion, and the mod adds new weapons, weapon upgrades, perks, interactive NPCs, new options, etc.

Download it from:

https://www.moddb.com/mods/duke-nukem-alien-armageddon/downloads/alien-armageddon-467

and also the patch from:

https://www.moddb.com/mods/duke-nukem-alien-armageddon/downloads/code-updates-read-below

You don't need any files from Duke Nukem 3D or anything, just unarchive the Alien Armageddon 4.67 .7z file to a folder on your hard drive (say C:\Alien Armageddon, or whatever), unarchive the patch file into that, overwriting the files when prompted, then run the included 'eduke32.exe' file.


For other suggestions for DN3D mods and episodes, have a look at:


https://altarofgaming.com/best-duke-nukem-3d-mods/


https://forums.duke4.net/topic/10815-what-unofficial-modsfan-made-projects-can-be-considered-real-standalone-duke-games/page__p__331342


https://www.nitro404.com/mods/duke_nukem_3d.php?view=list&filter=none&group=none&sort=rating

https://forums.duke4.net/topic/10903-what-are-the-best-single-player-dn3d-maps-that-dont-need-eduke32-etc/page__p__333989


https://forums.duke4.net/topic/5555-best-mods-point-me-towards-them/page__p__132486__hl__recommended__fromsearch__1#entry132486

https://msdn.duke4.net/index.php

[664709cc0ee02Jules]

JDoranThanks for the links. Some of the forum threads you've included contains exactly the kind of stuff I had in mind.

As for Alien Armageddon, yeah, that's a name I've heard mentioned around a lot. I have very little experience with Duke3D mods (so far I've only played the DNF 2013 campaign), so I'll probably start with some smaller vanilla mappacks. It's still something I'm likely to play sometime in the future, however.

[664709cc0f14dvoodoo47]

so, Powerslave Exhumed is out, but I'll definitely wait for a 50% discount

the time is now - only took 2 years. probably 2 more until I get to actually playing it.

[664709cc0f5cfJDoran]

Regarding other released or soon to be released games:

The sort of sequel to the brilliant Ion Fury, Phantom Fury was released a few weeks ago, and it's really divided the opinions of gamers, some people think it's a huge disappointment. Of the three first person shooter reviewers on Youtube that I watch, Civvie 11 refuses to even review it, because he found it so disappointing, and both GmanLives and Jarek the Gaming Dragon were very underwhelmed. Others find it OK, and some say it's really good, so it's not a total loss for everyone, at least.

Personally, I've only played the first couple of levels, on a mate's PC, and I found it to be uninteresting, and I've not felt the urge to continue with it, Mind you, maybe it does get better later on, and I might still buy it, especially if it's makers decide to improve the game significantly via patches. Or if I just hit another dry spot where no new games on the horizon attract me and I just want to buy something.

https://store.steampowered.com/app/1733240/Phantom_Fury/




Of course, if you like Ion Fury, then the official expansion pack, Ion Fury: Aftershock, which well worth playing, it's really enjoyable.

https://store.steampowered.com/app/1588720/Ion_Fury_Aftershock/




And the really promising Selaco is released on the 31st May, I'm hoping that one really does live up to our expectations, because it might well be phenominal:

https://store.steampowered.com/app/1592280/Selaco/




And, at last, System Shock Remake is released on consoles on May the 21st! Less than a week to go 





And not a first person shooter, but a 2D platformer/puzzle game where you have various time control powers, but the remaster of Braid has been released at:

https://store.steampowered.com/app/499180/Braid_Anniversary_Edition/%60

if anyone hasn't already played this classic game already,

[664709cc0f99bsarge945]

The only modern "Build Engine" game worth playing is Ashes 2063 (and Afterglow). Technically it's a GZDoom mod, not a build engine game, but it very much looks and plays like a build-engine game and has a lot of the design considerations of build-engine games.

I highly recommend playing both.
https://www.moddb.com/mods/ashes-2063