Small, mechanical soldiers that defend the rooftops of Kafazu/Kazakhstan. They first appeared in the 1989 arcade video game Strider.
Trivia
1. Capcom's storyline for Strider is reputed to take some of its inspiration from real world events/people. The first level, 'Kafazu' is supposed to be Kazakhstan. Said country was under Soviet control at the time Capcom released this game (hence the reason you start out fighting futuristic, U.S.S.R. soldiers and machines, like the Rascals). The country also has a large population of Muslims, which is why mosques are such a prominent element in this level. Further, it has been speculated that the leader of the Soviet soldiers (that combine to form the level 1 boss Urobolos) is Mikhail Gorbachev. It is also possible that Grand Master Meio, the final boss, and the primary antagonist, is an interpretation of China's Chairman Mao.
[Source: Zr-RIfle's (Rigel Di Scala) Strider FAQ]
2. Strider takes place in the year 2048 A.D. In this alternate time line, the U.S.S.R. is still whole and communist (of course, during the period the Strider game was made, that was the case in the 'real' world as well).
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ECOLOGY:
Rascals are man-made machines, as such, they serve no natural purpose in relation to the life processes of living organisms.
ABILITIES:
All Rascals carry small 'gunblade' rifles. Instead of firing bullets, these melee-only weapons discharge energy, channeled through the blade, when the trigger is pulled. Due to the additional shock and trauma this energy release causes, a stab from one of these implements, even in a non-vital area, such as an arm or leg, can easily prove fatal. For what appears to be solely for the purpose of comedic effect, instead of walking, these mechaniloids move about by hopping, and noisily at that. They operate on a chemical battery that must be recharged, with electricity, every 48 hours. The charging process takes 12 hours. The Soviet soldiers that are responsible for their maintenance stagger the charging periods so that a supply of operational Rascals is always readily available. Rascals are roughly three feet in height. This short stature allows them to pass, unscathed, underneath a standing slash from Hiryu; unless the Rascals are on higher terrain, Strider will have to strike from a crouch in order to successfully hit them. These robots were designed to operate in arctic environments; they can handle temperatures as low as -20o F (-29o C) with no noticeable decrease in performance.
WEAKNESSES:
Rascals are not well-armored; a single slash from Hiryu's sword will destroy them. Because their gunblades aren't designed to fire ammunition, Rascals can only attack in close quarters which limits their effectiveness. Their diminutive size, while advantageous at times, can also become a liability.
Materials:
(Rascal) Cardboard from a cereal box, tissue paper, newsprint, white glue, hot glue, wire twist ties, Styrofoam, and acrylic paint.
(Furskin cap) Newsprint, carpet debris, white glue, hot glue, and acrylic paint.
(Gunblade) Cardboard from a cereal box, newsprint, white glue, hot glue, and acrylic paint.
Dimensions:
(Please note that the dimensions of this figure will change depending on how it's positioned and whether or not its accessories are attached. The measurements given here are for a pose with the figure standing as straight as possible, arms at its sides, and the furskin cap removed.)
8.0 cm/3.1 in. x 4.7 cm/1.9 in. (highest point x widest point)
Articulation:
Twenty-one points. Neck, shoulders, elbows, wrists, fingers, hips, knees, and ankles.
Time:
Two days. Construction took place on December 10 and 11, 2006.
[Illustration]
This is a pencil drawing of a marching Rascal that I made on 12/13/06. I did a digital coloring job on it using the art program GIMP.
Below are two images of Rascals taken from the Sega Genesis version of the Strider video game. The Rascal on the left is hopping, the one on the right is stabbing with its gunblade.
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