20 Great Video Game Franchises That Became UNPLAYABLE

Apogee Software's decision to change Duke Nukem from a 2D platformer into a first-person shooter during the nineties was risky, especially since the industry was overstuffed with Doomclones at the time. 

Luckily, Duke Nukem 3D stood out, not just for its solid gameplay, but for its distinctive personality. The tongue-in-cheek humour and Duke's relentless one-liners resonated with fans in a way most silent protagonists didn't. So, when a sequel was expected to be released two years later, Duke Nukem loyalists couldn't wait.

But that's exactly what they were forced to do. Due to an apocalyptic development, Duke Nukem Forever didn't see the light of day for 17 years. The infamous title had so many different development cycles, the final product felt like four or five games clumped together. Mechanics are introduced and then abandoned with frightening regularity. Forever was unable to find its identity since there are times where it feels like a retro shooter, a modern FPS, or a parody of both. Although Duke's shtick was entertaining back in the day, it was dated as hell here, making the cigar-chomping hero come across as cringey.

Even though the developers were expecting great things, Forever may have torpedoed the Duke Nukem name for good.