Dungeon Keeper Reboot Launching for Mobile Platforms

[Fanghawk]

Dungeon Keeper Reboot Launching for Mobile Platforms

A new Dungeon Keeper is finally in the works, albeit one designed specifically for touchscreens.

Dungeon Keeper is a fondly remembered strategy game from the mid-90s, back when a developer could call its mascot "Horny" while keeping a straight face. Designed by Peter Molyneux shortly before he left Bullfrog Productions, Dungeon Keeper was unique for making players into villains, challenging them with constructing elaborate dungeons and hiring monsters to kill surface-world heroes. Dungeon Keeper was a major inspiration for later titles like Overlord and Evil Genius, but the series itself hasn't seen any new entries since Bullfrog's closure in 2004. Regardless, fans love a nostaligic re-release, so Electronic Arts has finally revealed a new Dungeon Keeper reboot designed exclusively for iOS and Android devices.

It's not entirely clear whether the Dungeon Keeper reboot will feature new content, or is a straight-up remake of the original. Either way, screenshots show that the visual style has undergone a significant overhaul. The resolution seems far higher than its PC counterparts, and the new 3D models are significantly more polished than its predecessors. On the gameplay front, the Dungeon Keeper remake will also offer PvP and PvE alongside the expected single-player mode. The game's strategy elements should be almost identical to PC versions, considering your in-game mouse cursors was already a giant hand hanging over the landscape.

I'm not entirely sold on the brighter color scheme, which comes off a little too cute and friendly for Dungeon Keeper's demonic creatures. Other than that, the concept is promising; touchscreen devices are ideal platforms for strategy games like Dungeon Keeper, and it could even spark a renewed interest in the series itself. If that happens, PC gamers might very well see a new Dungeon Keeper title in the immediate future.

Until then, Dungeon Keeper will relaunch for iPhone, iPad, iPod Touch, and Android devices this winter.

[gallery=1709]

Permalink

 

[New Troll]

I loved the Dungeon Keeper duet and have been waiting patiently for it to become a trio... but not on my phone! Guess it could be better than nothing, but will just have to wait and see I guess.

 

[Genocidicles]

And here I was thinking EA had turned a new leaf and were trying to stop being such asshats.

Well at least I get to hold onto my hatred.

 

[Li Mu]

ewww! It looks horrible. Do they have an art department or did they just throw the visuals together in MS Paint?

 

[Mahoshonen]

I hate to be "that guy" but I think people here are hating EA because it's EA. I think the idea is interesting enough, and I'm at least thankful they didn't go the Syndicate route and remake Dungeon Keeper as a cover-based shooter. That might not sound like the great compliment, but baby steps!

 

[PunkRex]

It's almost worth getting an IPad for... almost.

 

[IamLEAM1983]

Here's to hoping they won't microtransact some room and minion types to Hell.

I'm sure they will, but hoping they won't.

 

[coatsy35]

Well at least the guys at War for the Overworld are making a worthy contribution to the Dungeon Keeper style of games, even using the same voice actor to narrate, this updated version from EA just looks very "childish"/to bright and colourful.

 

[Quiotu]

Jesus fuckedy Christ... it wasn't enough for Capcom to turn Breath Of Fire into a mobile-based MMO. It wasn't enough for Square Enix to turn Dragon Quest into an F2P browser game. Now EA has to turn Dungeon Keeper into a fucking phone game?

Dear EA, kindly go join Capcom and Square Enix in finding the highest wall you can, then throwing yourselves from the top of it. I'm fed up with seeing old classics from my childhood being sacrificed at the alter of F2P iOS and Android.

You forgot an important one lately: Rebellion and Zynga turning Evil Genius into a Facebook game.

 

[Rituro]

Welp, off to Good Old Games to download Dungeon Keeper 2.

 

[sid]

Alright, so help me understand something. If every player aware of the original game has an ulcer at the very thought of a reboot by EA, and the people who will buy it probably don't know there's an original in the first place, why do they keep doing reboots? This is bad PR in a can

 

[gibboss28]

Y'know, there will be a day when the gargantuan turd known as EA will just collapse in on itself (enjoy the baffling mental image) and one of the few good things that will happen is all of the IPs that they've amassed will be free to go to (hopefully) better homes.

I think that sums up my thoughts on this. But if you need a better idea

FUCK YOU YOU FUCKING FUCKS.

sigh...

I hate to be "that guy" but I think people here are hating EA because it's EA. I think the idea is interesting enough, and I'm at least thankful they didn't go the Syndicate route and remake Dungeon Keeper as a cover-based shooter. That might not sound like the great compliment, but baby steps!

True...but there really shouldn't be baby steps. It just...ugh poor Dungeon Keeper.

 

[synobal]

I never game on any mobile device. Second WTF? it looks like a bad board game.

 

[Do4600]

"Oh, a classic series let's pilfer it and put it on a totally different system."

And where exactly is the interest coming from to sell it on this system? People who own and use a mobile device as a gaming platform and people who liked Dungeon Keeper are two groups that I doubt have enough overlap to make this profitable. This also dooms any actual sequel on main console. Who the hell greenlit this? FIRE THAT PERSON!

 

[SweetShark]

Haaaaa......
Please people, don't start to hate a game because it changed a lot.
First we mustplay and see if indeed the game was a terrible idea, then start to hate.
Even if the game look different, do you think is the right way to hate it?

 

[SweetShark]

Btw, there is a Korean Version of Dungeon Keeper as an MMO that most people don't know:

So......Why no so much hate for the MMO version again? XD

 

[Clovus]

How is it possible that some indie hasn't managed make a fun Dungeon Keeper clone yet?

It is odd to start the reboot on phones, but maybe this will lead to a proper updated PC version.

 

[Saulkar]

So......Why no so much hate for the MMO version again? XD

Why does that even need to be asked?!

It is not or poorly available to Western audiences (assuming they did not suddenly open up Western Servers) and its creative design was almost exclusively the work of the studio developing it with very little oversight by E.A. who offered very little financial support.

OT: The aesthetics of the new Dungeon Keeper do not work. The game had a distinctly dark atmosphere with its own unique style that made both visually interesting and iconic. This worked in favour of the whimsically dark humour laced throughout the story and core mechanics.

This is Dungeon Keeper to me.



This is not a matter of hating on E.A. because it is E.A., it is a matter of getting mad at E.A. for making critical design decisions that go in direct opposition to the core pillars of what made a Dungeon Keeper Dungeon Keeper. Who knows, maybe the gameplay makes up for it but I will immediately call them out if they failed to update the game while preserving it.

 

[Gutsripper]

SO they finally decide to reboot one of the greatest games I ever played and they do it on a bloody mobile?
Damn...

I don't much care whether it's EA or not (though EA does pretty much suck as a company) I just hope this brings enough interest to have a proper new Dungeon Keeper game made.
Although looking at the style of the graphics I don't know if that would be a good idea.

Ahw hell why don't they just make Dungeon Keeper 2 HD and I'll be happy.

 

[SweetShark]

So......Why no so much hate for the MMO version again? XD

Why does that even need to be asked?!

It is not or poorly available to Western audiences (assuming they did not suddenly open up Western Servers) and its creative design was almost exclusively the work of the studio developing it with very little oversight by E.A. who offered very little financial support.

OT: The aesthetics of the new Dungeon Keeper do not work. The game had a distinctly dark atmosphere with its own unique style that made both visually interesting and iconic. This worked in favour of the whimsically dark humour laced throughout the story and core mechanics.

This is Dungeon Keeper to me.



This is not a matter of hating on E.A. because it is E.A., it is a matter of getting mad at E.A. for making critical design decisions that go in direct opposition to the core pillars of what made a Dungeon Keeper Dungeon Keeper. Who knows, maybe the gameplay makes up for it but I will immediately call them out if they failed to update the game while preserving it.

Indeed, I was only joking about it, because not many people outside Korea [I think is fof Korea].
But I can imagine the reaction of the fans if it had a European/America release.

Also you have every right to be disappointed about the game for not look and feel like the old games.
However is better to wait until how the gameplay is and then judge for the whole package.

And I know that is fair if some people will not enjoy it only for the new look, but lets see how the game goes.

After all it isn't the first time something similar happened:

That why I will leave this comic here to see what I mean:

Spoiler