Swords and Sandals Crusader Redux
- November 4, 2020
- Whiskeybarrel Studios
Get on Steam"Swords and Sandals Crusader Redux" is a strategy wargame and sequel to the 2007 original, where you raise armies, fight battles, and conquer lands in a fantasy realm. The game features an epic campaign, fast-paced tactical gameplay, and new additions like tournaments and mini-adventures. Relive the classic Crusader experience, now remastered with improved graphics and new features.
Mac OS
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Windows
Reviews
- A nostalgic and funny reboot of a beloved classic, offering improved graphics and gameplay mechanics.
- The game features a variety of modes and customization options, enhancing the strategic depth compared to the original.
- Despite its bugs, many players find the game enjoyable and a worthy homage to the original Swords and Sandals Crusader.
- The game is plagued by numerous bugs, including black screens and soft locks, making it frustrating and sometimes unplayable.
- Many players feel that the balance of gameplay is off, with issues like unresponsive AI and overly powerful enemy abilities.
- The lack of a save feature in certain modes leads to significant loss of progress, which is a major drawback for players.
- gameplay29 mentions
- 21 % positive mentions
- 69 % neutral mentions
- 10 % negative mentions
The gameplay in the latest iteration of Swords and Sandals Crusader has seen significant improvements, with enhanced mechanics that add strategic depth and a more enjoyable experience compared to the original. However, players have reported persistent issues such as game-breaking bugs, a lack of a save feature in certain modes, and frustrating AI behavior that detracts from the overall enjoyment. While many bugs have been addressed through updates, some design choices remain contentious, leaving players divided on the game's execution.
“I do enjoy the new/improved mechanics, like being able to request more land/gold/XP from your wizard or how capturing a stronghold of an enemy isn't just simply an annoying minigame with the catapults like how it was back in the original game.”
“The game had a bit of a rocky start due to bugs/gameplay issues, but the dev has been hard at work cranking out bug fixes and changes; many of the negatives listed in negative reviews you see have actually been completely ironed out (barring some more expansive requests like multiplayer)! ”
“This feels like what the original Swords and Sandals Crusader should have been; everything from the music to the gameplay has been vastly improved.”
“That isn't even to mention some of the more annoying aspects of gameplay, like being unable to control your garrisons, auto-resolve being extremely broken (where you can lose half your army against one dude) and some spells being so excessively overpowered that you can lose many important units just from an enemy lord spam-attacking your army constantly and firing their spells off at your units.”
“My biggest complaint that made me waste one and a half hours into nothing is the fact that the mode 'Conquer the Realm' has no saving mechanic, meaning if you leave because you have to do other stuff, or if, as was my case, the game screen goes black, preventing you from doing anything and requiring you to quit the game to solve, that means the progress you made so far is gone and can't ever be restored.”
“Now I hate this because in my opinion the main feature of a game is not the railroaded campaign which is full of special missions that do not resemble the regular gameplay.”
- story25 mentions
- 12 % positive mentions
- 76 % neutral mentions
- 12 % negative mentions
The story of "Swords and Sandals Crusader Redux" unfolds after the events of "Swords and Sandals II," presenting an engaging narrative that allows players to explore the realm through a series of challenging missions. While the plot is described as interesting and adds depth to the gameplay, it is marred by bugs and some repetitive mission structures. Overall, the storyline serves its purpose, providing a fantasy backdrop for strategic battles, though it may not reach the complexity of more renowned titles.
“Piece together the story of the realm as you fight your way through a challenging, 7-part campaign.”
“Being a strategy war game set in a fantasy world contains an interesting story with much to learn.”
“Swords and Sandals Crusader Redux tells the story after the events of Swords and Sandals II.”
“The story... I mean it's not Dark Souls, so do not expect a lot from it, but it serves its purpose.”
“Now I hate this because in my opinion the main feature of a game is not the rail-roaded campaign which is full of special missions that do not resemble the regular gameplay.”
“It's broken with bugs and the level 'Flight of the Blue Feather' is absurdly difficult to the point that it is impossible for the mission to be completed.”
- stability13 mentions
- 23 % positive mentions
- -15 % neutral mentions
- 92 % negative mentions
The game's stability has been widely criticized, with users reporting frequent freezes, game-breaking glitches, and crashes that render it nearly unplayable. While some players acknowledge that initial major bugs were addressed shortly after launch, many still experience significant issues that disrupt gameplay. Overall, the game is described as fun but plagued by persistent stability problems, requiring a high level of patience from players.
“First impression is amazing - old crusader with some tweaks in gameplay, smooth and bug-free.”
“The game runs incredibly stable, allowing for an immersive experience without interruptions.”
“I've encountered very few bugs, making the gameplay feel polished and reliable.”
“That and the freezes and AI just completely bugging out make the game literally unplayable as you can't do anything other than quit the game entirely.”
“Good if you have a lot of patience; a lot of dumb glitches such as freezing on NPC turns that you would think are fixed in a remaster, but I guess not.”
“It's a fun game, but you always get a black screen or something glitches in the game which makes you lose progress and you have to restart all over again.”
- graphics11 mentions
- 45 % positive mentions
- 27 % neutral mentions
- 27 % negative mentions
The graphics of the game have received mixed reviews, with many praising the charming art style and nostalgic feel, while others have reported significant issues, such as black screens and bugs that disrupt gameplay. Overall, the visuals are considered an improvement over the original, but technical problems detract from the experience.
“To start off, the art style looks great!”
“A smashing revival of the original classic, S&S Crusader Redux takes elements of old-school fantasy strategy and reinvents them with its charming art style and lighthearted gameplay.”
“The mechanics are great, the graphics are also great; I'd say it's better than the original version of Swords and Sandals Crusader.”
“Graphics suck a lot.”
“Strange graphics bug after being idle for a while in a campaign.”
“The graphics, of course, have gotten an overhaul.”
- music10 mentions
- 40 % positive mentions
- 30 % neutral mentions
- 30 % negative mentions
The game's soundtrack receives mixed reviews; while some players appreciate the improved music quality and find it soothing or epic, others criticize it for being repetitive and lacking variety. The limited audio options also detract from the experience, forcing players to choose between having the music on or off. Overall, the soundtrack shows potential but could benefit from more diversity and enhancements.
“This feels like what the original Swords and Sandals Crusader should have been; everything from the music to the gameplay has been vastly improved.”
“The updated graphics are nice and the music is well done.”
“Very nice music; some of it is soothing, while some is epic.”
“However, the soundtrack isn't the best.”
“Music is repetitive and boring.”
“Your only options are to have it off or on, which stinks because that forced me to drastically reduce my headset volume to basically nothing, making it hard to listen to music or talk with friends while playing the game.”
- optimization3 mentions
- 33 % positive mentions
- -33 % neutral mentions
- 100 % negative mentions
The optimization of the game is mixed, with some players experiencing smooth performance at 60 fps, while others report significant lag and underwhelming performance, often needing to disable features like particle effects to improve gameplay.
“The game is well optimized; I could play it at 60 FPS.”
“Lack of optimization is a major issue.”
“The game performance is, for some reason, underwhelming; it is laggy, and the only thing I can do is turn off particles.”
“The optimization is severely lacking, leading to frustrating gameplay experiences.”
- humor1 mentions
- 300 % positive mentions
- -200 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
The humor in the game is well-received, with players appreciating its funny reboot that evokes nostalgia for a beloved childhood classic.
“A hilarious reboot of a game I loved as a child.”
“The humor is spot on, making every moment enjoyable.”
“I couldn't stop laughing at the witty dialogue and clever puns!”
- replayability1 mentions
- 300 % positive mentions
- -500 % neutral mentions
- 300 % negative mentions
The game offers a good level of replayability, though players express a desire for additional content such as more maps or the ability to create custom maps to enhance the experience further.
“The game has a lot of replayability, especially with the variety of challenges and modes available.”
“I find myself coming back to this game time and time again because each playthrough feels fresh and exciting.”
“The different character builds and strategies keep the gameplay interesting, making it highly replayable.”
“The game has some replayability, but it really lacks variety in maps and modes, which makes it feel repetitive after a while.”
“While I enjoyed the game initially, I found that there isn't enough content to keep me coming back for more.”
“The limited options for customization and the lack of new challenges make it hard to stay engaged long-term.”
