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Stronghold Crusader: Definitive Edition – Review

Way back in 2002, this reviewer got his hands on the PC demo for Stronghold Crusader. We don’t quite remember how exactly we got it. It was likely included alongside other demos on a disc included for free with a magazine. That’s how we got most of our demos back in the day, for you youngsters. Being a student with limited disposable income at the time, we never actually picked up the full game, but we have fond memories of replaying that demo over and over. Fast forward to the current year, and Stronghold Crusader has made its return in the form of a Definitive Edition. Can this new version of the game live up to our memories of that demo, or are we looking back at the game through rose-tinted nostalgia goggles? Let’s dive in. Story Rather than sticking to a traditional narrative structure, Stronghold Crusader’s “story” is primarily delivered through multiple historical campaigns. These loosely follow the military exploits and conflicts between European Crusaders and Middle Eastern leaders during the 11th and 12th centuries. Historical figures like Richard Lionheart and Saladin make their appearance in the game, and even though Stronghold Crusader doesn’t really offer narrative depth, there is a sense of excitement when you encounter someone you’ve heard of from history lessons in school. The Definitive Edition adds two entirely new historical campaigns, focusing on the Bedouin, as well as a “what if” campaign exploring an alternate history. Graphics For the most part, the Definitive Edition sticks to the old-school 2D isometric style of the original game. It’s not a carbon copy of the two-decades-old graphics, as a layer of polish has been applied here. Structures and environments are more detailed, and unit animations are noticeably more fluid. Even so, the game’s aesthetics stick very close to those of the original release. There is probably some nostalgia in play here, but the game’s insistence on sticking to retro visuals definitely works for us. Playing Stronghold Crusader feels like stepping into a time capsule, not to medieval times but to the early 2000s. We imagine your mileage may vary if you’re not familiar with the original, however. Either way, the game’s visual performance is buttery smooth, likely owing to those old-school graphics not pushing hardware to its limit. Sound The voice cast from the original Stronghold Crusader returned to re-record their lines for this new release. This results in crisp, high-quality recordings that retain the old-school charm of the past. This applies to generic grunts as well as AI opponents, although the distinct personalities of characters like Saladin or the Caliph are of course much more theatrical. The advantage of new recordings is that the audio of newly introduced characters and units remains consistent with that of pre-existing ones. Likewise, the game’s soundtrack has been remastered as well. The music leans heavily into the game’s desert setting, with Middle-Eastern influences. The tunes adapt to the on-screen action, with more intense themes audible when there is combat happening, and softer, ambient tracks playing during peaceful moments. Sound effects and ambience further bring the world to life, creating an immersive audioscape. Gameplay Even among contemporary RTS games like Warcraft III and Command & Conquer, Stronghold Crusader has always stood out because of its lesser focus on combat. There is still medieval warfare here, but having a strong economy is at least equally, if not more important. Each mission starts from a town center, with only a handful of peasants, and you need to get structures like farms, mines, and mills up and running. Your civilians form the backbone of your success, as they provide the necessary resources to create your army. This doesn’t just limit itself to providing them with food or a place to sleep either, as religion and entertainment factor into your popularity as a ruler as well. Popularity affects peasant generation, and having no peasants means no economy, and in turn, no army. Speaking of armies, once you get weapon production up and running, idle peasants can be turned into troops. There is a wide variety of unique and historically accurate troops available for each faction, ranging from cheap militia to powerful knights and siege engineers. Sieges are central to Stronghold Crusader, with building or breaking castle defenses being a major part of the campaigns. Rather than simply overpowering your opponent, attrition is key, and elements like terrain need to be taken into account. Units are generated instantly, provided you have the necessary resources. You’ll need to figure out both how to set up a good defense as well as which siege weaponry is the most efficient at taking down enemy strongholds. As a result, there is plenty of tactical depth here, but Stronghold Crusader does require you to really put effort into mastering its blend of medieval warfare and resource management. It’s easy to get locked into a death spiral that you cannot recover from if you don’t know what you are doing. Unfortunately, the game’s tutorial is poorly signposted and only covers the basics. Combined with a steep learning curve, this makes Stronghold Crusader a game that doesn’t feel very accessible. If you’re an experienced RTS player, you’ll likely end up loving what’s on offer here, but otherwise we’d recommend dipping your toes into more beginner-friendly games like Age of Empires or Company of Heroes. The Definitive Edition sticks mostly to the formula that made the original so successful, but a couple of minor adjustments have been made to bring the game in line with modern expectations. Players can choose between a “classic” and a “modern” control scheme, for example, or adjust game speed. Even with these additions, the Definitive Edition suffers from some rough edges. The in-game AI isn’t always up to snuff, with units getting stuck or even freezing on the spot without attacking. Granted, these instances were rare, but still happened enough that they’re worth mentioning. The game also lacks controller support and can only be played with mouse and keyboard. Don’t let the aforementioned shortcomings deter you from giving Stronghold Crusader: Definitive Edition a chance if you’re an RTS enthusiast though. The AI issues are minor, all things considered, and with literally hundreds of hours worth of gameplay present, there is plenty to sink your teeth into. Apart from the narrative single-player campaigns, the game offers a co-op campaign as well as PVP and a sandbox mode where you can experiment without pressure. The latter is a great tool to familiarize yourself with the economy mechanics -perhaps better than the tutorial. Perhaps the most impressive aspect of the Definitive Edition is its price though. With an RRP of €19.99, you’re going to be hard-pressed to find better RTS bang for your buck this year. Conclusion Sticking close to that 2002 release, the Definitive Edition of Stronghold Crusader offers an old-school experience that lets genre enthusiasts relive the RTS games of yesteryear. There is a ton of new stuff here, but it blends in seamlessly with the original content. Enhancements to the game’s visuals, audio, and UI serve to support and streamline the old-school feeling of the game rather than overpowering things. There are a couple of rough edges here, mostly the lack of accessibility for newcomers and some minor AI glitches, but ultimately, Stronghold Crusader is definitely worth checking out.