Firefly Studios has released a new developer diary introducing ‘The Rat’, one of the opposing AI commanders set to appear in upcoming title Stronghold Crusader 2.
He’s a returning foe, one of four main antagonists from the original Stronghold Crusader, released way back in 2001.
The Rat is something of a tutorial boss, a weaker opponent that will help you get used to the mechanics of the game before the harder AI enemies stomp you. Firefly say his return was requested by fans of the first game.
“There is always a certain element of nostalgia at play when making a sequel to such an old and beloved game, but that’s not our reason for bringing him back,” the team writes. ”The return of these classic characters is among our most frequently requested features for the game, making the addition of The Rat to the Crusader 2 roster a direct response to the community. We are making this game with your help, so please keep the suggestions coming!”
The team say that The Rat’s return makes sense from a design point of view.
”It also makes a lot of sense from a design perspective,” they explain. ”It’s no secret that The Rat was one of the weaker opponents in the original Stronghold. Putting him in Crusader 2, along with the game’s Tutorial Campaign, gives players something to practice with before they go online or take on the more difficult opponents. It has always been part of our mission statement to give the series a steady, approachable learning curve and hopefully these extra additions to the game get us a little closer to that goal.”
Stronghold Crusader 2 will be released on September 2 this year.
