It has it all: The good, the bad, and definitely the ugly

The first time I heard about Dungeon Keeper is when I saw it at a computer store. I bought it then on the spot for $55 and took it home to put on my computer. Now the one thing you need to know about me is that I don't like to spend an hour trying to read the instructions for a game when I buy it. I just put it in and start to play. The great thing about this game is that the first few levels act as a built in trainer. They teach you how to build your dungeon and what you need to do in order to beat your opponents. I found the the layout is simple and easy to learn.

First you start out with small room and a few imps. Imps are your workers and you use them to dig out new rooms and for gold (Which you need to pay your minions). Soon evil minions began to enter your dungeon. The first things your minions need are a Lair, where they sleep, a Hatchery, where they eat, and a Treasure Room, where they get paid. You can also build a Training Room and a Library. As the game progresses your creatures use the library to research more rooms and spells. Some of the other rooms include: a Prison, a Temple, and a Graveyard. These rooms, in turn, attract bigger and more powerful creatures to your dungeon.

One interesting point of the game is you have to keep your creatures happy. For example, if you put a library right next to a workshop your warlocks, who do all your research, get angry. The noise causes them headaches and if you don't move the library they will eventually leave your dungeon. Also, not all of your creatures get along. If you get a spider and a fly in the same room they fight each other to the death unless you separate them.

Although this might all sound really confusing, there is surprisingly little micro-management. The game allows you to focus on the main problem at hand and just adds a few little quarks for a laugh. Oh, and lets not forget about the humor. There are several parts of the game that caused me to burst out laughing. The best example of this is the introduction (which is still one of the best introductions I have ever seen).

Overall, I would recommend this game for anyone over the age of 16 who enjoys a good challenge.