Ratty counts down his favorite games

Finally, the day has come. Your wishes are granted. Your prayers answered. Your desires fulfilled. After striking an unexpectedly successful blow against Kharn's favorite games list (a.k.a. the only favorite games list that could potentially rival mine), I have decided to press my advantage and treat you all to that which you have yearned for since 2006. Ladies and gentlemen, prepare to have your faces rocked, for the long-awaited new entry in Ratty's favorite games list is here at last!

11. Dungeon Keeper - Bullfrog Productions / Electronic Arts (1997)

Another one has entered my domain. Another pissant lordling treads the putrid halls of my Dungeon, gripping a greatsword the size of a lamp post, strutting in his shiny armor like an oversized peacock. His pompous demeanor belies his fear of this place, fear of me. But he still does not fear enough.

I know his kind. High-born heroes, paragons of justice, deflowerers of virgins. Self-righteous pricks. I am now witnessing the extent of his ability, the one thing he excels at - strutting in plate and wielding a pointed lump of metal. Not much of a skillset there, prospective employee - I'm not sure if we have a place for you in our company.

The lordling approaches a populated section of the Dungeon. My Imps scatter in his wake, the cowardly little wretches. Someone in his entourage clumsily triggers a Lightning Trap and gives everyone a shock, literally. Welcome to our corporate HQ, prospective employees. Sure, the view isn't much and we won't win any workplace safety awards, but once you meet the people, you will never want to go away.



Name: Imp
Position: Janitor


The lordling bursts into the first room - the lobby, if you please - and meets the people. Just a couple of Troll interns, nothing a warrior of his caliber can't handle. Your interviewer will be here in a minute, candidate, but meet some of our company veterans in the meantime. Enter Bile Demon, grumpy as always - but you would be grumpy too if you had languished in a mid-level managerial position for most of your career. Are those beads of sweat on your forehead, candidate? That's okay, anxiety is normal before an important interview.



Name: Bile Demon
Position: Director of Accounting




Name: Warlock
Position: Director of Market Research


Suddenly, a Shadow falls upon the lobby and temperature falls slightly below the Dungeon optimum (10 degrees, 98% humidity). Shivers travel up the lordling's spine. Before him steps an enormous figure - a red-skinned demon with grinning mouth full of razor-sharp teeth and two huge horns protruding out of his head. It is Him. The Horned Reaper, the greatest of my minions. Meet your interviewer, dear candidate. And boy are you in luck, for it is none other than our HR director himself.

The Reaper grips an enormous scythe in his claws. He raises it and brings it down, slicing the lordling's head clean off. And in those final microseconds of his existence, as the scythe's blade swiftly approaches his tender neck, the lordling truly knows fear.



Name: Horned Reaper
Position: Director of Human Resources


The thump of the disembodied head as it hits the ground is drowned in screams. As my minions make short work of the poor wretches in the lordling's entourage, indolent trolls start kicking the rolling head around the lobby. No team-building exercise is complete without football. As the fighting subsides, Imps arrive and drag the lordling's corpse off into my Graveyard to be resurrected as a mighty Vampire. Welcome to Dungeon Inc., new employee. You may have been a dumb jock for most of your life, but we will unlock your full potential. It is but one of many things we excel at.



Name: Vampire
Position: Director of Legal Department




Name: Dark Mistress
Position: Secretary to the CEO


Author's note: You may be wondering by now what that silly story is all about. Simply put, I felt that Dungeon Keeper, being one of the most innovative and entertaining strategy games of all, couldn't be adequately summarized in a dry feature write-up. However, if my clumsy efforts at prose aren't enough to convince you that there is truly something special about this game, then pay attention: Dungeon Keeper is the key to understanding why Peter Molyneux was once regarded as the greatest living game designer. Much like in his earlier classics Populous, Powermonger and Theme Park, in Dungeon Keeper innovative concept, addictive gameplay and quality British humor come together and combine into an outstanding and impeccable game experience. If there is such a thing as the perfect game, Dungeon Keeper must be it. And no matter what bumper sticker wisdom says, it is good to be evil.