Gameplay tweaks and additions in this Update

Discover all the new creatures, traps, maps, and crucial gameplay fixes in the latest Dungeon Keeper 2 update. Get the lowdown on balance changes and AI improvements!

Alright, let's dive into what's new and improved in this Dungeon Keeper 2 update. It's not just bug fixes; they've added some pretty cool stuff that can really change how you play, especially if you're into multiplayer or just want a tougher challenge.

First off, there are some awesome new additions. You've got a brand new creature, The Maiden, which sounds intriguing. Plus, a new trap called Jack-In-The-Box has been added – I bet that'll surprise a few heroes! For map lovers, there are three new multiplayer/skirmish maps: 'Frosty's Realm' (2 player), 'Frosty's Lair' (3 player), and 'Frosty's Castle' (4 player). These maps also introduce 'Mercenary Portals', which is a big deal because it means you can actually get hero creatures to join your dungeon on those specific maps. That's a game-changer for strategy!

On the technical side, they've added 'EMBM' Bump Mapping for certain graphics cards (like the G400), which makes the Lava and Water look way better. If you're running a newer system, good news: there's now Windows 2000 support. They also included 'My Pet Dungeon 7', though what that entails exactly isn't detailed here, it's part of the update package.

Now for the balance and AI tweaks, which are super important:

• Elite Creatures are tougher: This is a big one. If you found the elite creatures a bit of a pushover before, they've been beefed up significantly. Expect a harder fight when they show up.
• AI improvements: Some skirmish maps have seen their AI tweaked. This means your Keeper might act smarter, making skirmishes more challenging and dynamic.
• Imps are better: Imps now perform better on skirmish maps, and they'll actually disappear when their Mana hits zero, which is a nice visual and functional improvement.

And here are some of the key bug fixes:

• Saving/Loading fix: Elite creatures won't revert to their normal selves after you save and load a game anymore. Phew!
• ESC key fix: You won't get stuck if you press ESC in first-person view. That was a nasty bug.
• Wizards and Temples: Wizards should no longer fall into the Temple, which is good for their AI pathing.
• Shrinking Princes: The annoying issue with Shrinking Princes on Level 19 has been fixed.
• Combat Pit hunger: Creatures in the combat pit now get hungry, adding a bit more realism and management to that area.
• Multiplayer ratings: 'Sniveller' isn't the only rating in multiplayer anymore, which should make scoring more varied.
• Savenames with spaces: You can now use spaces in your save file names when saving at the end of a level. Small, but very convenient!
• Horny cancellation: You can now 'slap' Horny to cancel him once he's been cast. Useful if you change your mind mid-spell!

Overall, this update adds some great new content and smooths out a lot of the rough edges. The tougher elites and improved AI should make for a more engaging experience, especially in multiplayer.