Rush Devlog #2: Preparing Gerald for Glory

[p]Hello, Generals![/p][p][/p][p]It’s Genesis Devlog Friday, and we have some exciting hero insights to share with you today. Let’s start with the original legend of the Kingdom Rush saga, the blond, blue-eyed paladin we all love to hear scream for honor and glory. We’re talking, of course, about Gerald Lightseeker.[/p][p][/p][p]Revisiting him as our main hero in Kingdom Rush Genesis has been a journey we wanted to share, especially since Gerald has come a long way from the younger version of himself we first met in the original game.[/p][p][/p][p][/p][p]He was the first hero in the original Kingdom Rush for a reason. Gerald's the most iconic paladin Linirea could ask for: defender of the righteous, leader of the Linirean armed forces, and always willing to charge the frontlines. He quickly became a fan favorite, because of course he would!
[/p][p][/p][p][/p][p]In Kingdom Rush Vengeance, though, we saw a new side of Gerald. He had grown overconfident and a bit lazy, calling himself a one-man army while sunbathing atop the barracks. He paid dearly for that ego when Vez’nan’s army defeated him, conquered Linirea, and locked him behind bars.[/p][p][/p][p][/p][p]By Legends of Kingdom Rush, we see yet another Gerald. After his fall in Vengeance and facing a cosmic entity like the Overseer, he finally got his act together. He endured his confinement, grew a beard, and returned to his heroic self with more determination than ever to protect the righteous from evil![/p][p][/p][p][/p][p][/p][p]When translating him into the art style for the new game, we wanted to reflect his life experience and the changes he underwent. He is sturdier now, with a generous beard, and a more determined feel to his movements and attacks. You can see this in both his portrait and his character animations.
[/p][p][/p][p][/p][p]Gerald in Genesis is an experienced veteran who has been through a lot, and is tasked with the biggest quest of all. In the teaser, we see his hand grab the Sword of Elynie, a blade imbued with the power of the goddess that only the good and noble can hold, before disappearing into thin air.[/p][p][/p][p]Regarding his weapons and abilities, he wields the legendary Sword of Elynie, channeling the Goddess's power to deal heavy strikes. Its combined with his iconic shield of retribution, he makes a make powerful combo that can hold the frontlines and inspire his allies with his might.[/p][p][/p][p][/p][p]In the initial reactions to his design, a lot of players mentioned he was missing his helmet. However, he hasn’t used it since his defeat in Vengeance, and keeping it off allows us to really see his growth as a hero. Let us know in the comments, are you team helmet or no helmet?
[/p][p]This is what we have to share about Gerald for now. In next week’s devlog, we’ll cover the mysterious heroine you see in the screenshots and share more about her. Feel free to comment with any questions or topics you’d like us to discuss in future devlogs![/p][p]
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