The City

Lore & Background

The City was once a bustling metropolis, its streets choked with taxis and neon. But when alien spacecraft descended without warning, the familiar skyline became a cage. Dr. Proton's minions—pig-faced troopers, hovering drones, and hulking enforcers—turned every diner, warehouse, and rooftop into a death trap. They herded civilians into makeshift pens, rigged office blocks with explosives, and left the streets slick with oil and blood. Duke Nukem, the last line of defense, arrived in his signature shades and boots, ready to reclaim every block—one shotgun blast at a time.

In Their Own Story

The pavement cracked under Duke's boots as he stepped into the alley. Above, a neon sign flickered 'EAT' before sputtering out. A scream echoed from a nearby diner—then the wet crunch of something breaking. Duke chambered a round. 'Time to kick ass and chew bubblegum,' he muttered, kicking the door open. Inside, a pig-faced alien was dragging a waitress by the hair. Duke's shotgun roared, and the creature dissolved into green slime, splattering the jukebox. The City would be his again, one street at a time—and he'd make sure every alien paid the rent in plasma.

Reader's Guide

The City is the first major location in the original Duke Nukem games, specifically in the 1991 side-scroller. It consists of multiple levels that progress from open streets to claustrophobic interiors like warehouses and sewers. Players must navigate crumbling ledges, spring-loaded traps, and a menagerie of alien soldiers, flying drones, and a boss that turns a rooftop into a killzone—all while rescuing hostages tied to explosive rigs. Key gameplay elements include collecting weapons (pistol, shotgun, grenades), finding keycards to unlock doors, and avoiding environmental hazards like spikes and bottomless pits. The City sets the template for Duke's later adventures: fast-paced run-and-gun action with a focus on vertical exploration and secret areas—like the hidden room behind the billboard that rewards you with extra ammo. As the opening act, The City establishes the stakes of the alien invasion and Duke's role as the savior. It contrasts the mundane urban setting—payphones, dumpsters, and hot dog stands—with the grotesque alien presence, creating a darkly comic atmosphere that defines the franchise.

Did You Know?

• The City levels in the original Duke Nukem were inspired by the gritty urban environments of 1980s action films like 'Die Hard' and 'RoboCop'.
• The game's alien designs, including the pig-like enemies found in The City, were influenced by the creatures from the movie 'They Live'.
• The City was the first location to feature the iconic 'Duke Nukem' theme music, composed for the 1991 game.