Strategy game that offers something different (Stronghold (PC))

Member Name: Trengot

Product:	Stronghold (PC)
Date:	28/02/09 (20 review reads)
Rating:

Advantages: Doesn't get boring. Lots of playing strategies and modes.

Disadvantages: Lack of direct control can take some getting used to. Is addictive

I may be slightly biased in that I love nearly all PC games of this genre, but this is one of the best. The interface is intuitive and doesn't take long to get used to. The various game modes are perfect for any mood. From military campaigns to free builds.

The realism is different from other games in this genre, not necessarily better but different. For instance the food supply needs a farmer, a miller and then a baker as opposed to others that need just a "food collector" of some sort. On the other hand buildings are built instantly with no need for someone to build them.

Another main difference is that the player has no direct control over the game people. The player makes buildings and the peasants take the jobs without any further input. They cannot be sent places either and choose their own activities. The player does not make people either. The simply come and go as the players "popularity" rises and falls.

There is a patch available (free download) that adds features to the game as well as fixing bugs that were in the original. This enables you to initiate events in free build mode. These are the good or bad events that occur automatically during mission game play such as fires, diseases and invasions or travelling fairs, marriages and jesters.

One slight thing that I feel could be better is there is no "fog of war". The whole map is visible from the start and there is no need to explore. The main disadvantage of this is during multi-player games where your opponent can see all that you are doing (although the reverse is also true).

Overall, this game is one that has kept me amused for countless hours. It takes only a short time to get the hang of it and yet manages to hold interest long after most other games of this genre have become boring.

Summary: A great game that is far too adictive.