Dune II: Battle for Arrakis
From Sega Retro
Dune II: Battle for Arrakis | |||||||||||||||||||||||||
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System(s): Sega Mega Drive | |||||||||||||||||||||||||
Publisher: Virgin Interactive | |||||||||||||||||||||||||
Developer: Westwood Studios | |||||||||||||||||||||||||
Sound driver: GEMS | |||||||||||||||||||||||||
Genre: Simulation | |||||||||||||||||||||||||
Number of players: 1 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||
Official in-game languages: | |||||||||||||||||||||||||
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Dune II: Battle for Arrakis, known as Dune: The Battle for Arrakis in the US, is a strategy game developed by Westwood Studios and published by Virgin Interactive for the Sega Mega Drive. The game was also translated to German as Dune II: Kampf um den Wüstenplaneten. It was one of the first, if not first, Sega Mega Drive game to feature fully localized, spoken German language audio.
Battle for Arrakis is a complete overhaul of Dune II: The Building of a Dynasty, a DOS/Amiga game released a year earlier. The Mega Drive version features streamlined controls, gameplay tweaks, new levels and an entirely new set of graphics. Dune II is considered a milestone in the real-time strategy genre, though was bettered by Command & Conquer a few years down the line.
Three houses are available for play, each having it's own set of missions and (later on) special equipment/weaponry.
Contents
- 1 Story
- 2 Units
- 2.1 Mobile Contruction Vehicle (MCV)
- 2.2 Harvester
- 2.3 Light Infantry
- 2.4 Heavy Infantry
- 2.5 Trike
- 2.6 Raider Trike
- 2.7 Quad
- 2.8 Combat Tank
- 2.9 Siege Tank
- 2.10 Rocket Launcher
- 2.11 Carryall
- 2.12 Ornitophter
- 2.13 Sonic Tank
- 2.14 Deviator
- 2.15 Devastator
- 2.16 Fremen
- 2.17 Saboteur
- 2.18 Death Hand
- 2.19 Sand Worm
- 3 Magazine articles
- 4 Promotional material
- 5 Physical scans
- 6 Technical information
- 7 References
Story
Story of Dune II is slightly different than the official canon of the Dune universe. None of the characters from the book is mentioned and a new house called "Ordos", created by the Westwood Studios is avaiable for play.
Emperor of Galaxy, declares an open challenge to all powerful houses in the galaxy and announces that the victorious house will take control of the Arrakis, also known as "Dune", only planet in the universe that a powerful life-prolonging substance called "Spice" can be mined. He states that there will be no rules of the engagement.
House Atreides
Hailing from the beautiful planet of the Caladan, people of House Atreides are known for their hardworking, peace loving and dedicated nature. House Atreides believe an alliance with the local inhabitants of Dune, Fremen is the only way to establish rule over the Dune. Noble House of Atreides is known for its tendecy to negotiate with their opponents first, a tactic that will most likely fail in Dune.
In game, House Atreides focuses on technological superiority. While they cannot produce Heavy Troopers, they will be able to deploy Ornithophers, giving them some amount of air power. Their special weapon is Sonic tank and their ultimate special weapons are Fremen.
House Ordos
A house created solely for this game, House Ordos is actually not really a noble house at all. It is a loosely allied group of merchants whose armies consist of mercenaries. They do not produce any weapons, instead purchase what they need and send them into combat. This insidious house believes that profits are everything and will stop at nothing until the profitable Spice mining business is completely under their control.
House Ordos cannot produce Quads, Trikes and Rocket Launchers. Their special unit is Deviator and their ultimate weapon is Saboteur. They can also produce Ornithopters but they develop them much later compared to the Atreides.
House Harkonnen
Most vile and violent house in the universe, House Harkonnen belives power is everything. Their desire to take control of the Dune and take revenge from their hated enemy, House Atreides, drives them forward in their conquest of Dune. In House Harkonnen, power is never given; it is taken. If a soldier kills his commander and takes command, he is respected and feared by all.
House Harkonnen specializes in heavy weaponary. They do not produce Trikes and light infantry. Their special weapon is Devastator and their ultimate weapon is Death hand missile.
Units
Mobile Contruction Vehicle (MCV)
A staple of the Westwood's strategy series, MCV is your most important unit. MCV can be transformed to Construction Yard by clicking on top of it, allowing you to produce other buildings. Not armed at all, MCV must be protected at all times.
Harvester
Given free with every spice refinery or produced from Heavy Weapons Factory, Harvester will collect spice and transfer them to the refinery for credits. Slow and unarmed.
Light Infantry
These lightly armed and armored troops have little effect in the battlefield as they can be easily destroyed with either heavy weapons or simply running over them with a heavy vehicle. They are however, can be used for capturing enemy building. Simply move troops toward the structure when buildings' health is red. Soldiers will be lost during the attempt.
Heavy Infantry
While slower, these power armor wearing troops carry gatling guns and rocket launchers. They are slightly more useful in combat and they can capture buildings as well. Cannot be produced by Atreides.
Trike
A three-wheeled recon vehicle. Light armor and firepower means that it will be useful for reconnaissance but little else.
Raider Trike
Produced only by Ordos, Raider Trike is the fastest ground vehicle on Dune. It is even less useful in combat however.
Quad
A four-wheeled vehicle for both combat and recon, Quad will be a potent force until tanks enter the battlefield.
Combat Tank
A fast and well armed tank for both attack and defence.
Siege Tank
A powerful yet slow tank with heavy armor and firepower.
Rocket Launcher
A long range launcher with large rockets. Very useful for reducing enemy building to rubble but cannot engage enemies in short range. Slow speed and low armor means it will need escorts. Very slow firing rate.
Carryall
A utility aircraft, Carryall can automatically transport and bring back harvesters. They can also take damaged units to repair facility. (but they will not bring them back) Can be brought down with rocket turrets. Autonomous and cannot be directly controlled.
Ornitophter
An aircraft that flies with wing flapping motion. Armed with guided missiles, it can engage enemy units from the air but attack frequency is low. Autonomous and cannot be directly controlled.
Sonic Tank
Possibly based on "Weirding Module" technology from the David Lynch's film adaptation, Sonic tanks fire ultrasonic sound waves that are lethal to soldiers and buildings. They are moderately effective against vehicles. Very long range.
Deviator
A specialized Rocket Launcher, warheads of the Deviator's missiles are filled with a brainwashing gas that will temporarily turn enemy units into Ordos control. Effect does not last too long however.
Devastator
Most powerful ground vehicle in the game, Devastator is a heavily armed and armored tank powered by an unstable nuclear reactor. It has no turret however and must turn towards the enemy, limiting its initative. Devastator can be ordered to self-destruct and cause damage to nearby enemies.
Fremen
Native inhabitants of the Dune, Fremen can be called from the Atreides Palace. While cannot be controlled, these heavily armed troopers can wreak havoc among the enemy. Turrets cannot target them.
Saboteur
A unit with questionable usefulness, Saboteur can destroy an enemy building if it can reach it. While cannot be seen in the battlefield, it can be seen in the map and all units seems to target him.
Death Hand
A product of Harkonnen's illegal atmoic weapon stockpile, Death Hand is a powerful yet inaccurate cruise missile. It is recommendended to fire it to the middle of the enemy base for maximum chance of hit.
Sand Worm
An uncontrollable unit for all sides, Sand Worm will attack any unit that remains on the sand. If its health reduced to half, it will disappear momentarily. Atreides units, probably because of their alliance with Fremen, do not automatically attack them so manual targeting will be necessary.
Magazine articles
- Main article: Dune II: Battle for Arrakis/Magazine articles.
Promotional material
Physical scans
88 | |
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Based on 41 reviews |
Technical information
ROM dump status
System | Hash | Size | Build Date | Source | Comments | |||||||||
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✔ |
|
1MB | 1994-04 | Cartridge (US) | ||||||||||
✔ |
|
1MB | 1994-01 | Cartridge (EU) | ||||||||||
✔ |
|
1MB | 1994-04 | Cartridge (DE) |
References
- ↑ GamePro, "January 1994" (US; 199x-xx-xx), page 224
- ↑ Mega, "June 1994" (UK; 1994-05-19), page 81
- ↑ 3.0 3.1 Mean Machines Sega, "January 1994" (UK; 1993-11-30), page 128
- ↑ EGM², "July 1994" (US; 1994-07-19), page 61
- ↑ EGM², "August 1994" (US; 1994-0x-xx), page 53
- ↑ Electronic Gaming Monthly, "September 1994" (US; 1994-xx-xx), page 79
- ↑ 7.0 7.1 Computer & Video Games, "January 1994" (UK; 1993-12-15), page 84
- ↑ GamePro, "December 1993" (US; 1993-xx-xx), page 82 (83)
- ↑ Joypad, "Mai 1994" (FR; 1994-0x-xx), page 128/129 (128)
- ↑ Mega, "January 1994" (UK; 1993-12-16), page 52/53 (52)
- ↑ Mean Machines Sega, "January 1994" (UK; 1993-11-30), page 128-130 (128)
- ↑ Player One, "Mai 1994" (FR; 1994-0x-xx), page 78-80 (78)
- ↑ Sega Magazine, "January 1994" (UK; 1993-12-10), page 120/121 (120)
- ↑ 1700 igr dlya Sega, "" (RU; 2001-xx-xx), page 64
- ↑ Aktueller Software Markt, "Januar 1995" (DE; 1994-12-05), page 30
- ↑ Console Mania, "Gennaio 1994" (IT; 199x-xx-xx), page 52
- ↑ Consoles +, "Mai 1994" (FR; 1994-0x-xx), page 106
- ↑ Cool Gamer, "9" (RU; 2002-10-13), page 69
- ↑ Digitiser (UK) (1994-06-07)
- ↑ Electronic Gaming Monthly, "January 1994" (US; 199x-xx-xx), page 44
- ↑ Entsiklopediya luchshikh igr Sega. Vypusk 1, "" (RU; 1999-xx-xx), page 94
- ↑ Game Players, "Vol. 7 No. 3 March 1994" (US; 1994-0x-xx), page 52
- ↑ GamePro, "December 1993" (US; 1993-xx-xx), page 83
- ↑ Gamers, "Mai/Juni 1994" (DE; 1994-05-06), page 22
- ↑ GamesMaster (UK) "Series 3, episode 8" (1993-10-28, 24:00) (+7:53)
- ↑ Games World: The Magazine, "July 1994" (UK; 1994-05-26), page 16
- ↑ Game Informer, "May/June 1994" (US; 1994-0x-xx), page 10
- ↑ Hyper, "March 1994" (AU; 1994-xx-xx), page 47
- ↑ Joypad, "Mai 1994" (FR; 1994-0x-xx), page 128
- ↑ Joypad, "3/1994" (HU; 1994-xx-xx), page 16
- ↑ MAN!AC, "04/94" (DE; 1994-03-09), page 48
- ↑ Mega, "January 1994" (UK; 1993-12-16), page 52
- ↑ Mega Action, "January 1994" (UK; 1993-12-30), page 16
- ↑ Mega Force, "Mai 1994" (FR; 1994-0x-xx), page 62
- ↑ Mega Fun, "05/94" (DE; 1994-04-20), page 100
- ↑ Mega Machines, "January 1994" (UK; 1993-12-09), page 72
- ↑ Mega Play, "February 1994" (US; 199x-xx-xx), page 46
- ↑ MegaTech, "January 1994" (UK; 1993-12-21), page 68
- ↑ Player One, "Mai 1994" (FR; 1994-0x-xx), page 78
- ↑ Play Time, "6/94" (DE; 1994-05-04), page 128
- ↑ Power Up!, "Saturday, June 11, 1994" (UK; 1994-06-11), page 1
- ↑ Power Unlimited, "Jaargang 2, Nummer 5, Mei 1994" (NL; 1994-04-27), page 32
- ↑ Sega Magazine, "January 1994" (UK; 1993-12-10), page 120
- ↑ Sega Power, "January 1994" (UK; 1993-12-02), page 56
- ↑ Sega Pro, "February 1994" (UK; 1993-12-30), page 32
- ↑ Sega Zone, "January 1994" (UK; 1993-12-23), page 62
- ↑ Sega Mega Drive Review, "1" (RU; 1995-04-03), page 46
- ↑ Sonic the Comic, "June 24th 1994" (UK; 1994-06-11), page 10
- ↑ Todo Sega, "Febrero 1994" (ES; 1994-0x-xx), page 38
- ↑ Tricks 16 bit, "Tricks Sega Gold 800 igr" (RU; 1998-03-20), page 12
- ↑ Video Games, "3/94" (DE; 1994-02-23), page 88
- ↑ Video Games, "6/94" (DE; 1994-05-25), page 97
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