Dungeon Lords (video game)
{{Short description|2005 video game}}
{{Infobox video game
| title = Dungeon Lords
| image = Dungeon Lords Coverart.png
| caption = Original release box art
| developer = Heuristic Park
| publisher = DreamCatcher Interactive, FX Interactive, Crimson Cow, 1C, Typhoon Games{{cite web |url=http://www.heuristicpark.com/ |title=Heuristic Park Presents - Dungeon Lords |publisher=Heuristic Park |access-date=2007-03-20 |archive-date=2007-02-25 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070225104931/http://www.heuristicpark.com/ |url-status=live }}
| designer = D.W. Bradley
| engine =
| released = {{vgrelease|NA|May 5, 2005|PAL|April 7, 2006}}
| genre = Action role-playing
| modes = Single-player, multiplayer
| platforms = Microsoft Windows
}}
Dungeon Lords is an action role-playing game developed by Heuristic Park, originally published by DreamCatcher Interactive and Typhoon Games, and released in 2005. However, many features were left out from the original release in an effort to meet the release date. In 2006, they re-released the game as Dungeon Lords Collector's Edition with more complete features.
In 2012, after the demise of DreamCatcher Interactive and subsequent acquisition by Nordic Games, they announced the release of a completely "remastered" version of the game, titled Dungeon Lords MMXII.{{cite web |url=http://www.nordicgames.at/index.php/article/nordic_games_joins_forces_with_rpg_mastermind_d.w._bradley_and_heuristic_pa |title=Nordic Games joins forces with RPG mastermind D.W. Bradley and Heuristic Park |publisher=Nordic Games |date=April 13, 2012 |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20130925092835/http://www.nordicgames.at/index.php/article/nordic_games_joins_forces_with_rpg_mastermind_d.w._bradley_and_heuristic_pa |archivedate=September 25, 2013 |url-status=dead |accessdate=November 4, 2017}} Dungeon Lords MMXII was released in Europe on September 28, 2012, and in North America on October 5, 2012.
In 2015, a version of the game titled Dungeon Lords Steam Edition was released on Steam.
Gameplay
Dungeon Lords' gameplay features a combat system where weapon combos are controllable by mouse movements. It includes quests, personal missions, skills and special abilities for customizing the character hero from a small set of races and class specializations. Dungeon Lords can be played either single-player stand alone or in multi-player group sessions.{{cite web |url=https://www.gamespot.com/articles/dungeon-lords-e3-2004-impressions/1100-6098210/ |title=Dungeon Lords E3 2004 Impressions |last=Ocampo |first=Jason |work=GameSpot |date=May 14, 2004 |accessdate=November 6, 2016 |archive-date=November 7, 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171107024232/https://www.gamespot.com/articles/dungeon-lords-e3-2004-impressions/1100-6098210/ |url-status=live }} The combat was inspired by console fighting games.{{cite web |url=http://www.ign.com/articles/2004/04/09/dungeon-lords-combat-interview |title=Dungeon Lords Combat Interview |last=Aihoshi |first=Richard |work=IGN |date=April 8, 2004 |accessdate=November 7, 2016 |archive-date=November 7, 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161107162412/http://www.ign.com/articles/2004/04/09/dungeon-lords-combat-interview |url-status=live }}
Plot
{{No plot|date=August 2016}}
Development
Reception
{{Video game reviews
| MC = 45/100{{cite web |url=https://www.metacritic.com/game/dungeon-lords-2005/critic-reviews/?platform=pc |title=Dungeon Lords for PC Reviews |work=Metacritic |accessdate=November 6, 2016 |archive-date=January 13, 2011 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110113093144/http://www.metacritic.com/game/pc/dungeon-lords |url-status=live }}
| 1UP = D−{{cite web |url=http://www.1up.com/do/reviewPage?cId=3141813&did=1 |title=Dungeon Lords |last=Lee |first=Garnett |website=1UP.com |date=June 30, 2005 |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20100105225409/http://www.1up.com/do/reviewPage?cId=3141813&did=1 |archivedate=January 5, 2010 |url-status=dead |accessdate=November 5, 2017}}
| CGW = {{Rating|0|5}}{{cite magazine |url=http://www.cgwmuseum.org/galleries/issues/cgw_254.pdf |title=Dungeon Lords |last=Cook |first=Denice |magazine=Computer Gaming World |issue=254 |date=September 2005 |page=69 |accessdate=November 4, 2017 |archive-date=November 5, 2005 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20051105124551/http://www.1up.com/do/reviewPage?cId=3142497 |url-status=live }}
| GI = 4/10{{cite magazine |url=http://www.gameinformer.com/NR/exeres/E3F110D0-3154-4B60-AD44-8726514D9F86.htm |title=Dungeon Lords |last=Biessener |first=Adam |magazine=Game Informer |issue=147 |date=July 2005 |page=125 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20051118165049/http://www.gameinformer.com/NR/exeres/E3F110D0-3154-4B60-AD44-8726514D9F86.htm |archive-date=November 18, 2005 |url-status=dead |access-date=November 4, 2017}}
| GSpy = {{Rating|1.5|5}}{{cite web |url=http://pc.gamespy.com/pc/dungeon-lords/619945p1.html |title=GameSpy: Dungeon Lords |last=Abner |first=William |work=GameSpy |date=May 27, 2005 |accessdate=November 5, 2017 |archive-date=June 29, 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180629080144/http://pc.gamespy.com/pc/dungeon-lords/619945p1.html |url-status=live }}
| GameZone = (Coll. Ed.) 7.7/10{{cite web |url=http://www.gamezone.com/reviews/dungeon_lords_collector_s_edition_pc_review |title=Dungeon Lords Collector's Edition - PC - Review |last=Eberle |first=Matt |publisher=GameZone |date=March 16, 2006 |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20080307192033/http://pc.gamezone.com/gzreviews/r28378.htm |archivedate=March 7, 2008 |url-status=live |accessdate=November 5, 2017}}
7.6/10{{cite web |url=http://www.gamezone.com/reviews/dungeon_lords_pc_review |title=Dungeon Lords - PC - Review |last=Eberle |first=Matt |publisher=GameZone |date=May 8, 2005 |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20080219005725/http://pc.gamezone.com/gzreviews/r21419.htm |archivedate=February 19, 2008 |url-status=live |accessdate=November 5, 2017}}
| PCGUS = 45%{{cite magazine |title=Dungeon Lords |magazine=PC Gamer |date=August 2005 |page=66}}
| PCZone = 56%{{cite web |url=http://www.computerandvideogames.com/121342/reviews/dungeon-lords-review/ |title=Dungeon Lords review |author=PC Zone staff |publisher=PC Zone |date=July 3, 2005 |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20141229012441/http://www.computerandvideogames.com/121342/reviews/dungeon-lords-review/ |archivedate=December 29, 2014 |url-status=dead |accessdate=November 5, 2017}}
| XPlay = {{Rating|3|5}}{{cite web |url=http://www.g4tv.com/xplay/features/51996/Dungeon_Lords.html |title=Dungeon Lords |last=Stevens |first=Tim |publisher=X-Play |date=June 17, 2005 |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20050711011315/http://www.g4tv.com/xplay/features/51996/Dungeon_Lords.html |archivedate=July 11, 2005 |url-status=dead |accessdate=November 5, 2017}}
}}
Many gamers experienced extensive problems while playing the original release of the game, including quest items disappearing from inventories, NPCs getting stuck, key quests failing, doors that do not work, etc.
The game received "generally unfavorable reviews" according to the review aggregation website Metacritic. Many reviews criticized the game's initial release as a rushed project, released before it was truly finished. Some have gone so far as to say the game is still in the beta development stage. Steve Carter of Game Over wrote, "Dungeon Lords marks a new low for how incomplete a game can be and still get released."{{cite web |url=http://www.game-over.net/reviews.php?id=1007 |title=Dungeon Lords |last=Carter |first=Steve |publisher=Game Over |date=June 16, 2005 |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20070927202835/http://www.game-over.net/reviews.php?id=1007 |archivedate=September 27, 2007 |url-status=dead |accessdate=November 4, 2017}} Dan Adams of IGN wrote, "Dungeon Lords is a disaster. It's an unfinished, unpolished, and un-fun game that I thankfully never have to play again." Greg Kasavin of GameSpot wrote that the game, though fun, is unbalanced and was missing key features at launch.
{{clear}}
Legacy
An Xbox version was planned, but was later cancelled.
Dungeon Lords: The Orb and the Oracle, the sequel to Dungeon Lords, was in development with expected release in Q4 2009. It has since been put on hold indefinitely due to market research results and game engine instability. Later the game was cancelled and replaced with Dungeon Lords MMXII.
References
{{reflist}}
External links
- {{MobyGames|-group/dungeon-lords-versions|Dungeon Lords versions}}
Category:Action role-playing video games
Category:Cooperative video games
Category:DreamCatcher Interactive games
Category:Multiplayer and single-player video games
Category:Role-playing video games