Stronghold

Reviewed By: Jeremy
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GAME TECH INFO

Computer Platform: PC
Produced by: FireFly Studios, and GodGames
Learning curve time: 1-2 hrs.
Age level: Teen to Adult
ESRB Rating: T (Teen)
Patches / Upgrades: Paches can be downloaded here.
System Requirements: Windows 95, 98 Memory: 64 MB RAM Hard disk Space: 300Mb Processor: Pentium II 300 Video: DirectX 7.0 compatible 4Mb video cards Sound: DirectX 7.0 compatible sound card Modem: 56K Modem (For Internet Play) Preferred: Pentium 550

Overall Rating:
Genre: Simulation/RTS
Christian Rating: 4 of 5
   (slightly offensive)
Gameplay: 3 of 5
   (average)
Violence: 3 of 5
   (mild)
Adult Content: 4 of 5
   (barely present)

Stronghold is a medieval strategy/simulation game. It is quite realistic, no magic or monsters. You Begin as the lord of a small peninsula. Your father was ambushed and killed in a former war, and you are out for revenge. This is probably the worst aspect of this game, except perhaps the developers name God Games, who's logo is a demonic looking gargoyle.

It is your responsibility to build a castle, complete with farms, Churches (most likely catholic), industries, and weapon manufacturing buildings. In most levels, your objective is either to defend your castle, or to destroy your enemy's. You have to manage how much your citizens like you, through many different aspects. Having four types of food, double rations, a cathedral, and a bunch of flowers and statues, will help you get away with high taxes. Or you could have Gallows, stocks, and dungeons to make your peasants work harder, but they won't be too happy about this.

Your enemies are 4 different lords, all having an animal nickname (The Rat, The Snake, The Pig, and The Wolf). Each of the lords are uniquely corrupted and evil, and you eventually kill them all. You battle them in a series of level, moving through their counties and conquering them.

There are some bad aspects of this game. First of all, the violence is moderately bad. Enemy troops die in a slightly bloody mess, and then disappear. There is also a moderate language problem, but nothing to serious. The opposing lords vary from rough, to vulgar, to pathetic.

You are basically portrayed as a good person. In some levels you help defend other people. In one you even protect a monastery of monks. You don't have to be good to your people though. You can extort them with high taxes, and push them to work harder with devices of punishment. All in all, this is a pretty good game. There are a few problems, so I only recommend this to teenagers and adults, although there is nothing that will particularly scar a child for life. The game is GameSpy compatible.

Year of Release—2001

Disclaimer: The opinions expressed in this Christian Spotlight review are those of the reviewer (both ratings and recommendations), and do not necessarily reflect the opinions of Films for Christ or the Christian Answers Network.