Stronghold: Crusader

"A great RTS game"

Gameplay:8/10

Stronghold Crusader has got basic RTS gameplay. Click to construct buildings and train units from them. The gameplay hasn't changed from the original Stronghold - there have been some changes which makes the game even better than the first one. If you have played the first Stronghold, you won't have any problems playing this game; but anyone new to it will find it really, really hard to get used to the gameplay. Sometimes, the gameplay gets very annoying, e.g. when you're attacking a castle, your troops go everywhere but where you want them to go. That's very frustrating because you don't want to send them where they will burn and that's exactly where they go. Another thing i don't like about the gameplay is that you don't have to construct the buildings, just pay for them and place them on the map. you don't see them actually being erected.
Another negative point is that the tutorial doesn't get you ready for such tough missions. you've got to learn by yourself; but your enemies don't give you time to learn, believe me.

Graphics:7/10

Not much changed from the first Stronghold; in fact, there are no apparent changes. They could have done a much better work of the graphics. The gameplay is usually the most important factor in strategy games, but good graphics always makes a game better. If the graphics were better, this would have been the best strategy game i've ever played. The buildings could have looked better. The builings all look the same; you could click on your bakery thinking it was your fletcher's workshop.

Sound effects and music: 10/10

The great sounds and music of Stronghold made even better in Crusader with the introduction of arabic music. I was really impressed by the sound effects too, you should listen to those sounds they make when they burn before your eyes. The units make great sounds when they are fighting and the music is always appropriate to the situation; when a calm peaceful music is replaced by fast oriental beat, you know you're going to be attacked.

Story: 7/10

Here, they really could have done better. Stronghold Crusader doesn't even have a story, unless you play the historical campaigns, but that too is deceiving compared to the first stronghold. They could have made a great story from the crusader trail but they didn't do it. The game lacks FMVs, which always make a game great. In the first stronghold, you got some sort of message after each mission and you have got to conquer a country divided between kings(which looks a lot like England). In this one, you can guess you're going to conquer arabic land but there's absolutely no story to support it. That's what lacks most in this game.

Buy/Rent: Buy it, you won't regret it.

Overall: 8/10

A great game which definitely could have been better. A great thing about it is that it has got a lot of missions for you to play: 50 missions in the crusader trail and 4 historical campaigns. You just can't get enough of it. Great music and gameplay make this game worth the money.
So buy it, the desert awaits you.

Reviewer's Score: 8/10, Originally Posted: 12/03/02, Updated 12/03/02