Dungeon Keeper 2

About Dungeon Keeper 2

Dungeon Keeper 2 (1999) is Bullfrog's 3D sequel in which the player builds an evil underground empire, slaps imps to work and conquers the realms of Harmonia to steal their Portal Gems for the Horned Reaper.

Dungeon Keeper 2 in Depth

King Reginald of Harmonia has twenty Portal Gems, each guarded by a realm's Lord of the Land, which confine evil creatures underground while letting good forces pass, and they have driven even serious dungeon keepers into retreat. The Horned Reaper, "Horny", believes he can take them and enlists the player to conquer the realms, chosen from a 3D map on a large table, ending with Reginald himself. Using a hand, the player digs out a dungeon with Imps, who mine gold and gems and claim territory around the Dungeon Heart, which now also regenerates mana, stores gold and produces Imps. Rooms such as the Lair, Hatchery, Training Room, Library and Treasury attract creatures through Portals, from Bile Demons to Warlocks and Salamanders, while Skeletons and Vampires come from the Prison and Graveyard.

Creatures need pay and food and dislike their heroic counterparts, and anger can lead to rebellions. Training only reaches level four, with more experience earned in the new Combat Pit or real fights, and a casino, workshop for traps and doors, torture chamber that converts captives and temple add options. Spells now cost mana rather than gold, the player can possess creatures, and Horny himself can be summoned with a talisman. Modes include My Pet Dungeon, without campaign objectives, Skirmish and networked multiplayer.

Making Dungeon Keeper 2

Bullfrog built it with a team of about fifty, including Richard Ridings and programmer Alex Peters from the original, as Electronic Arts sought to capitalise on Dungeon Keeper's success; producer Nick Goldsworthy believed in carrying over what worked while adding new things. It needed hardware-accelerated 3D to keep up with trends, aiming for a renderer good enough for deathmatch, plus a software renderer for weaker PCs, and multiplayer was a major focus. Mark Knight composed the music, with Nick Laviers heading audio, and David Armor and Shintaro Kanaoya led level design. Released in June 1999, it received favourable reviews: IGN called its graphics "amazing" and GameSpot praised its graphics and sound, though both criticised the lack of major changes from the first game, and PC Gamer called the gameplay "outstanding" while noting multiplayer glitches. A PlayStation version and Dungeon Keeper 3 were cancelled. It was later released on GOG.com, Origin and Steam.