Dungeons 4

It's not often you'll find yourself in a position of evil to triumph over the forces of good. Still, Dungeons 4 expands on a series that ensures darkness reigns. For years, the franchise has sat at the pinnacle of real-time strategies that allow players to inflict horrors on heroes, slowing down their progress to save the world in various wickedly satisfying ways. But what more could this fourth edition offer that hasn't been done already?

Dungeons 4, in its anticipation of evil overlords in the making, promises to expand on what's made the series so entertaining. New abilities, skills, assets, and magic are available. Nobody wants the heroes of this fantasy kingdom to succeed. Expanding on RTS games to player content remains the real challenge, so let's see if the developers are up for it.

Fourth Dungeon's the Charm

In the highly anticipated sequel, Dungeons 4, the malevolent mastermind known as the Absolute Evil and their devious ally, the Dark Elf Thalya, who may or may not be entirely trustworthy, make a thrilling comeback. This time, they're back on their quest to once again conquer the forces of good, following the epic events of their fabulous predecessor. This time, we're trying to stop some pesky dwarven-raiding parties from stealing our treasure.

Create a warm and inviting Dungeon environment tailored to your creatures' comfort while establishing your reign over them. Then, dispatch them into the Overworld, not to crush the good-hearted inhabitants but to gently remind them of the Absolute Evil's sovereignty. Ensure that your dungeon is fortified with cunning traps and fiercely defended by your loyal creatures, as the pesky denizens of the Overworld won't simply sit idly by while you transform their realm into the Absolute Evil's most delightful retreat.

So, what's new in Dungeons 4? The game expands on its standard mechanics, allowing players free-reign on how to build their ultimate dungeon. However, you'll find a more intricate skill tree available, along with delightfully evil assets to ensure those dwarves give and take nothing. Plenty of new biomes, engaging narrative-driven campaigns, and integrated co-op to be tyrants with your chosen partner exist.

Now, is Dungeons 4 good? The gameplay doesn't differ too much from previous entries, apart from the standard improvements one would expect from a sequel. It's bigger and more refined, and the visuals are significantly improved. However, there aren't too many new aspects that will excitingly change the game's dynamic. Perhaps franchise fans are happy with that, though. Why fix what's not effectively broken?

Deliciously Evil

Dungeons 4 is still entertaining, providing that evil immersion factor that few RTS titles manage to achieve. Players can spend hours crafting their perfect dungeon, ruling over their minions, and stopping any heroics from participating in their realm. However, as far as sequels go, it's standard, the same way Tropico tends to go with every release.

Round-Up - Pros & Cons

Pros:

• Gorgeous fantasy RTS visuals
• An enticing concept as an evil overlord
• Plenty of mechanics to keep players occupied

Cons:

• Nothing inherently new about gameplay
• Not much challenge after mechanics have been mastered