


However, that’s not the main focus of the warlords system. Jumping from 16 lords in Crusader to 4 in Warlords is a little rough. I miss the personalities and voice lines of every unique lord in previous games compared to the quiet warlords here. The warlords system is completely new to me. There’s nothing more satisfying than enemies chasing your horse archers that shoot while moving. The economic campaign is an excellent example alongside the horse-riding Genghis Khan missions too. This makes it a slow start for Stronghold veterans, while creating unique scenarios later on. You’re often restricted to certain buildings and units until you’ve learned enough. However, it doesn’t get into its flow until later missions. To the point that I was comparing Stronghold: Warlords missions side by side with in-depth pages of sieges and conquests. Thinking back to an Asian history course I took in college, these missions inspired me to look them up. There are five campaigns each heavily inspired by Asian history with warlords, shoguns, and prestigious commanders. The Stronghold: Warlords campaign is a good mix between explaining the mechanics and interesting scenarios. 2 – Solid Campaign With 20-30 Hours of Content The Mongolian throat-singing is also a marvelous touch for such a distinctive soundtrack. These minor changes keep it familiar while still providing new content to enjoy. In addition to Zen Gardens and Kung Fu Plazas to keep peasants happy. For example, temples and statues replace cathedrals for a new Spirit system. Firefly Studios successfully keeps past features while putting an Asian twist on them.

As a fan of those that hasn’t played the more recent ones, I loved my time with Warlords. Continue reading below for my thoughts on the full game in this review.ġ – Stronghold: Warlords is an Excellent Return to the FranchiseĪ lot of Stronghold fans are worried about how Stronghold: Warlords holds up to the original games. Now that I’ve had plenty of time with it, I can safely say Firefly Studios nailed their Asian setting for Stronghold: Warlords. I couldn’t wait to get my hands on the Stronghold: Warlords demo back in June 2020 during a Steam Game Festival. The Stronghold franchise has always been a strong source of nostalgia for me growing up on the original and Crusader.
