Stronghold Crusader 2 goes gold, gets new developer diary

Independent developer Firefly Studios has announced that its latest castle-simulator – Stronghold Crusader 2 – has officially gone gold. To celebrate, Firefly has released a new gameplay video in the form of another developer diary, this time focusing on a new enemy A.I. called ‘The Wolf’. The Wolf has been a key-opponent ever since the first entry in the Stronghold series, and in Crusader 2, he makes no exception.

“Stronghold is known for its tendency to test players’ mental dexterity and with the resurgence of these kinds of games it makes perfect sense to include The Wolf at launch, says Nick Tannahill, Marketing Manager at Firefly Studios. “We want his addition to the cast of AI characters to reinforce our message that Crusader 2 retains the series’ sense of challenge. When you are victorious against The Wolf, or any character for that matter, it should feel like an absolute triumph.”

The Wolf is characterised by his ability to reinforce his stronghold early-on, “turtling in” as he amasses an army of the game’s most heavily armoured units. “Rushing The Wolf is difficult, but the longer you leave him alone the more dangerous he becomes! To stand a chance you must employ effective counter troops, Crossbowmen to pierce his troops’ thick armour and Pitch Ditch to set his Swordsmen on fire. Units who are weak against armoured troops, such as the Whirling Dervish, should be avoided.” Furthermore, having the Wolf on your side might not be the best of ideas, as he’s generally more interested in attacking others than coming to your aid. “The Wolf is, of course, an AI opponent who taunts the player with lines like ‘I would rather tear down your castle with a spoon than offer you assistance’. As an AI Lord then he’s not the greatest ally, his aggressive attitude and unpredictable in-game mood making military assistance or trade unlikely.”

Stronghold Crusader 2 launches on September 23rd, exclusively on the PC.