Duke Nukem II: Episode 2 – The Moon Base

Lore & Background

After the Rigelatins' failed invasion of Earth in Episode 1, they retreat to a heavily fortified base on the moon, intending to regroup and launch a second, more devastating attack. Duke Nukem, having thwarted their initial assault, commandeers a spacecraft and follows them to their lunar stronghold. The moon base is a sprawling complex of corridors, hangars, and reactor chambers, protected by automated turrets, alien soldiers, and deadly traps. Duke's mission is to infiltrate the base, destroy its power core, and eliminate the alien leadership before they can complete their plans. The episode is known for its increased difficulty, with tighter spaces, more aggressive enemies, and environmental hazards like low-gravity zones and explosive barrels. Duke's arsenal expands to include heavier firepower, such as the RPG, to deal with the tougher foes and fortified structures. The episode culminates in a confrontation with a massive alien boss, a giant brain-like creature that controls the base's defenses. Defeating it triggers the base's self-destruct sequence, forcing Duke to escape before the moon base explodes, paving the way for the next episode.

In Their Own Story

The lunar surface is silent, save for the hum of Duke's landing craft touching down on the gray dust. He steps out, shotgun ready, and eyes the alien base ahead—a jagged metal structure jutting from a crater. 'Time to teach these bugs some manners,' he mutters, kicking open the airlock. Inside, the air stinks of ozone and alien sweat. Duke moves through the corridors, blasting Rigelatins and dodging laser fire. In the central chamber, a pulsating alien brain hovers above a console, tentacles writhing. Duke loads an RPG and fires. The brain shrieks, and alarms blare. 'Self-destruct? Figures.' He sprints for the exit, the base shaking behind him, and leaps into his ship just as the moon erupts in a silent fireball.

Reader's Guide

Episode 2 picks up immediately after Episode 1, with Duke pursuing the Rigelatins to the moon. The episode consists of 8 levels (in the original release), each set within the moon base. Duke must navigate through hangars, laboratories, and reactor rooms, facing new enemy types like flying drones and shielded soldiers. Key gameplay elements include low-gravity sections that affect jumping and movement, and the introduction of the RPG, which becomes essential for taking down the episode's final boss—a giant alien brain. The episode's story matters because it establishes Duke's proactive role in the conflict, showing he won't wait for the aliens to attack Earth again. It also sets up the stakes for the remaining episodes, as the destruction of the moon base forces the Rigelatins to escalate their plans. The episode ends with Duke escaping the explosion in a breathless sprint to his ship, leaving the moon a crater of twisted metal.

Did You Know?

• The moon base episode was originally designed to be the second of four episodes, following the Earth-based levels.
• The giant alien brain boss in this episode is one of the few non-humanoid bosses in the Duke Nukem II franchise—a pulsating, tentacled monstrosity that controls the base's defenses.
• Low-gravity sections in this episode were a technical innovation for the side-scrolling shooter genre at the time, forcing players to adjust their timing for jumps and aiming.
• The episode's title screen features a pixel-art depiction of Duke standing on the lunar surface with Earth in the background, his silhouette framed by the desolate gray terrain.