Publisher: Gamecock Media Group
Developer: Firefly Studios
System: PC
Minimum requirements: Pentium III 500 MHz or equivalent; 128 MB RAM; 850 MB hard drive space; Windows XP or Vista
Genre: Real-time strategy
Release date: Available now
Review by: Michele White

Stronghold Crusader Extreme combines barbaric warfare and highly developed tactical combat with a touch of historic realism. My fingers tingled in anticipation while I waited the few minutes it took to install. (DVD-ROM drive required — CD gamers need not apply) Restart complete, and I’m off to the Medieval World. The disk includes Stronghold Crusader along with Extreme so that those new to the series (been living in a cave?) can get their feet wet there first. The game only requires 128 MB RAM, and while it recommends 256, with my mere 1 GB RAM, it still takes some time to load. If you’re running the absolute minimum (get thee to a computer store!), be warned.

While you can still switch between modes within a game, you need to exit completely to switch between Crusader and Extreme, as they have separate main menus. The Extreme main menu offers the options of Crusader Extreme, Extreme Multiplayer and Custom Scenarios. Crusader Extreme comes in two flavors — the campaign (Extreme Trail) and Custom Game. Disappointingly, this is much more similar to Crusader and Legends than the other Stronghold games in its total lack of storyline, but the seek and destroy aspect is still just as fun. Extreme, by the way, means EXTREME!!! Moments into my first chapter of the campaign, I found my tiny encampment burned to the ground and swarming with enemy mercenaries. Moments after that, death became me.

So much for my prowess as a Medieval European Lord, so I try my hand at the Custom Game. Custom Game gives you the option of choosing a map (just like a skirmish in Stronghold 2) and your number of opponents. Since the last guy tore me to shreds in less than two minutes, I opted for a single opponent. Again, before I can even set up my stockpile and granary, my army is dead. Thankfully, the Custom Game has a team setting, so I attempt to fare better in a little four-on-four action. Allies are good! Teamwork rules the day: it took a lot of coordination, but the bad guys eventually went down, and I reveled in the thought that perhaps this game can be beaten after all.

A lot of what I liked about the original Crusader was missing. The lack of a free build or peace time campaign was a noticeable disappointment, but this waned as my skills improved and I managed to eke my way through the campaign. Surviving the first assault on the Crusader Extreme trail is the tough part. A merchant and a mercenary camp are essential. You won’t have the time or resources to develop and grow as in other games, so you need to buy. Towers are also crucial to victory. He with the highest towers can launch the most damaging attacks. The key to success on the first board? Drop rocks on his butt as often as you can and take out his troop producers. It uses a lot of magical juice, and it might feel like a cheat, but all’s fair in Holy War, and it works. Take out his mercenary camps with rocks, drop in some mace men and victory might be yours.