A muscular crew-cut hero in sunglasses and a tank top flicks a dollar bill from a stool in a neon-lit 1990s club bar.

Original artwork, not a still

Duke Nukem

Shake it, baby!

— Duke Nukem 3D ‧ 1996

Behind the line

What it means

Our interpretation.

The line is a sleazy toss-away that sums up what Duke Nukem 3D was selling in 1996: an action hero who is a parody of every 80s action hero, with the swagger turned up past taste. It is not a plot beat, it is an easter egg for players who poke at the scenery, and that interactivity was what reviewers praised. It also dates the game, since few studios would ship it today.

Context reviewed

In context

Spoilers for Duke Nukem 3DShow the scene

In Duke Nukem 3D (1996), the alien invasion has turned parts of Los Angeles into a stage for the game's trademark crude humour, and several levels (Red Light District, Raw Meat, L.A. Rumble, XXX-Stacy, High Times) put dancers and strippers in clubs and on the street. Press the use key on one and Duke hands over money and says either "You wanna dance?" or "Shake it, baby!". Duke is voiced by Jon St. John, and the nearby aliens and Pig Cops stand in a trance, though attacking the women makes more aliens appear.

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Context reviewed

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