Posted February 04, 2009
LotR2 was my favorite strategy game for "all time", it had all the things i thought a strategy game needed and that 'modern' games lack, but why did it lose that position to SH:Crusader?
Stronghold Crusader is simple, even the dumbest people i know can learn how to play it in 5 min, intuitively without too many instructions. Its fast, as in fast passed, you mass armies and get into the action with greater intensity then... then perhaps any other strategy game out there.
Its massive, you wont get tired of seeing literally thousands of units on your screen all bashing and slashing one another.
To every strategy gamer i say this:
this games basics are as follow -> you gather/produce resource A, which allows you to make resource B, and then further install or produce a great 'product' = resource/or final product C. There really isn't much more to it then that, with that you make weapons, bread, siege equipment and more.
Imagine the middle ages and you probably got it there.
Simple and fun, yet very creative.
As for the units... frankly this game tops perhaps every other one out there on this aspect, the units are plenty, the unit limit will keep you guessing, and perhaps more important... Its NOT a rock-paper-scissors kind of game. Every unit has its pros and cons, and every unit can be used and its good because of what it is simply.
So, archers are good because they have bows(real long distance attack from protected areas like towers), knights are good because of their heavy armor, and so on so forth.
Its pretty simple, and that allows for some very varied styles of play, generally : be your own strategist.
Finally, castle building:
now the castle building part, to many, may sound like -"omg so much micromanaging, having to build a big fortress requires a lot of planing"... But that's far from it, in most games(as it was in the past perhaps) you'll see that you really build castles out of necessity and based on what the geography of what your location allows, almost as an intuitive response to the need for protection over constant attacks.
Over time you develop your own small time architect inside of you, and you'll notice you begin to take on patterns and regular strategies for the general skirmish.
overall this game in intense, fast, and awesome. it got me playing 7 hours straight(or so) with a friend of mine at his home once, and im not a big time addicted gamer, i guess you just cant escape it. :-)
Essentially, i own and play AoE1+2, civ3 complete, EUIII complete, starcraft, the EEs, and a few other strategy titles. But nothing got me that hocked to big time multilayer action other then SH:Crusader, so if you like strategy, if you like multiplayer action... you cant miss this one. But don't say i didn't warn you, it is very addictive.
cheers :D
Stronghold Crusader is simple, even the dumbest people i know can learn how to play it in 5 min, intuitively without too many instructions. Its fast, as in fast passed, you mass armies and get into the action with greater intensity then... then perhaps any other strategy game out there.
Its massive, you wont get tired of seeing literally thousands of units on your screen all bashing and slashing one another.
To every strategy gamer i say this:
this games basics are as follow -> you gather/produce resource A, which allows you to make resource B, and then further install or produce a great 'product' = resource/or final product C. There really isn't much more to it then that, with that you make weapons, bread, siege equipment and more.
Imagine the middle ages and you probably got it there.
Simple and fun, yet very creative.
As for the units... frankly this game tops perhaps every other one out there on this aspect, the units are plenty, the unit limit will keep you guessing, and perhaps more important... Its NOT a rock-paper-scissors kind of game. Every unit has its pros and cons, and every unit can be used and its good because of what it is simply.
So, archers are good because they have bows(real long distance attack from protected areas like towers), knights are good because of their heavy armor, and so on so forth.
Its pretty simple, and that allows for some very varied styles of play, generally : be your own strategist.
Finally, castle building:
now the castle building part, to many, may sound like -"omg so much micromanaging, having to build a big fortress requires a lot of planing"... But that's far from it, in most games(as it was in the past perhaps) you'll see that you really build castles out of necessity and based on what the geography of what your location allows, almost as an intuitive response to the need for protection over constant attacks.
Over time you develop your own small time architect inside of you, and you'll notice you begin to take on patterns and regular strategies for the general skirmish.
overall this game in intense, fast, and awesome. it got me playing 7 hours straight(or so) with a friend of mine at his home once, and im not a big time addicted gamer, i guess you just cant escape it. :-)
Essentially, i own and play AoE1+2, civ3 complete, EUIII complete, starcraft, the EEs, and a few other strategy titles. But nothing got me that hocked to big time multilayer action other then SH:Crusader, so if you like strategy, if you like multiplayer action... you cant miss this one. But don't say i didn't warn you, it is very addictive.
cheers :D