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Stronghold

EMAIL PRINT pc

9.0 User Score:

Generally favorable reviews

Based on 19 critic reviews
How did we calculate this?

Based on 31 votes
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Game Info

Publisher: Gathering of Developers

Developer: FireFly Studios

Genre(s): Real-Time Strategy, City Builder

Players: 8

ESRB Rating: T (Teen)

Release Date: October 23, 2001

Summary

Set in medieval Europe, players establish settlements, build and manage castles and engage in siege warfare. The game incorporates much more building and "community managing" than a traditional RTS, yet allows for a more intense combat experience than city builders have featured in the past. [GodGames]

Also On Metacritic

GAMES: Stronghold 2 Stronghold: Crusader

Cheat Codes & Hints: Adrenaline Vault Cheat Code Central Game Revolution

Also On The Web: Official Website

What The Critics Said

All critic scores are converted to a 100-point scale. If a critic does not indicate a score, we assign a score based on the general impression given by the text of the review. Learn more...

TotalGames.net

This is a great combination of fun, education (you never know when you might need those siege tactics in Tesco's) strategy and resource management that is a fantastic addition to the sim stable.

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Media and Games Online Network

Before now there have been some strategy games set in medieval times, but none has captured the essence and flavour of the period like the superb Stronghold.

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Computer Gaming World

Stronghold’s deft mix of economic, building, and combat challenges makes it one of the best strategy games of the year. [Feb 2002, p.79]

All Game Guide

Graphics and animations are charismatic, and it is truly enjoyable to build, defend, and even siege the greatest citadel in the land.

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Game Informer

For those who eat, sleep, and live strategic defense design and implementation, Stronghold should be number one on your to-get list. [Jan 2002, p.94]

GameSpy

An interesting, exciting, and fun city-building strategy simulation that will surely stay on many hard drives for a long time.

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IGN

Aside from some interface and control issues centered around the actual building of your castle walls, this is a fun and exciting entry into the RTS market that many of you should really be able to make love to. That's right, I said make love to. So I'm a pervert, what do you want from me?

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GameZone

Stronghold is an intriguing and ‘fresh’ perspective on the civilization genre. It is filled with great graphical elements and sound, and plays well. This is a solid and enjoyable outing.

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Game Over Online

Stronghold is a very interesting game; a game which has no equals, not because it’s that outstanding, but because there’s been so few games that can fight for the title of castle sim champion.

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PC Gamer

It borrows from the proven models of other successful games, and puts them in a new venue. It’s fun, deep, and bug-free. [Jan 2002, p.70]

ActionTrip

Its versatility, non-linearity and great replay value make it an excellent choice.

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Yahoo! Games

Its defensive focus and thoughtful, non-click-fest combat are unusual, and are its main strengths.

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GameSpot

It's been years since a game let you pour boiling oil on invading hordes, and Stronghold simulates castle sieges well enough to recommend it to those who are interested in the premise. But it's a hesitant recommendation, due to a poor interface and mediocre campaigns.

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netjak

While I totally think the game could have been a hundred fold better by corrected the AI issue, it is still a safe buy for most gamers and recommended for novice to intermediate RTS fans.

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Electric Playground

The excellent castle management and siege combat is tarnished by the cumbersome interface and mediocre real-time combat.

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GamePen

The campaigns, especially the economic one, can be insanely difficult. Much of it begins to resemble a puzzle to be solved than a castle to be built.

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Computer Games Magazine

It's almost more fun to watch than it is to play.

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Gamers' Temple

The pandemonium of a castle siege can be fun to watch, but experienced gamers may find that this does not compensate for the game's frustrating points.

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Next Generation Magazine

An excellent title that manages to bring the middle-age “hobby” of castle building to the modern-day gamer. [Jan 2002, p.93]

What Our Users Said

The average user rating for this game is 9.0 (out of 10) based on 31 User Votes

Note: User votes are NOT included in the Metascore calculation.

Chris S. gave it a 9:
Good multiplayer - Nuff said!

Bonifacio T. Jr gave it an 8:
Great game and lots of fun. Controls are easy to learn. The only bad part is that as it was said before the castle walls can be tricky at times. It can be easy to miss a spot and leave a gap in the castle wall.

Roderick C. gave it a 9:
One of the best strategy games I ever played.

Dennis Dunk gave it a 9:
It's a good game and can keep you on your pc for ages, but i feel that when you have completed the campaigns, we should get 1 extra and a lot more things to achive!!!!

Colin P. gave it a 10:
It rocks!

James D. gave it a 6:
Cool game, which is addictive for a while, but eventually gets stale. Most levels "de-volve" into testing the pc's AI, and exploiting it's glitches. The resource management is average at best, and the isometric view can be very frustrating at times, especially when you leave a tiny "invisible" gap in your castle wall that the enemy instantly bee lines to from miles away. That said, if you don't mind restarting levels often, the game can be somewhat fun.

NineteenShadow gave it a 10:
Very addictive and the map editor makes it so u can play it 4ever plus there r plenty of ready made maps and missions 2 download. It is great 4 multiplayer 2.

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