Stronghold Crusader: Definitive Edition Review — The Strongest Stronghold

In the RTS genre, Stronghold Crusader stands out as a revered elder, one of the founding titles and one that greatly influenced future games. While some may feel this classic shows its age, they’re in luck, as Stronghold Crusader: Definitive Edition returns to breathe new life into the timeless original, upholding its legacy for a new generation to experience.

As a fan of the old Stronghold Crusader games, I was certainly excited to hear that the original was getting a new release. I was, however, still skeptical about the final product; it can be very tempting for companies to repackage old games essentially as-is with a lighting update or some new pixels and call it a day. I was thankfully impressed by everything Stronghold Crusader: Definitive Edition had to offer on top of its original gameplay.

Stronghold Crusader: Definitive Edition brings the original game in its entirety with updated graphics and some new additions, being more than a simple remaster and serving as a fully enhanced version of the original game.

One major addition players can anticipate is 8 new units, greatly expanding the meta and interactivity of the game. Rather than simply list all changes, here’s a quote from the Steam store page:

“COMMAND NEW UNITS in the form of 8 brave Bedouin warriors with unique attributes, strengths and abilities.

CLASH AGAINST AI LORDS in skirmish mode, with 4 all-new adversaries employing unique castles and tactics.

PROVE YOURSELF across 2 new historical campaigns, before facing the challenge of 4 ‘Sands of Time’ skirmish trails.

SHARE THE LOAD in a new co-op trail, play together against the AI in skirmish or go head-to-head with 8 players online.

BESIEGE NEW BATTLEFIELDS using larger map sizes, new multiplayer maps and Workshop support for custom scenarios.

ADMIRE THINE KINGDOM with remastered visuals and music, as well as new recordings from the original game’s actors.”

Updated, modern PC controls also gives players an optional means of modernizing the camera and control schemes, which if you ask me is a huge relief; the old-school mechanics were designed before we had 20+ years of development in PC gaming, and use inputs such as the arrow keys and X/C to control the camera. The modernized controls are, simply put, far more convenient.

You feel the new additions; launching Stronghold Crusader: Definitive Edition and seeing the wealth of options compared to the original feels like unlocking a secret developer version. The sheer number of skirmish campaigns—not including Workshop content, sandbox mode, historical campaigns, or planned updates—is enough for at least a hundred hours.

That is to say that the original gameplay holds up; the new additions and the updated graphics are phenomenal, but what’s going to keep you playing for that hundred hours is how absolutely wonderfully the game captures the essence of what makes the RTS genre great. Though elements of the game may feel a bit “primitive” when compared to modern titles, Stronghold Crusader: Definitive Edition remains a blast to play with its castle-focused economy building and medieval combat systems. The title especially captures the satisfaction of building huge stone walls, towers, and parapets unmatched since.

As many positives as the game has, there’s the occasional bug or showing of its age that can be a tad intrusive.

The game appears to have some inconsistencies with what can be placed where; I did multiple runs on the same mission/map, and in these separate instances, I was unable to put some of my production buildings (such as wheat farms) on tiles where I placed them in the instance before. I’m not sure if this is a new bug or one that carried over from the original version of the game.

The forced 2D perspective can also feel dated in a way that isn’t very charming. Particularly, constructing massive walls or buildings can be a perspective nightmare when unable to see the placement. The camera can feel a little stiff when you’re pushed up against the edge of the map, too, and on occasion, I had situations where my perspective was pushed to the opposite end of the map, and I wasn’t able to get it back on my capital easily. That is, of course, without me mastering every hotkey the game had to offer—something any experienced RTS veteran would tell me is “noob behavior.”

Despite these “flaws” and in light of just how much the game has packed into it, alongside a roadmap of future content to come, it is incredibly easy for one to justify a purchase of Stronghold Crusader: Definitive Edition, even if (or especially) if you own the original. Stronghold Crusader: Definitive Edition is more than a remaster of a beloved game; It’s a straight-up upgrade on the original, providing even more to love for nostalgic fans and newcomers alike.

Try Hard Guides was provided a Steam code for this PC review of Stronghold Crusader: Definitive Edition. Find more detailed looks at popular and upcoming titles on our Game Reviews page! Stronghold Crusader: Definitive Edition is available on Steam and Humble Bundle.