Great RTS for those who don't mind outdated graphics.
I'm a fan of RTS', so I was obligated to pick up this gem, and I was not disappointed. The graphics are not up to par for this day and age, but the elements that make this game great render something as shallow as graphics to be irrelevant (I personally find them very clean and to the point, not to mention this game can run on even the oldest of computers.
The musical score is perfect, from the booming drums and haunting flute in "Dar Meshq", to the bouncing guitar twangs of "Sandal Maker". The characters all have something to say, whether it be the macemen grunting violently about battle, the lowly spearmen swearing their allegiance to you, or a commoner telling you what he thinks about your tax policy.
The actual campaign in this game comes in the form of "Historical Campaigns", where there are multiple story-lines, each delving into a different period of the crusades. It's not only entertaining and challenging, you also get a little history lesson. But the real fun comes in with "Crusader" mode (the game's "Skirmish") Where you can choose from several different AI opponents, each bearing a different level of difficulty and battle strategy. This is the part of the game you will likely spend the most time on, often languishing 100+ hours if you happen to play it as voraciously as I did. The Multiplayer mode works similarly to skirmish, although it is difficult to engage in without GameSpy Arcade.
The learning curve is relatively shallow, but you learn many different tricks and facts about the game as time goes on, so no matter how good you are, there is always room for improvement. For noobs, the tutorial does a phenomenal job at teaching the basics of starting you economy and producing troops. I recommend Playing The Historical Campaigns after the tutorial and before everything else, as it helps you develop your techniques and play-style.
Overall this is a excellent game. Is it perfect? No. But it is among the best RTS' I've played, and that's saying a lot. Get it, it's only a few dollars at Target or Wal Mart.