- Release Year: 2015
- Platforms: Macintosh, Windows
- Publisher: 3D Realms Entertainment, Inc.
- Developer: 3D Realms Entertainment, Inc.
- Genre: Compilation
- Game Mode: Single-player
- Average Score: 69/100
Description
3D Realms: Anthology – Steam Edition is a curated compilation of over 30 classic PC games from the 1990s and early 2000s, released exclusively on Steam. This collection includes iconic titles like Duke Nukem 3D: Atomic Edition, Shadow Warrior, and Rise of the Triad, alongside lesser-known gems such as Alien Carnage and Crystal Caves. The anthology offers a nostalgic dive into retro gaming, featuring platformers, shooters, and adventure titles originally developed or published by 3D Realms. Notably, several games like Alien Carnage and Xenophage: Alien BloodSport are only accessible via this bundle on Steam. The package also includes the exclusive ‘Re-rockestrated’ soundtrack. The anthology was delisted from sale in 2015, making it a digital time capsule of early PC gaming history.
Gameplay Videos
3D Realms: Anthology – Steam Edition Reviews & Reception
3rd-strike.com (51/100): Nostalgia galore, a chance to relive 90s gaming.
thegamingreview.com : A mixed bag – some games are still fun, but many have dated horribly.
the-gamers-lounge.com (90/100): A must own collection for PC gamers.
gameramble.com (83/100): The opportunity to add the whole bunch of them to your Steam library shouldn’t be missed.
3D Realms: Anthology – Steam Edition Cheats & Codes
PC
Enter codes during gameplay. These codes cannot be used when the game setting is on “Damn, I’m Good!”.
| Code | Effect |
|---|---|
| dnitems | Adds all items, all keys, and max body armor |
| dninventory | Adds all items, max body armor |
| dnstuff | Adds all items, weapons, keys, ammo, and gives max armor |
| dnkeys | Adds all keys to inventory (Red, Yellow and Blue) |
| dnweapons | Adds all weapons and gives maximum ammo |
| dnhyper | Adds Night Vision Goggles and Steroids to Inventory, uses Steroids |
| dnview | Changes to 3rd-Person View |
| dncoords | Displays current coordinates, viewing position, and other information |
| dndebug | Displays debug information (upper left corner) |
| dnallen | Shows “BUY MAJOR STRYKER” message |
| dntodd | Show “REGISTER COSMO” message |
| dnbeta | Shows “PIRATES SUCK!” message |
N64
At the title screen, enter any of the following codes:
| Code | Effect |
|---|---|
| Left,Down,L,L,Up,Right,Left,Up | Activate Cheats (Eu) |
| Left,Down,L,L,Up,Right,Left-C,Up-C | Activate Cheats (Fr) |
| L,L,L,L,Right,Right,Left,Left | Activate Cheats (Jp) |
| Left,Left,L,L,Right,Right,Left,Left | Activate Cheats (Na) |
| R,Right-C,Down,L,Up-C,Left,Right-C,Left | All Items (Eu) |
| L,Left,Down,L,Up-C,Left,R,Left | All Items (Fr) |
| R,Right,Right-C,Left-C,L,Left-C,Right,Up | All Items (Jp) |
| R,Right-C,Right,L,Left-C,Left,Right-C,Right | All Items (Na) |
| Up-C,Up,Left-C,Right,Down-C,Down,Right-C,R | Deactivate All Cheats (Eu) |
| Up,Up-C,Left-C,Right-C,Down-C,Down-C,Right-C,Right-C | Deactivate All Cheats (Fr) |
| Up,Down-C,Right,Left-C,Down,Up-C,Right-C,Left | Deactivate All Cheats (Jp) |
| Up,Up-C,Left,Right-C,Down,Down-C,Right,Left-C | Deactivate All Cheats (Na) |
| R,Right-C,R,L,R,R,R,Left | God Mode (Eu) |
| L,R,R,L,R,R,R,Left | God Mode (Fr) |
| L,L,L,L,L,L,L,Down-C | God Mode (Jp) |
| R,R,R,R,R,R,R,Left | God Mode (Na) |
| R,L,R,Down-C,Right,Up,Left,Up-C | Level Select (Eu) |
| L,R,R,Down-C,Right,Up-C,Left,Up | Level Select (Fr) |
| L,Down-C,Up,R,Right,Left-C,Left-C,L | Level Select (Jp) |
| L,L,L,Right-C,Right,Left,Left,Left-C | Level Select (Na) |
| L,Up-C,Left,L,Down-C,Right,Left,Right | No Monsters (Eu) |
| L,Up-C,Left,L,Down-C,R,Left,Right-C | No Monsters (Fr) |
| Left-C,Left,Right,Right-C,Left-C,R,Left-C,L | No Monsters (Jp) |
| L,Left-C,Left,R,Right-C,Right,Left,Left | No Monsters (Na) |
GEN
While the game is paused (to pause, hold X and press Y or hold START and press A+B) enter the following sequences:
| Code | Effect |
|---|---|
| A, C, Left, A, B, Down. | ‘Giving Everything!’ (All Items) |
| Up, Left, Right, B, B, A. | ‘Go to Next Level’ (Skip Level) |
| Up, A, Down, B, C, Down. | ‘God Mode’ (Invincibility) |
GCOM
Pause Duke Nukem 3D and enter the follwing codes:
| Code | Effect |
|---|---|
| A, C, D, C, and then press the lower right corner of the screen two times. | All Items |
| B, A, D, A, D, D | All Weapons and Maximum Ammunition |
| A, C, D, A, B, D, A, B, C, D, C, B, B, D, A | Instantly Kill All Enemies |
| A, C, D, D, A. | Invincibility (You need a ‘web link’ cart before you can do this code.) |
PC (Steam)
Pressing all three of these keys at the same time will give you all the keys, the boat, infinite ammo, and infinite pick axes. This will work with either the shareware or registered version of the game.
| Code | Effect |
|---|---|
| [F] [X] | Gives all keys, the boat, infinite ammo, and infinite pick axes |
3D Realms: Anthology – Steam Edition: Review
Introduction
For a generation weaned on the pixelated gunfire and irreverent humor of 90s PC gaming, 3D Realms: Anthology – Steam Edition is a time capsule—a sprawling, chaotic homage to an era when shareware reigned, and developers like Apogee Software (later 3D Realms) defined the DNA of indie publishing. This compilation bundles 32 titles, from the testosterone-fueled escapades of Duke Nukem to the forgotten curios of Math Rescue, offering a glimpse into the studio’s prolific yet uneven output. Its thesis? A mixed legacy: essential for historians and nostalgic completists but hamstrung by technical shortcomings, redundancies, and the specter of corporate implosion.
Development History & Context
The Apogee Renaissance and the Birth of 3D Realms
Founded in 1987 by Scott Miller, Apogee Software pioneered the “shareware model”: releasing games like Commander Keen and Wolfenstein 3D as episodic freeware, monetizing later chapters via mail order. This democratized distribution, empowering solo developers like John Romero (id Software) and George Broussard (Micro F/X). By 1994, Apogee rebranded as 3D Realms to capitalize on the emergent 3D gaming wave, launching titles like Terminal Velocity (1995) and the era-defining Duke Nukem 3D (1996).
Technological Constraints and the DOS Frontier
These games were forged in the crucible of early PC limitations: 16-color EGA, chunky VGA sprites, and MIDI-driven soundtracks. Developers exploited every trick—parallax scrolling in Major Stryker (1993), Wolfenstein-engine mods for Blake Stone (1993)—to create depth within rigid hardware. The anthology’s reliance on DOSBox emulation (without optimization) highlights this era’s friction: players juggle config files and keyboard controls absent modern comfort.
The Irony of Legacy and Delisting
By 2009, 3D Realms’ collapse amid Duke Nukem Forever’s vaporware saga fractured their catalog’s rights. The 2015 Steam Edition—a DRM-free bundle with a remastered soundtrack—was delisted within months due to Gearbox’s acquisition of the Duke IP. This anthology thus exists in limbo: a digital relic preserved only in pirated corners and physical collectors’ stashes.
Narrative & Thematic Deep Dive
B-Movie Machismo and Camp
3D Realms’ catalog thrived on hypermasculine satire. Duke Nukem 3D (1996) weaponized pop culture, blending They Live-style alien conspiracies with locker-room bravado (“Your face, your ass—what’s the difference?”). Its spiritual sibling, Shadow Warrior (1997), traded Duke’s swagger for Lo Wang’s Kung Fu Theater pastiches (“Who wanta some Wang?”), dripping with innuendo and racial caricatures. These narratives reveled in juvenile excess, reflecting 90s gaming’s unfiltered id.
Educational Oddities and Forgotten Worlds
Beneath the bloodshed lay curios like Word Rescue (1992) and Math Rescue (1992)—educational platformers where players fought “Gruzzles” to restore vocabulary or arithmetic. Titles like Dark Ages (1991) and Mystic Towers (1994) leaned into fantasy, marrying King’s Quest-lite puzzles with arcade combat. While narratively sparse, these games showcased Apogee’s experimental range, even as their tonal whiplash confounded branding.
Subtexts of Rebellion and Independence
The anthology’s DNA pulses with anti-establishment verve. Rise of the Triad (1995)—developed during Apogee’s id Software partnership—pithed religion (cultists vs. UN assassins), while Bio Menace (1993) skewered Cold War paranoia. These themes mirrored the studio’s real-world defiance: eschewing publishers, championing modding communities, and collapsing under their own ambition.
Gameplay Mechanics & Systems
The Core Loops: From Platforming to Mayhem
- Run-’n’-Gun Dominance: Duke Nukem (1991) and Duke Nukem II (1993) refined the Contra template with sticky controls, hidden exits, and weapon upgrades. Sequels like Duke Nukem: Manhattan Project (2002) transplanted this into 2.5D, marrying punchy combat to psuedo-3D level design.
- FPS Innovations: Duke Nukem 3D’s Build Engine birthed interactive environments (pool tables, strippers), while Shadow Warrior’s katana-gunplay hybridized melee and ranged combat. Rise of the Triad’s ludicrous arsenal (Drunk Missile, Firebomb) embraced chaos.
- Genre Experiments: Raptor: Call of the Shadows (1994) stood among PC’s finest shoot-’em-ups; Death Rally (1996) mashed Mario Kart and Twisted Metal; Wacky Wheels (1994) aped kart racers with pastel whimsy.
Emulation Woes and Control Hurdles
The anthology’s Achilles’ heel is its barebones presentation. Games launch individually via Steam, relying on unaltered DOSBox wrappers—meaning no unified launcher, no CRT filters, and inconsistent controller support. Alien Carnage’s jetpack physics stymie modern pads, while Terminal Velocity’s flight controls feel alien post-Star Fox. For purists, it’s authentic; for newcomers, archaic.
World-Building, Art & Sound
Pixel Art Sorcery and Technical Constraints
Apogee’s artists squeezed magic from limitations: Duke Nukem 3D’s grimy cityscapes oozed personality via sprite-based interactivity, while Cosmo’s Cosmic Adventure (1992) bathed alien worlds in EGA’s 16-color psychedelia. Standouts like Hocus Pocus (1994) embraced fantasy VGA, its lava pits and crystal caves shimmering with pre-rendered depth.
Sound Design: Chiptunes to Re-Rockestrated Riffs
Games leaned on Adlib and Sound Blaster bleeps—Raptor’s pulse-pounding soundtrack elevated its aerial carnage. The anthology’s sole modern flourish is its Re-Rockestrated Soundtrack: nine remastered tracks (e.g., Duke Nukem II’s “Grabbag”) that riff on classics with crunchy guitars. A nostalgic encore, albeit separate from gameplay.
Atmosphere Through Ambiguity
Shadow Warrior’s misty mountain tombs and Pharaoh’s Tomb’s (1990) claustrophobic pyramids thrived on minimalism. Without cutscenes or voice acting, environmental storytelling—corpses hinting at traps, enemy placement as narrative—did heavy lifting, fostering player imagination.
Reception & Legacy
Critical Divide: Nostalgia vs. Practicality
Upon release, critics panned the anthology’s $39.99 price and lack of curation (55% average on MobyGames). Sites like 3rd Strike lambasted its redundancy—many titles were freeware—while Gameramble praised its historical value (8.3/10). Players echoed this schism: Steam reviews lauded preservation but bemoaned bugs and emulation jank.
Industry Impact and Modern Echoes
3D Realms’ legacy birthed genres: Duke Nukem 3D’s irreverence foreshadowed Borderlands; Rise of the Triad’s absurdity influenced Serious Sam. The studio’s collapse also heralded cautionary tales about hype (see: Mighty No. 9). Modern indies like Ion Fury (2019) and Cultic (2022) worship at this altar, reviving Build Engine ethos.
The Curse of Licensing
The anthology’s 2015 delisting—following Gearbox’s Duke takeover—rendered it a collector’s item. Today, pieces survive in splintered form: Duke 3D via 20th Anniversary World Tour, Shadow Warrior remastered by Flying Wild Hog. Yet the anthology’s totality remains unmatched.
Conclusion
3D Realms: Anthology – Steam Edition is a paradox: a vital archaeological dig and a frustrating museum. Its games—uneven, brilliant, baffling—chart PC gaming’s Wild West era, where ambition outpaced resources. Yet its presentation feels halfhearted: no extras (concept art? developer commentaries?), no optimizations, just ROMs in a Steam wrapper. For historians, it’s indispensable; for casual players, an artifact best sampled via curated re-releases. In the annals of gaming history, it stands as a flawed tribute to pioneers who shaped an industry—warts, pixelated boobs, and all.
Final Verdict: A 7/10 time machine—essential for scholars, overpriced for tourists.