Summary

Release Year: 1992
Genres: Real Time Strategy (RTS), Strategy
Platforms: Acorn Archimedes, Amiga, DOS, Sega Mega Drive/Genesis
Developers: Westwood Studios
Publishers: Virgin Games

Dune II: The Building of a Dynasty (1992)

Dune II: The Building of a Dynasty is a real-time strategy (RTS) game developed by Westwood Studios and published by Virgin Games in 1992. It is often considered to be the first modern RTS game and established many conventions of the genre.

Dune II is set in Frank Herbert’s famous Dune universe, but the game is only loosely connected to the plot of any of the books or the films based on them. The player controls one of three Houses: Atreides, Harkonnen, or Ordos. The goal of the game is to conquer the planet of Arrakis, also known as Dune, by destroying all of the other Houses.

The gameplay in Dune II is simple but addictive. The player starts with a small base and a few units. The player must then collect the spice melange, which is the most valuable resource in the Dune universe. Spice can be used to build new units and buildings, and to research new technologies.

The player must also defend their base from attacks by the other Houses. The player can build a variety of defensive structures, including turrets, walls, and bunkers. The player can also train a variety of units, including infantry, tanks, and aircraft.

As the player progresses through the game, they will gain access to new and more powerful units and technologies. The player will also need to learn how to manage their resources carefully in order to succeed.

Dune II was a critical and commercial success. It was praised for its innovative gameplay, its detailed graphics, and its faithfulness to the Dune universe. Dune II has been cited as an inspiration for many later RTS games, including Command & Conquer and StarCraft.

Gameplay

Dune II is a real-time strategy game in which the player controls one of three Houses: Atreides, Harkonnen, or Ordos. The goal of the game is to conquer the planet of Arrakis, also known as Dune, by destroying all of the other Houses.

The player starts with a small base and a few units. The player must then collect the spice melange, which is the most valuable resource in the Dune universe. Spice can be used to build new units and buildings, and to research new technologies.

Units

There are a variety of units available to the player in Dune II. Each unit has its own strengths and weaknesses. The player must carefully choose which units to build and how to use them in order to succeed.

The following is a list of the units available in Dune II:

Infantry: Infantry are the basic fighting unit in Dune II. They are relatively weak, but they are also inexpensive to build. Infantry can be armed with a variety of weapons, including rifles, machine guns, and flamethrowers.
Tanks: Tanks are more powerful than infantry, but they are also more expensive to build. Tanks can be armed with a variety of weapons, including cannons, lasers, and missiles.
Aircraft: Aircraft are the most powerful units in Dune II. They can fly over obstacles and attack from a distance. Aircraft can be armed with a variety of weapons, including bombs, missiles, and lasers.

Buildings

The player can build a variety of buildings in Dune II. Each building has its own purpose. The player must carefully choose which buildings to build and where to place them in order to succeed.

The following is a list of the buildings available in Dune II:

Barracks: Barracks are used to train infantry units.
Factory: Factories are used to build tanks and aircraft.
Refinery: Refineries are used to convert spice into credits.
Silo: Silos are used to store spice.
Wind trap: Wind traps are used to generate power.
Radar station: Radar stations are used to detect enemy units.
Repair facility: Repair facilities are used to repair damaged units.
Defense turret: Defense turrets are used to defend the player’s base from attack.
Palace: Palaces are the headquarters of the player’s House. Palaces can be used to research new technologies and to unleash special palace effects.

Resources

The only resource in Dune II is the spice melange. Spice is found on the surface of Arrakis, and it can be collected by harvesters. Spice is used to build new units and buildings, and to research new technologies.

The player must carefully manage their spice resources in order to succeed. The player must build enough harvesters to collect spice, but they must also build enough refineries to convert spice into credits. The player must also be careful not to overextend their supply lines, as harvesters can be attacked by enemy units.

Technology

The player can research a variety of new technologies in Dune II. These technologies can give the player a significant advantage in battle. The following is a list of the technologies available in Dune II:

Improved harvester: This technology increases the amount of spice that harvesters can collect.
Improved refinery: This technology increases the amount of credits that refineries can produce.
Improved barracks: This technology increases the rate at which infantry units can be trained.
Improved factory: This technology increases the rate at which tanks and aircraft can be built.
Improved wind trap: This technology increases the amount of power that wind traps can generate.
Improved radar station: This technology increases the range of radar stations.
Improved repair facility: This technology increases the rate at which damaged units can be repaired.
Improved defense turret: This technology increases the range and damage of defense turrets.
Improved palace: This technology increases the research rate of palaces and unlocks new palace effects.

Legacy

Dune II is still considered to be one of the best RTS games ever made. It is a challenging and rewarding game that offers a lot of replayability. If you are a fan of RTS games, then you owe it to yourself to play Dune II.