Stronghold Video Game Series

The action of the games in the Stronghold series is set in medieval ages. Players have the opportunity to take on the role of feudal lords and direct the development of a stronghold. The game focuses on two aspects: military (conquering surrounding lands and defending our territory) and economic (providing raw materials needed for the smooth functioning of the settlement, erecting buildings or recruiting troops).

An important element of the gameplay is the construction of a medieval stronghold. The developers took care of a wide selection of available components such as walls, watchtowers, towers, entrance gates or defense machines. The combat mechanics are based on simple principles - recruited units differ in strength and endurance, and the better ones cost more money. It is worth noting that in the main games players have a choice of whether they want to play a military or economic campaign.

The first installment of the series had simple, two-dimensional graphics presented in an isometric view. Stronghold 2 has introduced a more complex, three-dimensional environment. In Stronghold 3 the developers abandoned their in-house engine in favor of Trinigy Vision Engine technology.

The series has started with Stronghold. Its plot is quite simple - the evil Lord Wolf decided to betray the king and our task is to oppose him. The game has sparked interest with its rich system of creating medieval castles. In addition, it has extensive fire mechanics, which is an important element of gameplay, which was not (at the time of the game's release) and is still not standard in RTS games. The title received a free add-on called Excalibur Pack, which allows us to direct the most famous historical and legendary castles.

Stronghold: Crusader, as the name suggests, moved the series to the times of the Crusades. Compared to the previous game, this one was not a revolution, but an evolution, keeping most elements from its predecessor intact. The biggest change was the introduction of mercenary units, which could be purchased in a dedicated building. Mercenaries cost much more than regular soldiers, but they did not need to be equipped with weapons. In addition, the desert maps required us to manage fertile land necessary for placing buildings that produce food.

The plot in Stronghold 2 is not very complicated - the king has disappeared in unexplained circumstances, and our task is to defend the kingdom from unfaithful vassals. The real revolution, however, is moving the series to full 3D, which allowed, for example, to fight battles in some buildings. We can also take a close look at the lives of our subordinates. A new honor mechanic was also implemented, which allows us to recruit certain units and purchase rural estates, which provide the player with raw materials and gold. The game has added new buildings, units and several mechanics for developing our castle, allowing for greater immersion.

Stronghold Legends is a spin-off of the series, which differs significantly from its predecessors. The game has heavily simplified the economic element and stronghold management, instead focusing on skirmishes. The title has 3 separate campaigns. We can take on the role of King Arthur, the hero of Norse mythology Sigurd Fafnesbane, and the famous Vlad the Impaler. The game has departed from realism, introducing mythical units such as dragons.

Stronghold 3 returns to the roots of the series - quite literally, as it is a direct continuation of the first game. Its action takes place 10 years after the events of Stronghold. The country is once again threatened by the Wolf, and the player once again takes on the role of the hero from the first game. The game uses a completely new graphics engine, and also abandos the grid mechanic when placing buildings, allowing more freedom in creating our castle.

Stronghold Kingdoms is based largely on the solutions of the first parts of the series, with the difference that it is a free-to-play MMORTS with microtransactions. The game allows us to take control of a village, and our task is to expand it. However, the title has been enhanced with mechanics that adapt it to an MMO. An example of this are various types of cards that we can use to accelerate the development of our settlement; we acquire them in the course of the game or buy them with real money. Players now also have access to spies, so they can check what forces other players have at their disposal. The combat system also had to change; they are fought automatically, and we are only sent a report with the option to preview how the skirmish went.

Stronghold: Warlords takes us to East Asia. The game combines elements of army expansion and a strong economy. This time, however, we are supported by the titular Warlords. These commanders give us unique bonuses,and can be upgraded for diplomacy points earned through special buildings. The game introduces many new units and buildings, raw materials and types of food.