Castle Attack 2

This tutorial shows you how to unlock the secret level in the new Castle Attack 2 mini-game by Firefly Studios. Find out what happens when your Keep gets attacked by chickens, rats and one very large and very angry dairy cow... Moooooo!

Submitted by Aubergine having followed the clues from Triblade

Castle Attack 2 is the new mini-game from Firefly Studios and it gives you a sneak peak in to some of the graphics, units and features of the forthcoming Stronghold 2 game. If you haven't already done so, read our tutorial o­n Castle Attack 2 (which also contains links to download the game).

Note: This does not allow you to cheat and get a high score for free. In order to get o­n the global high score table you need to play the game properly to get enough points. It will make it all the more rewarding for you if you get to the bonus level.

In our forums, there has been an endless stream of people getting stuck o­n Level 8 or 9 and they are not alone - the global high score table shows that very few people get past those levels and even fewer get the golden crown for completing Level 10 and getting to the bonus level without cheating:

So, just what does happen when you win the game? Well, o­ne way to find out is to enable the bonus level replay button o­n the "Play Castle Attack" menu screen. To do this, you need to find a file called "CastleAttack2Options.txt" o­n your computer - it's usually buried in your Application Data folder somwhere like the following:

Drive C:       Documents and Settings            your_username                 Application Data                      Macromedia                           Director MX 2004                                castleattack2                                     Prefs                                          CastleAttack2Options.txt

If in doubt, just search your computer for the file using the "Search..." tool o­n the Windows "Start" menu. If you cannot find it, try loading the game and then changing o­ne or more of the settings o­n the "Options" page (e.g. choose medium graphics quality) as this will force the game to create the file o­n disk in order to store your changed settings.

Once you have located the file, edit it using Windows Notepad (usually double-clicking the file will open it in Notepad). Next, change the last number (usually a "0") to "1" as shown below:

After making the chage, save the file. The next time you enter the game and click the "Play Castle Attack 2" option o­n the main menu, you should spot the new "Replay Secret Level" button - click it and the Bonus Level will start:

Unlike all the other levels, this level pits you against various farm animals:

• Chickens - These lovable birds will waddle up to your walls and start pecking away at them. A single arrow will kill them but they do so little damage it's barely worthwhile.
• Rats - These are a new animal in Stronghold 2 and this is the first time we get to see them! They will scuttle up to your walls and then scratch at them. Just like the chickens, a single arrow will finish them off but they inflict such little damage that it's hardly worthwhile.

Just when you think it's going to be easy, the ground starts to shake - something big is approaching:

Pressing the "P" (pause) key reveals the true horror of what is marching your way. Yes, you've had fun shooting Daisy the dairy cow in previous levels to get those 3,000 point bonuses and you've probably used cows in the Stronghold series of games for cheese, leather armour and even flung some diseased cows at the enemy using trebuchets and catapults - well now it's time for revenge!

The monserous Daisy the Dairy Cow is virtually unstoppable. You can fire as many arrows as you like but she will just "Moooo" at you. Be afraid, be very araid!

As soon as Daisy reaches your walls all your archers will be instantly killed so it's best to put them to use as workers to try and get your Keep finished! Unlike the other animals, Daisy won't have any trouble knocking down your three castle walls and will then march towards the Keep:

Your tiny Keep stands no chance and your Lord and workers know it! They will run for the trees (literally) as soon as Daisy breaks through your castle walls as they know they have no chance of defeating an angry bovine monstrosity of this size and determination.

As you can probably tell from the pictures in this tutorial, this level can put a strain o­n your graphics card so you might need to use the options screen to set low detail before starting it.

Don't forget, you can discuss this and all things relating to Castle Attack 2 in our forums (members o­nly - registration is free).