Dune 2000 (Windows)

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Description

Dune 2000 is a remake of the classic Dune II: The Building of a Dynasty, updated for Windows. In this real-time strategy game, you can play one of the three houses: the noble Atreides, the insidious Ordos, or the evil Harkonnen. Each has different sets of units and tactics while maintaining an overall balance. The Atreides have air superiority and rely on their honor and alliance with planet natives, the Fremen. The Ordos rely on guerrilla tactics and superior technology, as well as mercenaries. The Harkonnen just go brutal, with no care for lives of their own troops or destruction, as long as they are victorious.

Unlike the original, the cutscenes happen after every mission, with a live-cast this time, like already seen in Westwood Studios' Command & Conquer franchise. A 16-bit colour mode is the default setting, setting the game's graphics on par with the Command & Conquer games that came before it, while an 8-bit colour mode is available as an option in the game's settings.

Everything from the original is back: sandworms, the spice, the Fremen, the known structures and the map of the planet, and even the intro cinematic is an enhanced live-action/CGI version of the original one.

The PlayStation port features a different engine with 3D terrain, structures and vehicles, while infantry units use adapted 2D sprites. The gameplay and storyline remain the same.

Screenshots

Promo Images

Trailer

Alternate Titles

• "חולית 2000" -- Hebrew spelling

Part of the Following Groups

• Dune II series
• Dune series
• Enhanced remakes
• Live action cut-scenes

User Reviews

Lame cash-in attempt	Maw (884)
Money For Old Rope	Martin Smith (78)	unrated
An excellent must-play for any Dune fan.	Jacob Enriquez (18)
An unfairly trashed game	emerging_lurker (178)	unrated
A disappointing update to one of my favorate games.	Brian Hirt (10072)
a shame, considering its from 1998	Tomthesecond (45)
WOW!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!	James ruwan (3)
This isn't Dune	Terrence Bosky (5463)
Disappointing.	Stephen M (24)
Westwood lost the lead in RTS	Daniel Martin (17)	unrated

Critic Reviews

GameStar (Germany)	Aug, 1998	84 out of 100	84
PC Games (Germany)	Aug 05, 1998	83 out of 100	83
Bravo Screenfun	Aug, 1998	2 out of 6	80
Strategy Gaming Online	Oct 15, 1998	7.5 out of 10	75
Attack Games	Dec, 1998	7 out of 10	70
Score	Sep, 1998	7 out of 10	70
Power Play	Aug, 1998	70 out of 100	70
Computer Gaming World (CGW)	Dec, 1998		60
GameSpot	Sep 15, 1998	5.5 out of 10	55
Adrenaline Vault, The (AVault)	Oct 01, 1998		50

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Trivia

Dune II: The Building of a Dynasty

There are references to Dune II: The Building of a Dynasty, of which Dune 2000 is a remake: the manual says that the mentat Ammon of House Ordos was executed. Ammon was the mentat who assisted the player in the Ordos campaign in Dune II: The Building of a Dynasty. This makes Dune 2000 seem like a sequel and not just a remake.

Fremen language

There is some Fremen language heard in the videos. For example in the Atreides campaign, when Noree Moneo gives coffee to Kari, he says "Subakh ul kuhar" (Are you well?). When he mentions the Fremen hostages, Kari says "Tahadi al-burhan! Taqwa!" (Ultimate challenge! Price of freedom!).

Frank Herbert created Fremen words as corrupted versions of modern Arabic, showing how they will evolve in the future. For example "subakh ul kuhar" is from modern Egyptian "Sabah El Kheir".

German version

In the German version death cries were removed and the blood which shows up after killing an infantryman was coloured black.

Sequel

The game Emperor: Battle for Dune is a direct sequel to Dune 2000. Indeed, in the beginning of Emperor: Battle for Dune you will be shown the Ordos ending sequence from Dune 2000. This the first game by Westwood Studios in which the victory of the evil side is made part of the canon.

Universe errors

Although the game is based on the Dune universe and follows its background, the scenario doesn't fit in the timeline established by the novels. For example, there was no emperor Frederick IV, and Arrakis was not the place of war between rival powers. The Atreides campaign mentions Duke Leto, indicating that the timeframe is that of the original Dune novel. In Leto's time, the emperor was Shaddam IV.

While the House Ordos is inspired from the Dune Encyclopedia, their insignia seen in the game is not the one shown there, but the insignia of House Wallach.

In the Atreides cutscene where the Fremen Kari is introduced, Noree Moneo tells the player: "She's Naib... Fremen Death Commando". In Herbert's novels however, the Death Commandos are called Fedaykin, not Naib. A Naib is the leader of a sietch and is typically male.

Information also contributed by Boston Low.

Related Web Sites

• Dune 2000 Fan Site (A good fan site with downloads and info about the game and the series)
• Dune 2000 Ultimate Page (Everything you want to know and download about Dune game series.)