简介：ForthoseofyouwhowantthesplendouroftheDarkAgeswithnoneofthesideeffects--scurvy,theBlackDeath,beingburntatthestake,etc.--thenStrongholdmightjustbetheanswer.Basicallyit'sasiegesimwithsomecombatandAgeofEmpires-styleresourcemanagementthrownin.ThegameissetattheheightofthefeudalsysteminEngland;therearetwomissionstoplaythrough,thestory-basedcombatmission,orthestandaloneeconomicmission. Thecombatmissionisthemoststory-basedofthegameelements.YouareayoungKnightwhosefatherhasbeenmurderedwhilsttryingtoreunitethekingdom.Butyourcastleisthecentralfocusandmustbedefendedatallcosts.Theideaistobuildakeep,towersandbattlements,whichyoucanusetoyourstrategicadvantageanddefendagainsttheenemy'sforces.InStrongholdyouradversarywillcomereadyandarmedwithladdersandsiegeenginesandwillknowhowtousethem. Theeconomicaspectofthegameowesmorethanalittletocity-buildingsimssuchasCaesarandPharaohandfollowsaprettystandardRTSresourcemanagementformula.Ifyouwanttomakebreadyouneedtogrowwheat,getitmilledintoflourandthenbuildsomebakeriestomakethebread.Youcan'tminegold;youmakeitbytaxingyourpeasantsandtradingyoursurplussuppliesandbuildsuchedificesaschurches,weaponsmiths,employsoldiersforyourarmyandinstallafirebrigade. Despitetheapparentcomplexitythisisaremarkablyintuitivegametoplay.Thedevelopershaveaddedsomereallygreatelementsand(whisperthis)lookliketheyhavethoughtabouthowpeopleplayanRTSandtriedtoeliminatethosefrustratingfundamentalsthatdriveyoutousingtheCDasacoaster.Thecameraisnotstrictly3-D,youcanviewthecastlefromeither,north,south,eastorwestandtomakesurethatyoucangetridofthoseannoyingchinksinyouwallwhicharehiddenbehindtrees.Graphicallyitlooksgreat.Andtherearesomereallyniceanimations(burningbuildingsandrabbitmutilationaside).Thecastlesareaworkofartandyoucanevengetyourspearmentobuildmoatssothatyoucangoforthatclassicmedievaledificelook.Allinall,thisisdefinitelymorethanthesumofitsramparts.--KristenBowditch…