I hate to create a 'would I like this' type of thread, but I'd like to hear some opinions since I can't decide based solely on youtube videos. Now, I realize that while on sale these games are super cheap, so it seems like a "Why not just buy them anyway?" type of issue - but, I literally have a backlog of games to play somewhere in the neighborhood of like, 200. Yeah, literally 200 games that I bought and have yet to play. So, I'm trying to stop impulse buying so many games just because they're on sale.

So, on to the question then... I'm not a big fan of real-time strategy anymore. Used to be. I have all of the good C&C games, Warcraft 1, 2, and 3, Starcraft 1 + Brood War, the entire Dawn of War collection, Supreme Commander 1 and 2, Company of Heroes, and the list just goes on and on. The trouble is, as I've gotten older, I've found that I no longer enjoy muscle spasming my way to victory with RTS games like I used to. I've come to really enjoy the 'just one more turn' style that goes along with games like Alpha Centauri and Civilization much more than I ever did. I just like to consider strategy games as a relaxing game-type for me now, and I save the speed and reflex style of play for action games.

From what I can tell, Dungeon Keeper is not a typical RTS. So, would someone who's really just no longer interested in standard RTS titles still enjoy these games, or are they still pretty dependent on speedy gameplay (constantly moving around the map and such) just like any other RTS?

Appreciate the help, and thanks in advance!

One of the best things about the Dungeon Keeper games is the humor, so even if you're just playing for a quick laugh it's well worth it!

If you're really unsure, though, I think both DK 1 and 2 have demos.
I found the following links when I googled "Dungeon Keeper demo". I haven't tried either of these downloads myself, but they're from CNet and FilePlanet so they should be safe.

DK: http://download.cnet.com/Dungeon-Keeper-demo/3000-2119_4-10011780.html
DK2: http://www.fileplanet.com/29730/download/Dungeon-Keeper-2-Demo

Appreciate the response. I'll give those demos a shot and see how it goes. Thanks!

I should add that you might have a look at Ground Control 1. It's an RTS alright, but without any base building crap that is a trademark of typical RTS games. Also, this game has aged very beautifully, just like Dungeon Keeper 2.

Regarding DK2, this is a very unique type of game. It is slow-paced most of the time, but you have 2 or 3 very mean missions that are time-constrained, so you kind of have to rush them. But they are really a minority among the 20 (?) missions.

Dungeon Keeper 1 is mostly played for laughs, I play FPS games most of the time (only played some Warcraft II and Starcraft campaign back then) and really enjoyed DK1, at least for the first 2/3 of the game.

You don't really have to know build orders or things like that, at least until the 8th "mission", you just have fun building up your base as you wish, train and throw your monsters at your enemies, and watch the mayhem unfold.

After a while, the missions will become harder to complete, you'll need to keep up with the pace of the game (but not as much as the hardcore RTS games), to set up traps and get enough troops on time. This is where I let a friend of mine (who's into RTS) play these missions - but even being the assistant is still funny: the game is simply hilarious (the secret bonus missions... :D).

I would say DK1 is really worth it (when it's on sales, if you're still unsure) - if you missed the EA sales you can still wait for the christmas ones.

...

Now, regarding DK2, it's a little bit different. It's far less "raw" than DK1, it's less chaotic and more complex, and also slower paced.

In DK1, the combat is made of explosions, cries, balls of fire, smoke and gas clouds, blood, etc - while in DK2, it's a more traditional way of unfolding a combat: there is less chaos.

A lot of people enjoyed DK2, especially those who didn't played DK1 before, but there's also quite a few people (me included) who didn't felt the "magic" of DK1 when playing DK2 - it is more strategic than chaotic, more subtle than action-packed, and the humour slightly shifted to a less darker tone, it feels less gritty.

This is why I wouldn't recommend DK2 as much as I recommend DK1. But if you like the demo, then get it during christmas sales.

ps: 200 games... only ? ;) I know that feel, I probably have 250-300 of them when I combine retail+Steam+GoG.

=> Make a spreadsheet to handle your backlog. Columns to have:
Game name
Completion (%)
Owned (no - retail - Steam - Gog - Yarr - ...)
Installed (yes - no)
Patched (Steam - ready (patches installers already downloaded) - ? (patches missing) )
Saves ( none - lost - yes )
Comments (like necessary mods, wrappers or specific settings => to simply launch the game or get HD textures or fix the gameplay)

Good luck sir !

Dungeon keeper is realtime but it's nothing like a rts of c&c sorts. It's more like a "dungeon tycoon" :).
And it's very entertaining and funny so you should definitely try it at least.