Games Encyclopedia Top Games PC PS5 XSX PS4 PS3 Xbox One Xbox 360 Switch Android iOS Rankings Images Companies
Stronghold 2 (PC cover
Game Box forStronghold 2 (PC)

Stronghold 2 PC

The second installment in the series of strategy games which was started in 2001 by Firefly studio. The developers decided not to experiment with gameplay mechanics and instead only expanded the best features of the original.

Strategy | Economic | RTS | the middle ages

Stronghold 2 Release Date PC

19April2005

developer: Firefly Studios publisher: Take 2 Interactive Official website

English language game language: English

Games similar to Stronghold 2

Anno 1404

Knights of Honor

Stronghold

A full-fledged sequel of Stronghold – a game released in 2001 which proved to be a great middle ages strategy. Similarly to the original game, in Stronghold 2 for PC the main focus of the gameplay is to build, and defend powerful fortresses and castles. Much like in the original, the player can select from two singleplayer campaigns. The first one focuses on military aspect of the game while the second one focuses on economy. The missions are very similar to those from the previous game – players must complete tasks appointed by the AI, for example gather enough resources in limited time, defend the castle from a few waves of attacks etc. In addition to the campaign mode, the game also contains sandbox mode and multiplayer.

Mechanics

The developers greatly expanded battle options. In this installment, breaking through castle walls is impossible for units not equipped with siege machines, towers or at least ladders. Similarly, it is impossible to destroy walls without having catapults. Armies can move in a few typical formations like V shaped cavalry. It is worth adding that in Stronghold 2 for PC there are around 24 unit types, including weakly armored infantry, archers and heavy armored knights.

The economical aspect of the game was improved as well. There are almost 140 buildings and constructions available in the game (including a forgery, a mill, a bakery, a quarry, castle parts etc.) and about 20 different production chains which allow creating basic resources (like wood, stone, iron, and grain) and weapons or food. Stronghold 2 introduces a completely new feature, the cleanliness of the stronghold. It is important because ignoring the hygiene can lead to an epidemic or plague outbreak.

Technical aspects

What noticeably makes Stronghold 2 for PC different from the first game are graphics. This time the game uses fully three-dimensional graphics engine (with a top-down perspective) thanks to which players can watch each part of the life of a middle age city. The player can see people walking through open space and working in closed rooms, houses or workshops. The new engine allows an increased the size of battles and sieges – it allows up to 1000 units to be displayed on the screen simultaneously. The combat now takes place inside various fortifications or towers as well.

Last updated on 10 December 2007

Game mode: single / multiplayer   Multiplayer mode: Internet  

Media type: 2 CD

User score: 8.5 / 10 based on 4580 votes.

PEGI rating Stronghold 2

Age rating. The PEGI rating considers the age suitability of a game, not the level of difficulty. Game contains bad language. Game depicts nudity and/or sexual behaviour or sexual references. Game contains depictions of violence.

Stronghold 2 System requirements

PC / Windows

PC / Windows

  • Recommended:
  • Pentium 4 2 GHz
  • 512MB RAM
  • graphic card 64 MB
  • 2.5 GB HDD
See/Add Comments