Graphics:
The first time loading Dungeon Keeper I was rather disappointed by the graphics until I figured out how to get it in Hi-Res. The graphics are some of the best while playing the game in Hi-Res. Some of the more noticeable features are the way that the light sources reflect off all the objects and the smoothness of the engine while you rotate your map. Too often we play games that lose their depth after the first level, but Dungeon Keeper manages to stay unique through the latter levels. The detail and attention that were put into the graphics are what other games should note. When taking on the first person view of each creature, the view represents that creature’s perspective. For example, when taking over a fly you look through octagonal glass like eyes, depicting what a fly would actually see. It is this type of detail that allows Dungeon Keeper to stand out from other games. The reason that Dungeon Keeper did not get 5 stars in this category was because to really enjoy the graphics, you have to play them in Hi-Res. You just lose too much detail when playing in the lower resolution.




Interface:
The interface in Dungeon Keeper is easy to learn. Everything can be controlled by your mouse and is usually just a click away. Because of the depth put into Dungeon Keeper, it is likely that many of the features in Dungeon Keeper might never be used by certain players. Reading the manual actually might help in Dungeon Keeper because there are so many aspects of the game that can be overlooked. Certain features in the interface, like the ability to zoom in and out of the dungeon, make playing Dungeon Keeper easier. The map view can prove invaluable in playing multiplayer games. One nice feature to have would be the ability to have the command bar on the side snap out of view like the Windows 95 tool bar can.




Gameplay: This is the one area of Dungeon Keeper that really shines out over all the other criteria. The gameplay in Dungeon Keeper is groundbreaking in setting up a whole new way to play a game. By taking on the role opposite what you are used to, gamers can get a whole new feeling while playing Dungeon Keeper. The combination of strategy and action that is then twisted into the dark world of a dungeon works perfect. What makes Dungeon Keeper so fun is that you are really in control. If you played the game 10 times you could end up with different outcomes depending on how you played. All of this great architecture is taken one
step further with the multiplayer aspect of Dungeon Keeper. When playing multiplayer against a computer opponent the gameplay if different than playing alone, adding more depth to the overall game. Another important point about the gameplay is that the different features of the game are vast in numbers allow you to always find something new to use in your favor. It is just too bad that games like this only come along every so often!




Sound FX:
The sound in Dungeon Keeper reflects the overall feel for the game. As you build your dungeon, you will hear different sounds. What makes the sounds different in Dungeon Keeper is that you do not always hear every sound in the game unless you actually have your pointer in that particular area. This prevents being over burdened with too many sounds. You can tell that there was a lot of detail put into the sounds because they all are a unique and clear representation of their origins.




Music: With the flood of high quality sound cards to the market, music plays a more important role in games. The music in Dungeon Keeper is perfect. It sets the tone and mood for the game and gives the player a good ambient feeling. The music never interferes with the gameplay but more acts as a buffer in the background from the other sounds that echo through the dungeon. One notable aspect of the music was during the opening trailer to Dungeon Keeper. The music and intensity of this opening sequence really gets the player to get into the game. Even though the music is excellent it really does not play that much of an important role in Dungeon Keeper.




Intelligence:
Dungeon Keeper is a rare game when it comes to how the artificial intelligence plays. Although it may not be the perfect game, it does offer a challenge that depends on each person’s actual playing style. The pace of the game is dictated by how you play the game and the AI will actually learn from your gameplay. This can be hard to believe because we are all so used to playing games that really lack in this area. After talking with Peter Molyneux at E3, I was able to learn that for the past 6 months or so AI is all they were actually working on. By allowing the users to create their own dungeons, Dungeon Keeper can be played differently every time. How you build your dungeon will dictate the AI and how the game is going to be played. The way you build your dungeon determines what kinds of creatures will come. If you want dragons to come to your dungeon, then you have to build a dungeon that will attract dragons by including a large treasure room and a large lair. When playing in a multiplayer game against the computer or other players, you are all bidding for the creatures that occupy the land above. This makes Dungeon Keeper more challenging because each player may want to attract different creatures and use them in their strategy to win the game. After having played Dungeon Keeper for over a month, it is hard to find anything wrong with the AI!




Overall:
This very well could be one of the games of the year. For so long we all thought the game was never going to come out and at times it can be hard to believe that it actually is here. The efforts that went into making this game perfect have paid off. The rich detail and fluid graphics paint a great picture of a dark dungeon atmosphere. Where many games tend to lack is in Artificial Intelligence, but Dungeon Keeper is an exception to this trend. Not only is the AI worthy, but it will actually learn to play to your style. The sound and music truly set the mood for playing in an underground world and the interface is intuitive and easy to use. The multiplayer mode also offers a new challenge to playing multiplayer games and combines not only strategy but also wit. It takes more thought and planning to truly master playing the multiplayer mode within Dungeon Keeper. It is hard to believe that a game can earn such high scores, but it is also hard to find any true flaws in Dungeon Keeper. Another important part of Dungeon Keeper is that Electronic Arts is selling the game at a price most gamers can afford. Most places are selling Dungeon Keeper for around $39 which is a steal for such a well-rounded and playable game.