One of the more compelling looking games coming out in early 2017 is Halo Wars 2. The game features the continued journey of Captain James Cutter and the Spirit of Fire, this time facing off against the formidable war criminal, Atriox.

Outcast by the hand of the Covenant, and forming an army of spiteful warriors bent on expunging the galaxy of all who stand in their way with an unbridled force of hatred as their fuel, Atriox has become an indomitable foe residing on the outer reaches of the galaxy. He’s built up an army of spirited warriors under the banner of The Banished. The Spirit of Fire is faced with the choice of leaving or attempting to duke it out with the master warrior and strategist.

The trailer below sets an awesome stage for a showdown between the unflinching resolve of the Spirit of Fire and its do-or-die crew, and the hateful warriors who will fight until their last, dying breath under the command of their respected warlord, Atriox.

For me, the most fascinating thing about Halo Wars 2 isn’t just the new RTS mechanics or that the RTS series will make its debut on PC for the very first time, it’s the fact that the game seems to be putting a very strong focus on an enemy who isn’t just another cardboard, cookie-cutter villain. You can tell a tale of hate and revenge a thousand times over and it’ll always be interesting if you make the characters interesting. In this case, I think Atriox is very interesting.

I’ve said before and I’ll say it again: hopefully 343 and Creative Assembly don’t waste this new character in a pitiful display of heroism or villainy, but they fully explore his possibilities. One of the biggest drawbacks to the Halo franchise has always been in its lack of proper villains, so this gives the franchise some sturdy legs to stand on in a long while.

You can look for Halo Wars 2 to launch on February 21st, 2017 for the Xbox One and PC. For more info be sure to visit the official Halo Wars 2 website.