Stronghold Crusader Extreme

by Gamecock Media Group

Product Features

• 30 new stand alone maps that can be played in multiplayer or single player skirmish.
• Crusader Trail 2 (Warchest Trail) - A 30 mission linked trail showcasing the new AI characters.
• Crusader Extreme trail - A heavy duty, 20 mission trail that will test the nerves of even the most hardened ‘Stronghold Crusader’ expert!
• Compatible with Microsoft Vista
• 8 new A.I. opponents: The Wazir, The Marshal, The Emir, The Abbot and The Nizar

Product Details

• Shipping: This item is also available for shipping to select countries outside the U.S.
• ASIN: B0017WE26S
• Item Weight: 3.2 ounces
• Media: DVD-ROM
• Release Date: May 29, 2008
• Average Customer Review: 3.3 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (12 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #5,469 in Video Games (See Top 100 in Video Games)
  • #1 in Video Games > PC Games > Sports > Wrestling

Product Description

Crusader provides huge armies and huge battles - over 10000 units on the battle field. New buildings – Outposts provide hordes of attacking enemies to deal with. Battlefield powers – Reinforcement, bombard and heal powers can be used, no, MUST be used to defend against the waves of attacking enemies.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

33 of 33 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars For the fanatical fringe of Stronghold Crusader., June 22, 2008

By 

J. Swift (New Castle, IN United States) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

= Fun:5.0 out of 5 stars 

This review is from: Stronghold Crusader Extreme (DVD-ROM)

This game is very good. As a matter of fact the original was the first product I ever wrote a review for on Amazon. This is a five star game then and now, I deducted a point though. I have bought this game three seperate times, once as regular Stronghold Crusader, then I bought the Warchest which contained Stronghold and Stronghold Crusader+some extras, and now I have bought Stronghold Crusader Extreme. It contains the original Stronghold Crusader+the Warchest extras, and now it has a new trail, with 20 extreme missions, and tactical powers like arrow volleys that can kill most enemies on screen. There is also a new 10,000 man cap, so expect a lot more action in this version. Thats why I gave it a five star fun factor. Its like Stronghold Crusader on steroids, and this game still has its charm, and it still is VERY INTENSE. To be honest I love this game, and this new version brought it back to life for me. And I should also mention its now Vista compatible, and the multiplayer aspect also adds a lot more depth to the game.


But there is a downside. There is no real market for this game besides the hardcore fan who probably owns a lot of this games content already. Are they willing to spend the cash for a lot more men, outposts, a new trail, and some tactical powers? I was and Im glad I did. New people to Stronghold Crusader need to realize the original game is from 2002 and buy it for its gameplay, instead of for eyecandy. This is not state of the art in the graphics department. But I recommend it whole heartedly. And there is a whole lot of game here, especially if you are new to Crusader. This is one of the best games of alltime.

6 of 6 people found the following review helpful:

1.0 out of 5 stars A downgrade from warchest version, November 5, 2009

By 

K. Rose - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

= Fun:1.0 out of 5 stars 

This review is from: Stronghold Crusader Extreme (DVD-ROM)

This game has a few fatal flaws that make it inferior to the crusader warchest edition:
#1 Reduction of video/audio quality (I mean A LOT).
#2 Immobile AI (they don't make units, or use any of the bonus powers).
#3 More annoying "click screens" (two to be exact -- which is 4 in total I think).
#4 Multiplayer is WAY TOO slow (and this is with ETHERNET folks).
#5 Cannot play the original crusader maps in extreme (yep, they even thought it needful to include LESS maps)...
#6 The game now requires the CD (warchest version did not -- install once and enjoy!)

The extra tacked-on screens you have to click through in order to reach the main menu is highly annoying!

When playing against AI opponents, they can't really do anything. They won't make any *actual* troops of their own (thus unable to defend their Lord), and, they are at a disadvantage since they never use the bonus powers that have been added in the bar (which is really unjust in my opinion, ruins a decent game). This is an ABSOLUTE JOKE! The AI was not fine-tuned for the "Extreme" mechanics, so, they just SIT THERE while the spawned troops march off. These "spawned troops" are just controlled by a universal trigger... there isn't any "unique" attack styles as was found in the previous crusader version.

Now, one might be wondering why I was playing against AI opponents in the first place. Well! If you ever tried playing this thing online, or even on a local ethernet connection, there are HUGE pauses, and the game just runs like mud.

Since somehow the game is now over ONE GIGABYTE, they reduced ALL of the audio. If you have sensitive speakers, the artifacts will be extremely audible, and sharp to the ears. Not only that, but ALL of the little videos have been encoded even more -- you'll notice this when you see Richard swinging his axe at the beginning, and the knight on the right side at the menu. Yuck! A bunch of pixellated discoloured videos.

The ONLY "advantage" of this game are the extra crusader trails. If you want to give the few campaign trails offered, buy it -- but I'd suggest no more over $5 (second hand will do). The game does include the original crusader -- BUT, the audio is still downgraded, you have the extra click screens, and need to put the CD in every time... us hard-working people who BUY the game should deserve a little reward of not having to insert the stupid disc every time.

If you REALLY want the *true* STRONGHOLD CRUSADER experience, buy the warchest edition (which has the extra AI opponents too). You'll get higher quality audio/movies, less click sreens, no need to put the CD in to play, and great multiplayer fun; works really well on ethernet. PLUS, firefly released a really nifty application that allows you to change how the AI builds their castles! You can make the Lionheart's walls like iron.

I absolutely love Crusader, but this "enhanced version" is just a cash cow. Don't let people lie to you, true "die-hard" stronghold fans will not at all enjoy this (which seems to be a common misconception). This isn't even stronghold! It's like a fancy version of "tower defence." The fact that it includes "both" crusader versions means NOTHING. It degraded things in the original too.

Stronghold Crusader "Extreme" is now uninstalled from my hard drive, I just reinstalled a fresh copy of the warchest version. Stick with the classic.

4 of 5 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Thank you seller! Totally brand new and fun to the hilt., November 23, 2008

By 

Jermaine Gilmore - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

= Fun:5.0 out of 5 stars 

This review is from: Stronghold Crusader Extreme (DVD-ROM)

If you have tried the previous version of stronghold. Then this is the version that you must have. Total onslaught of medival times. If you like sims controlled games with a stragetic base? Then your in luck.