Summary
- Release Year: 1997
- Genres: Real Time Strategy (RTS), Strategy
- Platforms: Android, DOS, Mac, PC (Microsoft Windows)
- Developers: Bullfrog Productions
- Publishers: Electronic Arts
Dungeon Keeper (1997): A Classic Strategy Game
Dungeon Keeper is a strategy game developed by Bullfrog Productions and released in 1997. The player takes on the role of a dungeon keeper, tasked with building and managing a dungeon while protecting it from invading heroes. The game was a critical and commercial success, and is still considered one of the best strategy games ever made.
Gameplay
Dungeon Keeper is played from an isometric perspective. The player uses a mouse to interact with the game world, selecting rooms to build, spells to cast, and creatures to control. The game features a variety of different room types, each with its own unique function. For example, lairs are used to house creatures, hatcheries are used to breed chickens (which serve as food for the creatures), and treasuries are used to store gold.
The player must carefully manage their resources in order to succeed in Dungeon Keeper. Gold is used to build new rooms and recruit new creatures, while mana is used to cast spells. The player must also keep their creatures happy and healthy, or they will become less productive and may even turn against the player.
One of the most unique features of Dungeon Keeper is the ability to possess one of the player’s creatures and see the dungeon from their perspective. This allows the player to scout out the enemy’s dungeon, set traps, and launch surprise attacks.
Creatures
Dungeon Keeper features a variety of different creatures, each with its own unique abilities and strengths. Some of the most common creatures include imps, who are the basic workers of the dungeon; skeletons, who are good at fighting; and dragons, who are powerful but expensive to recruit.
The player must carefully choose which creatures to recruit, as each creature has its own strengths and weaknesses. For example, imps are good at digging tunnels and setting traps, but they are not very strong in combat. Skeletons are good at fighting, but they are slow and vulnerable to magic. Dragons are powerful, but they are expensive to recruit and maintain.
Heroes
The player must also defend their dungeon from invading heroes. Heroes are powerful characters who are intent on destroying the player’s dungeon and killing the player’s creatures. Heroes come in a variety of different types, each with its own unique abilities and weaknesses.
The player must carefully plan their defenses in order to defeat the heroes. The player can build traps, recruit powerful creatures, and cast spells to help them defend their dungeon.
Legacy
Dungeon Keeper was a critical and commercial success, and is still considered one of the best strategy games ever made. The game’s unique blend of strategy, humor, and action has made it a favorite among gamers for over two decades.
Dungeon Keeper has been ported to a variety of platforms, including the PC, PlayStation, and Sega Saturn. The game has also been re-released on GOG.com and Steam.
Conclusion
Dungeon Keeper is a classic strategy game that is still a lot of fun today. The game’s unique blend of strategy, humor, and action has made it a favorite among gamers for over two decades. If you are a fan of strategy games, then you owe it to yourself to check out Dungeon Keeper.
Review Score
9/10
Art
Cover Art
Screenshots
