Egypt II: The Heliopolis Prophecy

{{Infobox VG

| title = Egypt II: The Heliopolis Prophecy

| image = Egypt 2- The Heliopolis Prophecy.jpg

| developer = Cryo Interactive

| publisher = {{vgrelease|EU|Cryo Interactive|NA|DreamCatcher Interactive}}

| director = Yann Masson
Franck Letiec
Grégory Joseph
Yann Troadec

| producer = Jean-Martial Lefranc
Philippe Ulrich

| programmer = Grégory Joseph

| artist = Franck Letiec

| writer = Yann Masson

| composer = Farid Russlan

| released = {{vgrelease|EU|September 27, 2000|NA|2000|EU|May 2001 (PS1)|WW|April 2012 (Mac)}}

| genre = Adventure

| modes = Single-player

| platforms = Windows
PlayStation
Mac OS X

}}

Egypt 2: The Heliopolis Prophecy ({{langx|fr|Égypte II: La Prophétie d'Héliopolis}}) is an adventure video game developed and published by Cryo Interactive for the PC and PlayStation in 2000. It was released for Mac OS X in May 2012.[http://www.macgamestore.com/product/2334/Egypt-The-Heliopolis-Prophecy/ Egypt The Heliopolis Prophecy] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120527062539/http://www.macgamestore.com/product/2334/Egypt-The-Heliopolis-Prophecy/ |date=2012-05-27}} release information at MacGameStore Egypt 2 follows Egypt 1156 B.C. and is followed by Egypt III.

Gameplay

Plot

The game is set in 1360 BC, and Heliopolis, the City of the Sun, has been struck by a plague. The player's father has also been infected. From a first-person perspective, the player must find a cure and save the father and the rest of Heliopolis.

Development

Reception

{{Video game reviews

| rev1 = Jeuxvideo.com

| rev1Score = 14/20{{cite web | archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20041212104951/http://www.jeuxvideo.com/articles/0000/00000868_test.htm | url=http://www.jeuxvideo.com:80/articles/0000/00000868_test.htm | title=Tests; Egypte 2: La Prophétie d'Héliopolis | author=Pilou | work=Jeuxvideo.com | archivedate=December 12, 2004 | url-status=dead | access-date=September 16, 2017}}

}}

According to Cryo Interactive's marketing manager Mattieu Saint-Dennis, Egypt 2 sold 180,000 units in Europe alone by December 2000. Of this number, France accounted for 50,000 copies.{{cite thesis | author=Silva, Beatriz Vieira da | title=Culturtainment - a New Interactive Entertainment Genre | archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20180717205958/https://run.unl.pt/bitstream/10362/2071/1/Silva_2001.pdf | url=https://run.unl.pt/bitstream/10362/2071/1/Silva_2001.pdf | date=October 2001 | section=Interviews | type=MSc | publisher=Faculty of Social and Human Sciences | archivedate=July 17, 2018 | pages=A 20–A 27 | url-status=live}} The game and its predecessor, Egypt 1156 B.C., achieved combined global sales above 700,000 units by February 2004.{{cite web | archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20150523042155/http://www.gameswelt.de/egypt-3-das-schicksal-des-ramses/news/the-adventure-company-bringt-es,75507 | url=http://www.gameswelt.de/egypt-3-das-schicksal-des-ramses/news/the-adventure-company-bringt-es,75507 | title=Egypt 3 - Erscheint im April | date=February 24, 2004 | author=Walden, Fabian | archivedate=May 23, 2015 | work=Gameswelt | url-status=live}}

Sequel

Following the 2002 bankruptcy and liquidation of Cryo Interactive,{{cite web | archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20030216132907/http://www.gamesindustry.biz/content_page.php?section_name=pub&aid=407 | url=http://www.gamesindustry.biz/content_page.php?section_name=pub&aid=407 | title=Update: Cryo Living on Borrowed Time | date=July 23, 2002 | author=Fahey, Rob | work=GamesIndustry.biz | archivedate=February 16, 2003 | url-status=dead}}{{cite web | archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20190705212217/https://www.clubic.com/actualite-45222-.html | url=https://www.clubic.com/actualite-45222-.html | title=L'éditeur de jeux Cryo en liquidation judiciaire | author=Bouteiller, Jérôme | date=October 3, 2002 | language=French | work=Clubic | archivedate=July 5, 2019 | url-status=live}} many of its key assets were purchased by DreamCatcher Interactive to form that company's new European branch. Two development teams, including that of the Egypt series, were among these acquisitions.{{cite web | archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20051023082955/http://www.adventuregamers.com/article/id,223 | url=http://www.adventuregamers.com:80/article/id,223 | title=The Adventure Company Europe | author=Bronstring, Marek | date=March 7, 2003 | archivedate=October 23, 2005 | work=Adventure Gamers | url-status=dead | access-date=August 4, 2019}} DreamCatcher Europe was established in Paris in January 2003,{{cite press release | archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20030814205415/http://www.dcegames.com/DCE/down/30%20janvier%202003/DreamCatcherCorporate_1_ENG.pdf | url=http://www.dcegames.com/DCE/down/30%20janvier%202003/DreamCatcherCorporate_1_ENG.pdf | title=DreamCatcher Interactive Enters European Market | location=Toronto | date=January 30, 2002 | publisher=DreamCatcher Interactive | archivedate=August 14, 2003 | url-status=dead}} and the publisher subsequently announced a sequel to Egypt II in April, under the names The Egyptian Prophecy (North America) and Egypt III: The Fate of Ramses (Europe).{{cite web | archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20040716203818/http://www.gamespot.com/pc/adventure/egyptianprophecy/news_6026018.html | url=http://www.gamespot.com/pc/adventure/egyptianprophecy/news_6026018.html | title=Egyptian Prophecy announced | author=Calvert, Justin | date=April 30, 2003 | work=GameSpot | archivedate=July 16, 2004 | url-status=dead}} It was one of several announcements by the company in preparation for the 2003 Electronic Entertainment Expo (E3).{{cite web | archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20041012161138/http://www.gamespot.com/pc/news/news_6026014.html | url=http://www.gamespot.com/pc/news/news_6026014.html | title=The Adventure Company E3 lineup | author=Calvert, Justin | date=April 30, 2003 | work=GameSpot | archivedate=October 12, 2004 | url-status=dead}} Like the publisher's concurrent project Atlantis Evolution, Egypt III was developed internally by DreamCatcher Europe.{{cite press release | archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20060325170304/http://adventurecompanygames.com/tac/press/releases/e3_2003.html | url=http://adventurecompanygames.com/tac/press/releases/e3_2003.html | title=The Adventure Company to Showcase Exciting Line-up at the Electronic Entertainment Expo | location=Toronto | date=May 2003 | publisher=The Adventure Company | archivedate=March 25, 2006 | url-status=dead}}{{cite web | archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20041129185346/http://pc.ign.com/articles/400/400272p1.html | url=http://pc.ign.com/articles/400/400272p1.html | title=Many New Adventures | date=April 30, 2003 | author=Sulic, Ivan | work=IGN | archivedate=November 29, 2004 | url-status=dead}}

In the summer of 2003, DreamCatcher Europe shuttered the game development divisions it had carried over from Cryo.{{cite web | archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20150402035247/http://adventureadvocate.gr/interviews/eng-interviews/item/benoit-hozjan-for-kheops-studio | url=http://adventureadvocate.gr/interviews/eng-interviews/item/benoit-hozjan-for-kheops-studio | title=Benoit Hozjan for Kheops Studio | date=August 9, 2005 | author=Fallen Angel | work=Adventure Advocate | archivedate=April 2, 2015 | url-status=dead}} As a result, Egypt III "seemed destined for cancellation", Adventure Gamers' Johann Walter later noted. A group of those laid off proceeded to found the developer Kheops Studio, led by Benoît Hozjan.{{cite web | archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20190215035522/https://adventuregamers.com/articles/view/17997 | url=https://adventuregamers.com/articles/view/17997 | title=Kheops Studio - Benoît Hozjan | author=Walter, Johann | date=November 14, 2006 | work=Adventure Gamers | archivedate=February 15, 2019 | url-status=live}} The new company opened in September.{{cite web | archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20071002100029/http://www.afjv.com/studios/kheops.htm | url=http://www.afjv.com/studios/kheops.htm | title=[afjv] Kheops Studio | date=June 12, 2007 | publisher=Agence française pour le jeu vidéo | language=French | archivedate=October 2, 2007 | url-status=dead}} Since most of the team had already been involved in Egypt III before its development was interrupted, Kheops sought and received a contract from DreamCatcher to complete the game independently.{{cite web | archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20071206031455/http://www.jeuxvideopc.com/articles/900-kheops-studio-interview-benoit-hozjan-co-fondateur-directeur/ | url=http://www.jeuxvideopc.com/articles/900-kheops-studio-interview-benoit-hozjan-co-fondateur-directeur/ | title=[Kheops Studio] Interview de Benoît Hozjan, co-fondateur et directeur | author=Hoopy | date=August 24, 2006 | work=JeuxVideoPC | language=French | archivedate=December 6, 2007 | url-status=dead}} Jeux Video reported in January 2004 that Egypt III had "quietly resumed development" and was nearing completion.{{cite web | archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20040803142807/http://www.jeuxvideo.com/news/2004/00008014.htm | url=http://www.jeuxvideo.com/news/2004/00008014.htm | title=Egypte 3 fait dans le surnaturel | author=Staff | date=January 23, 2004 | language=French | work=Jeux Video | archivedate=August 3, 2004 | url-status=dead}} The game was released in North America on March 29, 2004.{{cite web | archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20040804062851/http://www.gamespot.com/pc/adventure/egyptianprophecy/news_6092440.html | url=http://www.gamespot.com/pc/adventure/egyptianprophecy/news_6092440.html | title=The Egyptian Prophecy ships | author=Calvert, Justin | date=March 29, 2004 | work=GameSpot | archivedate=August 4, 2004 | url-status=dead}}

As Cryo had done for Egypt II,{{cite web | archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20021117064711/http://egypte2.cryogame.com/uk/uk_presse_interview.html#story4 | url=http://egypte2.cryogame.com/uk/uk_presse_interview.html#story4 | title=Interviews | publisher=Cryo Interactive | archivedate=November 17, 2002 | url-status=dead}} Kheops worked with archeologist Jean-Claude Golvin to increase historical accuracy.{{cite web | archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20040803182326/http://www.pcpointer.de/egypt3_englisch_interview.php | url=http://www.pcpointer.de/egypt3_englisch_interview.php | title=Interview Egypt III: The Egyptian Prophecy - The Fate of Ramses | author=Staff | date=March 23, 2004 | work=PC Pointer | archivedate=August 3, 2004 | url-status=dead}} Egypt III was targeted primarily at casual gamers.{{cite magazine | archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20061115201628/http://www.justadventure.com/TheInventory/TheInventory.shtm | url=http://www.justadventure.com:80/TheInventory/TheInventory.shtm | title=Previews; Egypt III: The Fate of Ramses | magazine=The Inventory | date=March 2004 | archivedate=November 15, 2006 | author=Manos, Dimitris | issue=13 | publisher=Just Adventure | pages=2, 3 | url-status=dead | access-date=August 4, 2019}}

References

External links

{{official|https://web.archive.org/web/20010721145431/http://egypte2.cryogame.com/}} (archived)
[https://web.archive.org/web/20081218232951/http://www.microids.com/en/catalogue/65/egypt-2-the-heliopolis-prophecy-.html Egypt 2: The Heliopolis Prophecy at Microïds] (archived)
[http://www.mobygames.com/game/egypt-ii-the-heliopolis-prophecy ''Egypt II: The Heliopolis Prophecy'] at MobyGames
[https://web.archive.org/web/20160423120650/http://ggmania.com/full.php3?show=3789 GameGuru]
[https://web.archive.org/web/20160330112814/http://www.gameboomers.com/reviews/Ee/Egypt2byjenny100.htm GameBoomers]
[https://web.archive.org/web/20160408060309/http://www.jeuxvideo.com/articles/0000/00000868_test.htm Jeuxvideo]
[https://web.archive.org/web/20160408014516/http://www.adventureclassicgaming.com/index.php/site/reviews/467/ Adventure Classic Gaming]
[https://web.archive.org/web/20160404145857/http://adventure-archiv.com/e/egypt2reviewengl.htm Adventure Archiv]
[https://web.archive.org/web/20080507034821/http://www.quandaryland.com/jsp/dispArticle.jsp?index=379 Quandary]
[https://web.archive.org/web/20040604033021/http://www.justadventure.com/reviews/Egypt_II/Egypt_II.shtm Just Adventure]
[https://web.archive.org/web/20150820000933/http://www.gamekult.com/jeux/test-egypte-ii-SU3010000075t.html GameKult]
[https://web.archive.org/web/20161118221023/http://brasslantern.org/reviews/graphic/egypt2peterson.html Brass Lantern]
[https://web.archive.org/web/20020213104306/http://www.persisteus-homepage.de/games/egypt2/index.html Persisteus]