It may have been a while since your last experience inside the inner bowels of the planet as you (the bad guys) sought to take out the good guys. All the while you're collecting gold, building rooms to appease your minions, and smacking them around when they get out of line. Well, those same joys are back again as Electronic Arts and Bullfrog Productions announced that Dungeon Keeper 2 has begun shipping to retailers.

　　In the new title, you take on King Reginald's men as you try to reach the sunlit world of Harmonia. At the same time, you're not the only keeper to soak in the mud. Other keepers will also challenge you on your quest to take over the upper-crust world. You're goal is to make sure neither one of your foes holds you back.

　　As you progress upward through several dungeons, your most powerful beast, the Horned Reaper, seeks out 20 portal gems, which give him various magic spells to use against your enemies. All 20 gems must be acquired to open a final gate to the surface world, where you'll fight the ultimate battle of good and evil.

　　"The combat system in Dungeon Keeper 2 has changed dramatically from its predecessor," says executive producer Colin Robinson. "Rather than dropping your whole army onto one spot and hoping for the best, each creature now needs its own space and will be temporarily stunned once dropped. This makes every combat situation less cluttered. Dungeon Keeper 2 also takes the Dungeon Keeper series to a completely new 3D environment. All the creatures are polygonal objects which lets us create far more varied and detailed animations and makes most of the cool lighting effects such as torches on the walls."

　　The game packs in loads of features including an improved first-person mode, multiplayer support, the option to play single skirmishes, and more. Dungeon Keeper 2 sells for about US$39.95 and carries an "M" (mature) rating.