[Roar]

Hello everyone, I want to ask if there is a level in some version of the game that I only remember from playing on PC when I was a child. This level might not be in Duke Nukem 3D. The map is probably a green passage, not the space level in the second stage, but you can pass this level right at the beginning,the pass icon is directly beside the Player, and Playercan completely avoid any battles and pass this level directly. does anybody know what kind of level or map this is? or does it exist in some other game version?

[ck3D]

There are some levels in episode 3 Shrapnel City where you can exploit game bugs (as simple as jumping and crouching under a door, or throwing a pipebomb at an angle through a wall) in order to access the exit button that's right at the start and taunts you through an 'obstacle' the player really can clip through, I don't know if that's what you have in mind. Movie Set has a garage door you can duck under, and Hotel Hell you can just blow up the next wall near the start.

Both demonstrated here:

[Ninety-Six]

This one's tough. As ck pointed out, Hotel Hell is probably the most infamous example. However what's tripping me up is this reference to a "green passage."

The only greenery I can think of are the alien levels. And, while you cant avoid battles entirely, you can still avoid the majority of both levels. In Fusion Station if you enter with a jetpack, you are one short hallway away from just flying to the end of the level, skipping 95% of it. Overlord presents something similar, with after the central chamber battle, another quick flight (or even just a strafe-jump) will take you straight to the boss arena.

Or maybe you're thinking of a DM map? I know some of the X-Treme/Megaton maps have spawns right next to the nuke button.


Is it also possible that perhaps you are conflating two different levels together in your memory? I otherwise can't really think of any other official level (including E5 + the big three expansions) that fits this bill.

[Aleks]

I think with "green passage" he means a secret level (as the nukebuttons are green and he uses "pass icon" later on to refer to it). Maybe "Tier Drops" or "Faces of Death" could fit the description somehow, as one can be completely without having to do all the rooms and the other is primarily a DM map really.

[Ninety-Six]

Aleks, on 07 October 2024 - 01:35 PM, said:

I think with "green passage" he means a secret level (as the nukebuttons are green and he uses "pass icon" later on to refer to it).

That actually makes a lot more sense.

Aleks, on 07 October 2024 - 01:35 PM, said:

Maybe "Tier Drops" or "Faces of Death" could fit the description somehow, as one can be completely without having to do all the rooms and the other is primarily a DM map really.

FoD I don't think qualifies as there's either no way to complete that level at all, or else it involves going into multiple battlelords' line of fire. Neither case really matches the description of being able to essentially skip the level.



With the idea of secret levels in mind though, that changes the way I can see the question being asked. Especially since it raises the possibility he isn't even asking about a secret level that can skip you to the end, but rather a secret exit that nullifies most of the main level.

Going with the latter, there are a few options. Most Duke 3D secret exits are near the regular exits to avoid exactly this, but there are exceptions. The secret exit in Movie Set to Tier Drops is pretty quick. You can't skip every fight and still need the blue key to get into the studio, but once you're in there you can ignore the yellow and red keys and go straight on to TD (And if it weren't for the battlelord in the exit room of TD I'd list TD itself). You could also maybe argue Occupied Territory to Spin Cycle, but even with a jetpack there's no avoiding getting the red and blue keys (which also means no avoiding the room of three battlelords).

Onto the expansions, you can get to Top Secret from Metro Mayhem by riding just one train and blowing up two walls. A Full House from Market Melee only involves going down the street, hitting a secret switch in the convenience store, and then just making your way to the specific fruit stand.

I also wanna say one (or several) of the levels in DZ2 operated like this. In fact I'm almost certain some did, but I'd have to play it again to pick out which ones (I don't play it that often, shockingly).