Windows

Dungeon Keeper 2

When all is said and done, DK2 is a game that exhibits an exquisite balance between a terrifying theme—devilish monsters and hellfire—and an ironic sense of humor—narration and characterization. Even though DK2 shares the same ESRB rating as Kingpin, it seems a real shame that a game as witty, sophisticated and beautiful as this should be restricted from as wide an audience as possible. Instead, we will leave the masses with sensationalized summer headlines and content ourselves with one of the most aesthetically and strategically satisfying games of the year.

If you're tired of real-time strategy games seeming all the same and you're in the mood for something a little different, Dungeon Keeper II fills the bill with ghastly grace. The game carries a Mature rating from the Entertainment Software Rating Board for a good reason and is definitely not for children. Aside from that, the only people who I predict will dislike this game are folks who feel strongly about Political Correctness; otherwise, run to your nearest store and throw this brute into your shopping cart.

Dungeon Keeper 2 känns inte som en riktig uppföljare, vilket kanske beror på att det inte finns mycket nytt i det. Snarare är spelet en finputsad version av det första, med snyggare grafik, bättre ljud osv. Trots detta är spelet en riktig höjdare. Känslan av att vara riktigt ond är fortfarande något som lockar, vilket gör detta till ett kärt återseende.

Dus, heb je Dungeon Keeper nooit gespeeld en hou je van strategische spellen dan mag je dit niet missen. Kan je maar geen genoeg krijgen van Dungeon Keeper, koop dan dit vervolg. Je zal net als ik weer uren gekluisterd aan je monitor hangen. Vond je Dungeon Keeper maar niets, laat dan meteen je hoofd nakijken. Nee serieus. Vond je DK niet geslaagd, koop dit spel dan niet in de hoop dat je het plots wel goed zal vinden. Smaken verschillen nu eenmaal.

Dungeon Keeper 2 is a fantastic game that distinguishes itself from the rest with its unique premise, solid gameplay, but most of all, the signature wit and personality prevalent in every Bullfrog title. Some people have complained that Dungeon Keeper 2 is just more of the same as the original, but the totally revamped graphics, better single player campaign, useful first person ability, and free form dungeon building mode say otherwise. Besides, why fix what isn't broken? It would be ludicrous to say that veterans of the original should stay clear of the sequel, because DK2 is a great game all its own. Well, the multiplayer was subpar, but like Baldur's Gate, we feel that this is the kind of game that really isn't meant to be played multiplayer and as such, shouldn't be docked too hard for that. We're pleased to bestow Firingsquad's Editor's Choice award on Bullfrog's Dungeon Keeper 2!

Both the lighting effects and sounds that build and recede as you walk about the dungeon are superb, with each type of room having its own special effects and ambient sounds. Likewise, each creature has specific characteristics and will face combat in his or her own particular way. Some are cowards, some Rambo-esque, some belligerent and yet others are eager (soon to be dead) over-achievers. Regardless of how you approach Dungeon Keeper 2, rest assured you'll be challenged by the frenzied pace and the frenetic manipulation needed to control all your creatures. But rather than be dismayed if you can't keep up, simply reload and try again, and again, and again. You won't be sorry you did.

While much of the game is taken directly from the original title, there is a decent amount of material added in the sequel. The new creatures, spells, traps, and rooms are all great fun and allow you more flexibility when designing your dungeon. The graphics engine is really amazing; the series never looked this good. If you liked the first title, the gameplay and humor in Dungeon Keeper 2 will not disappoint you. Bottom Line: Amazing new graphics engine. Gameplay is much like the original title, but with more creature types, spells, traps, and rooms available. Multiple play modes allow for nice variety and "my pet dungeon" mode allows you to develop at your own pace. An incredibly entertaining sequel to a highly original game.

Меня так недоброжелатели кличут. Так что для них глаголю. Вот, говорят, что нестандартно это все. И подземелье, и роль моя нехорошая. Олицетворяю Зло вроде как. Ну так… ведь вы же не пробовали. Будете у нас на Колыме… тьфу, я хотел сказать, заглянете в мою берлогу, поживете с годик и непременно станете ярым поклонником моего девиза. It’s good to be bad…

Yes, the game at its heart is still Dungeon Keeper, as one would expect a sequel to be. Those who thought the original's gameplay was flawed in concept will probably find the sequel more polished, but tire of it quickly. It's also easy to see how a player who really wants an RTS game would be disappointed by the lack of direct control, or one who wants a world-building game upset by the emphasis on combat. Most players, however, will find Dungeon Keeper 2 to be a thoroughly addictive blend between the two. Almost as much fun to watch as it is to play, Dungeon Keeper 2 has a disturbing ability to put a smile on your face.

En résumé, Dungeon Keeper 2 renoue avec son prédécesseur de très bonne façon. Le remaniement effectué par Bullfrog nous offre un soft à la mesure de sa réputation. Le plaisir de jouer s'en trouve décuplé et fait de ce titre un must !

Dungeon Keeper 2 has actually been a pretty difficult game to review. First off, it's unbelievably addictive and I continued to spend hours playing and replaying missions (not to mention jumping into multiplayer competitions) long after I really should have been writing the review. Second off, how you will look at the game depends in a large part on whether or not you spent a lot of time playing the first title. While Dungeon Keeper 2 certainly looks and feels better than its predecessor, it doesn't fall very far from the tree when it comes to gameplay. Fortunately, since the original was such an amazing game, that's not necessarily all that bad of a thing.

If slapping imps, torturing noble knights, and commanding foul legions of the undead gets your juice flowing, then Dungeon Keeper 2 is the Unholy Grail you've been looking for!

Overall Dungeon Keeper 2 is a fun and entertaining game, but it's not such a far cry from the original DK. The single player game is the same over and over again. Once in a while you have to think and use a different strategy, but not often. Multiplayer is a bit more fun and tends to keep any keeper worth his salt on their toes. The improved graphics make the game more fun and playable, but do not an exceptional game make. The sound issues are a bit troubling and cause a danger of deafness if you don't take precautions with speaker volume. The gameplay was fun and some of the cute things like the torture chamber were worth a chuckle, as well as the in-game movies. Basically, you're just looking at Dungeon Keeper with a few upgrades. No significant advances here. So if you love archaic torture, depravity and just general all-out carnage pick this game up. It'll definitely give you a good laugh.

There is no real fundamental changes in Dungeon Keeper 2. Not as good a sequel as it could have been. If they would have just covered those flaws from the original, this could have been a huge game. Still, if you liked the original, you will love this one. If you disliked the original, there is no reason to try out it's successor because it changes nothing fundamental about the game. Perhaps Bullfrog will get it all right when they put together Dungeon Keeper 3 but in the meantime, Dungeon Keeper 2 is a solid addition to this growing series.

Dungeon Keeper 2 hat mich vom allerersten Moment an gepackt und dann auch bis zum Schluß nicht wieder losgelassen. Vor allem wenn ich einen (übrigens treffend eingedeutschten) Level-Lord erwischt hatte, überkam mich diabolische Freude. Doch nach einem Wochenende war alles vorbei. Schuld daran ist das nicht ganz ausbalancierte Leveldesign. Häufig habe ich gewonnen, indem ich, die Vorgaben ignorierend, konsequent auf das gegnerische Dungeonherz oder den Landlord losgegangen bin. Äußerst hilfreich waren dabei der zu stark geratene Zauberspruch Blitzschlag und der viel zu früh aktivierbare Horny-Spruch. Per Blitz habe ich manchen Levellord zehnmal hintereinander getroffen, und Horny hat für mich halbe Gewölbe entvölkert. Aber das ist ein zu verschmerzender Wermutstropfen im köstlichen Kellerwein. Denn Spaß macht auch diese Vorgehensweise.

Verwacht geen inhoudelijke vernieuwingen, maar wel een enorme boost op grafisch gebied. Deel drie moet dan maar voor de grote ommekeer zorgen. Toch is Dungeon Keeper 2 dankzij de heerlijke, verslavende en herkenbare gameplay een hele dope game geworden.

To start with, I never played the first installment of Dungeon Keeper - so I ended up going into this review fairly blind as to what to expect. As I opened the packaging and read (yes, read) the instructions and manual, my first thoughts were, "Here we go again." The only standard female in the entire game is clad in black leather (well what is clad is in black leather) and is billed as a sado-masochist. I was hoping my premonitions of a completely hormone driven game would be proven wrong.

Dungeon Keeper 2 is fine for deaf gamers. The cutscenes are subtitled and verbal messages you receive appear as text messages, indicated by flashing 'i' icon at the bottom of the screen. These messages can be read in your own time too which is always a bonus.

In the end, I ended up not caring all that much that DK2 wasn't so far removed from the original. After all, there's only so far Bullfrog could have gone without making it a completely new title. The things I enjoyed were the new graphics and gameplay elements, improved combat implementation, My Pet Dungeon... The list goes on. The only people who will be disappointed are those who expect something wholly different from the original. If you are looking for wholesale improvements to a concept that already worked or missed the original and are ready for something different, look no further than DK2.

There's something immediately unsettling whenever Bullfrog turns out sequels. Best known for its original game designs like Populous, Syndicate, and Theme Park, the mere thought of Bullfrog working with an already-existing concept instead of introducing an entirely new one makes sequels such as Dungeon Keeper 2 seem less ambitious than their innovative predecessors. All the same, the original Dungeon Keeper, a real-time strategy game in which you'd construct a subterranean labyrinth within whose corridors you'd kill the goodly heroes looking to rid their land of the likes of wretches such as yourself, was one of Bullfrog's best ideas in years.