Stronghold: Crusader Critic Reviews

When you use a trebuchet (an enormous catapult) to launch a diseased cow over an enemy's walls and watch his population drop like flies, you can't help but get that warm fuzzy "I love this game" feeling.

It looks wonderful, plays like a dream and deserves a place in the games collection of any self-respecting strategy fan immediately.

Economy and warfare are well balanced and equally exciting. The gameplay is fantastic, and it will require you to think strategically in stead of just massing up units.

If you enjoyed the mighty Stronghold, but want a game with even more substance, then sire, your software is ready.

An interesting twist is the lack of fog of war. This takes a while to get used to, but works surprisingly well.

It's hard! On the plus side, it is not frustratingly so, as with some dedicated play, most gamers will likely find it to be a rewarding challenge.

Taking place in a barren desert is a nice twist and makes the player go for some other strategy that he may not be used to while playing similar games where resources are plentiful.

Basically, Crusader is just Stronghold but browner, and whether you like it or not will probably have a lot to do with whether you played Stronghold and how much you liked it.

A much better game than the original.

Considering its new campaign options, more-satisfying single-player missions, and tweaked gameplay, it's a safe bet that fans of the original game will have even more fun storming the castle.

It's just a few new features away from glory.

Compensating for the lack of visual variety is the sheer wealth of interesting and engaging play modes.

This deliciously brutal slice of RTS gaming is a hugely enjoyable Middle Ages romp.

The Arabs are the most disappointing addition to the game. Instead of a fully realized faction, they're window dressing.