Simply one of the best RTS around...
User Rating: 10 | Stronghold: Crusader PC
Introduction: Amongst walking the rows of games in the local EB games I spot the bright cover for a game called "Stronghold: Crusader". I notice the price sticker marked clearly on the top coner $19.95. I picked it up and took a look at the back of the case. It looked awesome so I payed for it and took it home to play. It was one of the best games I ever purchased.... Gameplay OK gameplay. There's only a few modes but all of them are long and detailed. Skirmishes are of course in it and can be very long and very difficult from time to time. There is of course campaigns which are fantastic and they can last for a long time before finishing. There is another mode called Crusader trail. You battle your way through 50 levels and each one gets progressivly harder. The final level is incredibly long and hard. Another mode is Castle builder. You build a castle without the troubles of surrounding enemies and build peacefully with just the camels for company! Graphics The overall graphics are not that pleasing on 800x600 but 1024x7400 (or whatever it is) makes the game a bit easier to play. The graphics engine is not as bright as Age Of Empires 2 but it's a lot better as when the crossbowmen reload, you can actually see them kneel down and wind back the cords on the crossbow and when archers fire, you see them nock the arrow then pull it back. Those small bits and pieces (like the ones mentioned just then) make this game a lot more pleasant to sit and watch during times of peace. Sounds and Music Firstly, the sounds are great. The bows sound realistic as do the crossbows. The fires are great, the whole sound scheme is great. The Arabic music though is highly annoying. It loops about five songs constantly and it gets annoying. At times you will find yourself just turning the music off completely. Replay Well when you finish the campagins there are still a lot of crusader trail maps and the entire skirmish block to finish so it will keep you going for ages. Skirmishes are always fun and hardly do they become boring. Final comment It's a great game and it brought the RTS world smashing to its knees when it was released. In my eyes, Stronghold: Crusader will always be one of the best RTS games of all time... 
