Free action RPG game for Windows
Duke Theft Auto is a free action RPG game developed by The_Commander. For anyone who misses being the Duke, or wonders what Duke Nukem and GTA combined would look like, this is an intriguing proposal.
Bear in mind this is no mod like Age of Doom or Half-Life 2 Beta Minimalist. Instead, you’re getting a fully-fledged, standalone single player game. You’re in control of the Duke in a GTA setting, meaning that you’ll be running over pedestrians, stealing and crashing cars, and everything else you’d expect from a GTA game.
There are many maps where the action occurs, and can be played from several points of view. For instance, a top-down perspective with a certain angle makes it different from the original. You can also play in first-person view.
Like an updated version of the original GTA
Whereas the maps let the player roam free, it's not as if the whole world is available at any time. Instead, the player unlocks certain sections of the original maps, which were completely redone. These include parts of Liberty City and San Andreas.
Retro looks and unpolished features
While the idea overall is intriguing, it needs to be improved in some departments. For example, there are audio issues, sometimes cars don't crash, and the game's episodic nature doesn't sit well with what GTA offers players.
Everything looks retro. The cars and pedestrians have simple 2D models, while the action itself is in 3D. However, the textures are reminiscent of Duke Nukem 3D, as is the gameplay itself.
The game seems to be developed in the original Duke Nukem 3D engine, which also shows its age. Lighting features are pretty basic, as are textures and colours. It makes Minecraft look like a next-gen game.
For curious fans only
The short nature of the game and unpolished features make the novelty wear off. However, among the significant changes there is a new world with nine playable factions, a new map with interesting scenarios, some of them way more creepy than the original game, and of course, new graphics for all the units, items and more.
For original-GTA fans who would like to check out the maps from a different perspective or for Duke Nukem 3D ones, it's an interesting title to play at least once. The retro looks and overall experience will feel right at home for both.
