god Stronghold Crusader was such a good game.

https://gamefiles.alphacoders.com/boxart/original/front/thumb-15483-1.jpg

Age Of Empires II

Empire Earth

Rise Of Nations

Cossacks

i could go on, these games are great however, i have fond memories of SC, it was one of my very first PC games. and yet it's still a masterpiece that could not even be surpassed by it's sequels, Stronghold 2,3 or even Crusader 2 ! (god Crusader 2 was BAD)

the sheer level of detail and atmosphere in the game is astounding to this day.

you can dump BOILING OIL on enemy troops, release dogs onto them..turn your castle into a satanic barbaric no man's land or be invaded by freakin LIONS.

stuff like seeing my castle surrounded by a moat or hearing "THE KEEP IS ENCLOSED" was such a nice feeling of safety and warmth.

but even better? the game's economy. the game balanced itself between being a game like Age Of Empires but also an actual castle sim. you HAD to build businesses to attract peasants to your castle. you could not survive on an pure army alone. you NEEDED peasants to build up your defenses.

the feeling of having 500 troops rushing your castle or watching as an enemy castle is sieged and IN RUINS is an adrenaline rush. it's live or die. unlike AOE or any other game, you could see your enemy at ANY TIME. there was no fog of war. so if they were being rushed by 500 slaves, you could sit back and watch the carnage.

the game had such memorable quotes such as

"morning your Lordship"

"no taxes is good taxes, that's my motto!"

"stone needed"

"wood needed'

"you are the..5th greatest lord"

you had cool CGI cutscenes reminiscent of Civ 4 as well whenever you contacted an ally and hearing their response was always a thrill.

the game had an incredible atmosphere as well,

extremely tense, at any second you could have The Wolf or Rat send 2000 slaves to your front door. all it would take is the music to start playing and your drawbridge (provided you had one) to go up unexpectedly. and when your king died? oh that cough. i can hear it in my head along with "VARLET" "KNAVE" and ofc "PEASANT"

all the RTS games i've played and yet no game comes close except MAYBE AOE.

do you guys have fond memories playing StrongHold Crusader?

please share them below !