For the modern day gamer, Niko (from GTA 4) is the epitome of a virtual badass.  Suave attitude, sick driving skills, and a way with the ladies – makes Niko a prime candidate for the pixelated badass of modern day gaming.  Lets hit the rewind button and go back to 1996 when Duke Nukem barreled his way to the top of MS-DOS gaming.  Duke Nukem did all of the basic badass things that Niko does now, well minus the driving (he flew a space ship but aliens shot it down).  What he lacks in brains, he makes up for in brawn.

So the question is: Which one of the two is more of a badass?  Who can triumph when it comes to the ladies? Which one of these cyber warriors would win in a bar fight?  We had the exact same questions, so we took some time to size them up.

Lets compare and contrast these two before making a rational decision.

4) Attitude

Niko is a well mannered guy, who doesn’t take shit from anyone.  He will show his disapproval for someone with a quick jab to the throat or a bullet to the head.  Niko has a conscience and will often try to do the right thing, even if that means killing a few bad guys who get in his way.  Niko is driven by money and success.  Duke Nukem on the other hand is driven by one thing, and one think only – Kicking ass.  He will fire an RPG inside just to see an explosion.  What keeps him going is his desire to slaughter aliens and to reap the rewards of saving some hot tail.

3) Physical Presence

Niko is slender and fit.  His 5 o’ clock shadow says “I can attend a classy business meeting, shoot up a night club, and boost a cop car all in one night”.  If you saw this man while walking down an ally, you’d most certainly get out of his way.

Duke Nukem is a mountain of a man.  No he couldn’t attend a business meeting or even goto an event at a fancy night club.  What he could do is enter a beer drinking contest and win.  Directly there after he could sign up for a tough man tournament and completely dominate his opponent (while seeing double).  If you saw this man while walking down an ally, you wouldn’t have time to get out of his way.  The shit in your pants would slow you down just enough and you’d be hit with an RPG before making it around the corner.

2) Strip Club Etiquette (way with the ladies)

Niko enjoys a trip to the strip club (semi nsfw) every now and then.  As shown in the clip he is a perfect gentlemen and pays the ladies just like any normal guy would.  Ladies flock to Niko because of his charming personality and his full wallet.

Duke Nukem also enjoys the gentlemen clubs.  The only difference really, is that he has no problem dropping a shotgun shell into a stripper when he is unable to pay for a dance.

The ladies flock to Duke for two reasons.  Protection and Fear.  When aliens storm the earth they want a man who will protect and provide.  However, they know the consequences of what will happen if they don’t obey when he tells them to “shake it baby”.  If Duke and Niko were in the same booby bar, the females would definitely go for for Duke first.

1) When Shit Hits the Fan

When the odds are stacked, Niko knows when its time to cut his losses and head for the exit.  Using smarts, Niko will often live to fight another day.

Duke Nukem lacks this type of rational thinking.  Strapping a gat to his back, while tossing pipe bombs over his shoulder, Duke will keep fighting until he has killed everything in site, or has died trying.

We’re going to give this round to Duke Nukem as well and heres why:  While Niko lives to fight another day, he will eventually have to face his enemies.  By this time they’re ready for him which eliminates the element of surprise.  Duke leaves it all out on the table.  Kill or be killed.

Still not convinced that Duke Nukem is more of a badass?  Watch how he brings this woman to tears using only a handful of lines.  NSFW (Language)