Stronghold 2

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Stronghold 2 is a single player and multiplayer real-time strategy game with warfare and historical themes. It was developed by Firefly Studios and was released on April 18, 2005. It received mostly positive reviews from critics and positive reviews from players.

Stronghold 2 is a warfare real-time strategy game with single and multi-player options. Players must manage their medieval castle and rule their peasants, deciding their fates through taxation, torture, or mercy. The game includes skirmishes, competitive multiplayer for up to eight players, and a focus on siege combat with close-quarters battles within castle structures, offering a realistic medieval experience.

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89%

Audience ScoreBased on 2,393 reviews

gameplay43 positive mentions

stability20 negative mentions

Stronghold 2 offers a unique blend of castle building and city simulation mechanics, allowing players to manage both their economy and military effectively.
The game features a variety of new mechanics, such as crime and honor systems, which add depth to the gameplay and enhance the castle management experience.
The nostalgic value of Stronghold 2 is significant, as many players have fond memories of it from their childhood, making it a beloved title in the series.

The AI in the game is often criticized for being predictable and poorly designed, leading to unbalanced gameplay and frustrating experiences during battles.
Many players report technical issues, including crashes and performance problems, particularly with the game's frame rate being tied to game speed.
The introduction of new mechanics, such as the crime and gong systems, can feel tedious and overwhelming, detracting from the overall enjoyment of the game.

gameplay
149 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
29%
66%
5%
Stronghold 2 offers a complex blend of real-time strategy and castle simulation, featuring a variety of new mechanics such as estate management, crime, and honor systems that enhance gameplay depth. While many players appreciate the ambitious design and immersive atmosphere, some criticize the overwhelming number of mechanics and bugs that can disrupt the experience. Overall, the game provides a challenging and engaging experience for those who enjoy detailed management and strategic warfare, despite its occasional technical shortcomings.
- “Stronghold 2 on Steam is a deeply ambitious and multifaceted medieval strategy game that attempts to blend traditional real-time strategy mechanics with an immersive castle life simulation.”
- “For players who enjoy a slower, more detailed type of RTS with equal emphasis on simulation and warfare, it provides countless hours of challenging and immersive gameplay.”
- “The gameplay has enough unique elements differentiating it from other similar games, and both the campaign and conquest trail were challenging and quite fun!”
- “Gameplay mechanics of having to manage multiple granaries and stockpiles even within walking distance of the keep is terrible in every way and should have never been implemented.”
- “The saddest part is that all those complex management mechanics tend to bug and stop working randomly from a game to another, truly bringing down the fun of competitive play.”
- “They made a gameplay change in a patch that makes the campaign completely unplayable.”
story
149 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
33%
61%
6%
The game's story is generally viewed as a mixed bag; while it features interesting ideas and a serviceable narrative framework delivered through voiced cutscenes and dialogue, many players find it lacks depth and memorable characters compared to earlier titles in the series. The campaign offers a choice between good and evil paths, adding some replayability, but the overall execution is often criticized for being cliché and disconnected from previous installments. Despite these shortcomings, the missions themselves are engaging and challenging, providing a fun gameplay experience.
- “The story is delivered through voiced cutscenes and in-game dialogue, with characters ranging from loyal knights to conniving nobles.”
- “One of the best and most memorable games with an exciting story that you can live through.”
- “Awesome storyline for the campaigns.”
- “The story isn't all that great in my opinion, but I had a great time playing through the campaigns.”
- “The story is terrible, but the missions themselves are a lot of fun.”
- “In aspect of story, it's a major downgrade to the original Stronghold, but there are more mechanics and better graphics.”
graphics
124 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
34%
59%
7%
The graphics of Stronghold 2 are often described as dated yet charming, reflecting the game's mid-2000s origins. While the transition to 3D graphics was a significant upgrade at the time, many players feel it has not aged well compared to modern standards, with some noting pathfinding and control issues in large battles. Overall, the aesthetic retains a nostalgic appeal, though opinions vary on its execution and quality relative to earlier titles in the series.
- “Graphically, Stronghold 2 was a major step up at the time of its release, moving the franchise from 2D sprites into full 3D environments.”
- “Great graphics, there is quite a lot of detail in every aspect of the game.”
- “The atmosphere, dated but charming early-2000s 3D graphics, nostalgic sound and fantastic soundtrack all lend themselves to make a game that you can lose a lot of hours into.”
- “The graphics got an upgrade to full 3D, but arrived at uncanny valley.”
- “The 3D graphics are cheaply done, the camera angles and game speed are annoying to control, the voice acting is painfully bad, and the music is lame.”
- “The graphics are worse (yes, the polygons are more but because they paid no attention to details, it looks much worse - e.g. buildings look like something out of a game editor, like you see that they do not stand on the ground and are just decorations overlapping).”
music
33 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
52%
39%
9%
The music in the game is widely praised for its captivating soundscapes, nostalgic melodies, and high-quality voice acting that enhances the overall experience. Many players appreciate the soundtrack's ability to evoke fond memories of classic RTS games, although some note a reliance on recycled tracks from previous titles. Overall, the music contributes significantly to the game's charm and atmosphere, making it a standout feature.
- “The game’s soundscape is a highlight, with detailed ambient noise, rousing music, and a wealth of charmingly overacted voice clips that give character to even the most mundane actions.”
- “The voice acting is legendary, the music is fantastic, and the aesthetic is perfect for what it's shooting for.”
- “One of my favorite RTS games of all time, the atmosphere is captivating, the soundtrack is stunning, and the game in general is incredible.”
- “I disliked how many songs were from the original Stronghold (although I love the first game's soundtrack); it felt as if they just recycled things from the original game.”
- “The 3D graphics are cheaply done, the camera angles and game speed are annoying to control, the voice acting is painfully bad, and the music is lame.”
- “Getting an issue when starting up this game, the screen constantly lags and flickers between black and white constantly, I hear the intro music.”
stability
20 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The game's stability is a significant concern among users, with many reporting frequent bugs, crashes, and glitches that disrupt gameplay. While some players appreciate the overall experience and nostalgia, they express frustration over the persistent technical issues, particularly in the campaign and multiplayer modes. Overall, the game is described as a "buggy mess," with stability issues detracting from its potential enjoyment.
- “The game is insanely buggy.”
- “It's buggy and crashes all the time.”
- “This game is an unbalanced, buggy mess.”
humor
15 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The humor in the game is a standout feature, with players praising its funny characters, hilarious gameplay moments, and a lighthearted approach to challenges, making it particularly enjoyable in multiplayer settings. While some aspects, like voice acting, received mixed reviews, the overall comedic tone and meme-worthy content contribute to a fun and engaging experience. However, the humor can sometimes be overshadowed by frustrating game mechanics and difficult missions.
- “Played this game a ton as a kid and still love it now. It is a little unforgiving in the missions on first play, but like Dark Souls, you have to accept your first attempt at a mission is learning all when and where you can fail. It can suck if you don't have patience, but it is a hilariously rewarding game.”
- “Perfect game for friends; it's so funny and makes for so much fun. It's great to play with friends in online matches.”
- “All round hilarious and simply a meme world in itself.”
optimization
15 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
20%
40%
40%
The game's optimization has received significant criticism, with many players reporting serious performance issues, including stuttering and low framerates, regardless of their hardware specifications. While some users experience smooth gameplay, others find it unplayable due to these persistent bugs and engine limitations. Overall, the optimization appears to be a major drawback, detracting from the overall experience.
- “The optimization is fine, and the game works well on my PC that has definitely more powerful specs than recommended.”
- “It runs smoothly, maybe lags a little when your castle is too crowded, but that might be an old engine limitation.”
- “Though at times the game freezes and suddenly kicks me out, I blame my specs for that since most of the time the game itself runs smoothly.”
- “The UI can be cumbersome, especially when managing larger estates, and there are still bugs and performance issues, even in the Steam 'Deluxe' version.”
- “Stuttering issues make the game unplayable.”
- “Game's optimization is broken.”
atmosphere
12 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
67%
8%
25%
The atmosphere of Stronghold 2 is widely praised for its charming medieval setting, nostalgic graphics, and captivating soundtrack, creating an immersive experience that resonates with players. Despite some technical issues, the game's depth and micromanagement elements contribute to a unique and engaging atmosphere that keeps players hooked for hours. Overall, it is celebrated as a classic that successfully combines personality and a relaxing gameplay experience.
- “It’s a true classic that offers something many modern strategy games lack – personality, atmosphere, and the satisfying depth of managing a living medieval estate.”
- “Despite some technical hiccups, the game's immersive atmosphere and deep gameplay kept me hooked for hours on end, making it a standout sequel that surpasses its predecessor in almost every aspect.”
- “The graphics may look dated now, but the charm and nostalgic atmosphere are still very much alive.”
- “The atmosphere, dated but charming early-2000s 3D graphics, nostalgic sound, and fantastic soundtrack all lend themselves to make a game that you can lose a lot of hours into.”
- “One of my favorite RTS games of all time, the atmosphere is captivating, the soundtrack is stunning, and the game in general is incredible (the story has some cringy moments though).”
replayability
8 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
63%
38%
Overall, "Stronghold 2" is praised for its high replayability, particularly due to the Kingmaker mode and robust skirmish options, which keep the gameplay fresh against both AI and other players. While some users note limited replayability in certain aspects, the community-driven content and map additions significantly enhance the experience for veteran players. In contrast, "Stronghold Crusader" is highlighted for its excellent replayability, attributed to its engaging historical themes and gameplay mechanics.
- “However, what really sets Stronghold 2 apart in my eyes is the Kingmaker mode, which basically provides it with infinite replayability, both against the AI and other players.”
- “Stronghold Crusader, on the other hand, is excellent for its replayability style and historical attributes following the Crusades.”
- “Skirmish saves this game from being garbage, and thanks to the player community for adding a ton of maps, reviving the replayability for veteran Stronghold players like myself.”
- “The advantages of this over the original Stronghold is the replay value with 'Kingmaker' (skirmish mode).”
- “Regardless, the replay value of this game far exceeds any loss of functionality or slightly dated graphics; one loyal to the brand would have only hoped that Stronghold 3 wasn't such a disaster and carried the Stronghold brand high.”
grinding
7 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
Reviews indicate that the grinding aspect of the game is often seen as tedious and poorly balanced, particularly in the campaign where resource management and new mechanics can feel overwhelming. New players may struggle with the economic setup, and certain achievements necessitate extensive grinding in online games, which could become unfeasible over time. Overall, while the game has well-rounded features, the grinding elements detract from the experience for many players.
- “The campaign is tediously slow and poorly balanced.”
- “However, the way they implemented things like the new crime system, rats, and gong are just tedious and annoying.”
- “Some achievements require grinding lots of online games which might not be possible in the future.”
monetization
6 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The monetization strategy of the game has received negative feedback from users, primarily due to the inclusion of intrusive advertisements for other titles during the startup and in the launcher, which detracts from the overall experience. Despite purchasing the game on sale, players feel that the presence of ads undermines the value, especially when technical issues remain unaddressed.
- “As part of the opening intro, there is an advertisement for another one of their games. I bought the collection on sale for $7.”
- “I have to give it a thumbs down, though, as the developers felt the need to play ads for their other games when you start it up.”
- “They added an advertisement video before the main menu.”
emotional
1 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
Players express that the game evokes strong emotions, with some recalling moments of frustration that led to tears, highlighting a deep connection to the gameplay experience despite challenges.
- “This game made me cry when I was younger because I was having so much fun but couldn't figure out how the trade carts worked.”