Duke Nukem 3D would be more accurately described as Duke Nukem 2.5D, given how its Build engine blends three-dimensional world geometry with flat sprites for in-game objects and characters. Sure, it would have sold far fewer copies with such a title, but at least it would have been correct. Now, though, it won't be long until 3D Realms' 1996 shooter fully embraces length, breadth and depth, thanks to one intrepid modder utterly obsessed with voxels.
Said modder is Dan Peterson, who goes by the monicker Cheello, a game developer specialising in voxel tech who spends his spare time bulking out classic 90s shooters using the pixel's three-dimensional equivalent. Peterson's first project was Blood: Coagulated, which replaces the enemies and objects of Monolith's 1997 shooter with fatter, voxel-based versions. But Peterson is best known for his 2022 mod Voxel Doom, which brought us chunky pinkies, beefier hellknights, and truly round Cacodemons.
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