Zen Studios announced that their 2D physics-based castle siege game from 2013 is getting a sequel.
CastleStorm II expands on the original by adding 4X elements, allowing players to upgrade heroes, build their fortresses, and explore a world map. You can watch the announcement trailer above.
CastleStorm II will be releasing this year for Windows PC (via the Epic Games Store), PS4, Switch, and Xbox One.
Here’s a rundown of the game:
An Undead threat rises intent on vanquishing humanity, and only you can stop them. Or control these hellish monstrosities against the living if that’s more your thing. We won’t judge.
• Bigger Genre-Blending: CastleStorm made a name for itself with a tantalizing mix of ballista-based destruction, tower defense, and in-your-face beat-em-up combat. It all returns, and is better in every way. O Destroy Even More! Projecting ballistic weapons to destroy an opposing force’s castle defined much of the core gameplay of the first CastleStorm. This mechanic returns with a visceral fierceness and sense of crushing weight that surpasses the original. O Control Every Soldier: Once again, players can hack and slash their way through a battle using hero units – like the noble knight Sir Gavin, the wise sorceress Lady Meredith, and the not-quite-evil vampire Luna – for a direct impact on a battle’s progress. But for those times when a personal touch can mean the difference between victory and defeat, players can now control individual soldiers as well.
• New Metagame of Strategic Conquest: Inspired by the ‘4X’ subgenre most popular in 1990s PC gaming – yet designed for accessibility for the modern gamer – CastleStorm II encourages players to explore the map, expand their territory, exploit the resources they control, and exterminate their rivals (or at least to rough ‘em up pretty good). O Liberate the Kingdom – or Destroy It: The Undead threat is quickly overtaking land once held by the Kingdom. Meanwhile, each unique faction has its own idea of what’s best for the land. Only through total domination of the map by one faction can the Kingdom once more restore peace (or rest in peace, should the Undead prevail…). O Procedurally Generated Maps: No two campaigns are ever the same, as a map’s terrain and layout changes with each new game. Fields, forests, mountains and more await. O Find Secrets and Side Quests: Each map is replete with unique side encounters where your decisions may result in comradery, coin or carnage – or maybe a little of each!
• Six Unique Campaigns and Stories: Six memorable hero characters – three from the Kingdom, three sided with the Undead – represent their own unique factions, and each hero has his or her own motivations. Though all rooted in same initial story setup, the events to follow differ dramatically, with each narrative revealing unexpected twists about the world and its characters. Each story is designed to stand alone, yet be more appreciated as revelations occur in other campaigns.
Other Features:
- Multiplayer modes include quick PvP castle-destruction matches, plus cooperative and competitive campaigns spanning the entire map
- Trademark CastleStorm charm and humor in a cartoonish medieval setting
- Powered by Unreal Engine 4
- Planned expansions will carry the game forward for years to come
