Stronghold 2

 PC
User Score
6.4

Mixed or average reviews- based on 228 Ratings

User score distribution:
  1. Positive: 96 out of 228
  2. Mixed: 74 out of 228
  3. Negative: 58 out of 228
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  1. Disappointed
    Sep 2, 2005
    3
    Some of the buidlings aren't rotable for placement, logs aren't cleared from the environment, so you can't build anything on it. Selecting 10 archers to fit into a outpost is simply near to impossible. Too many troops and you will experience "unselected" bugs. Lousy AI. Stupid concepts : Why can't I feed my viliages with a vegi plot, and eel but I can hold a feast with Some of the buidlings aren't rotable for placement, logs aren't cleared from the environment, so you can't build anything on it. Selecting 10 archers to fit into a outpost is simply near to impossible. Too many troops and you will experience "unselected" bugs. Lousy AI. Stupid concepts : Why can't I feed my viliages with a vegi plot, and eel but I can hold a feast with them. Why must there be hornor before I can recruit people. Why Can't I build structures/castles in land not belonging to me. U mean in real life this doesn't happen?… Expand
  2. SeanH.
    May 2, 2005
    1
    I loved SH and thought SH2 would be great. It started well, but very quickly the dreaded lag came in and now its just a pain to play. The enjoyment isnt worth the pain of the lag. I have wasted my money on a lemon.
  3. JoeE.
    Jun 18, 2005
    3
    This game has soooo much it could be/do. However they released it way to early and its just a waste. Would be an awesome game if they would fix the bugs =/
  4. Mr.Dude
    Aug 5, 2007
    4
    This game started out well, I enjoy playing the game itself, the game isn't horrible graphically ( though a bit dated by todays standards) runs very well and has only one issue. Unfortunately for this game, the issue is large enough for me to dwindle it's potential to a 4. The lack of AI players makes the possibility of reaming computers with your buddies makes the game fall This game started out well, I enjoy playing the game itself, the game isn't horrible graphically ( though a bit dated by todays standards) runs very well and has only one issue. Unfortunately for this game, the issue is large enough for me to dwindle it's potential to a 4. The lack of AI players makes the possibility of reaming computers with your buddies makes the game fall flat. I like strategy games, and own most of them, but single player doesn't make up the joy that I miss from being able to squash the AI personally. Oh well, good game, needs multiplayer to be fixed.… Expand
  5. MattEldstrom
    Jun 2, 2005
    2
    they really need to work on the concept of finishing the game completely before releasing it to the public. ive waited for weeks for the last patch and thier still not close to fixing all the nagging bugs. a simply sloppily made game. not worth the money to buy new.
  6. JimS.
    Jun 2, 2005
    2
    Patched twice but no problems sovled. The game is unplayable as it crashes constantly. Too bad, it looked ike it coud have been a good game.
  7. PitoC.
    Jul 6, 2005
    4
    Love the SH games, but this is a disappointment. Running on an AMD 3000+ XP, with 1 gig ram and a 9800 Pro... I can run sims like IL2 and Silent Hunter 3, Doom3, Half Life 2, Rome: TW, etc, etc but this game has serious problems with framerates. 32 peasants, a few archers, not even a completed castle, and it slows to a crawl. Shameful.
  8. BenW.
    Aug 3, 2005
    0
    I own it, but haven't had a real chance to play. It ALWAYS crashes after 5-30 minutes. The game has so much potential and someone should be getting fired.
  9. Bob
    Aug 4, 2005
    0
    Could have been my most faviourate game ever but instead it is so craptacular due to lag that i had to give it away.
  10. VInceC.
    Aug 4, 2005
    0
    This game was anticipated by me and friends for a while. I was surprised to see it on the shelf at the store last week, so I bought it. Biggest purchasing mistake I have made in recent memory! The game is super laggy, even on a dual AMD MP 2800+ w/ 2GB PC4000 RAM, RADEON 9800 Pro and a 0/1 320GB RAID array! You cannot throw any more raw computing power at a peice of software (unless you This game was anticipated by me and friends for a while. I was surprised to see it on the shelf at the store last week, so I bought it. Biggest purchasing mistake I have made in recent memory! The game is super laggy, even on a dual AMD MP 2800+ w/ 2GB PC4000 RAM, RADEON 9800 Pro and a 0/1 320GB RAID array! You cannot throw any more raw computing power at a peice of software (unless you work at Lawrence Livermore Laboratories and have access to their super computers)! I wrote an email to customer support about the lack of an option to add AI players in a multiplaer game, and they wrote back: "AI was disabled due to a fault found, it will be restored in a future patch for the game, but at this time it is not possible to add AI." - Take2 tech 'support' What a shame, this used to be one of my favorite games! I knew I should have downloaded this gme instaed of buying it. Take2, you suck!!!!! PS - How could anyone rate this game above a 5? The people who rated it a 10 must have a financial interext in this crappy game right?… Expand
  11. RobertB
    May 9, 2006
    1
    I've played a lot of RTS in my time, and this one takes the cake as the worst. I've played free text based games that had more depth, and entertainment value than this. The publishers need to be put on the rack. Firefly...well, they need the humiliation mask. For shame.
  12. JohnJ.
    Jan 5, 2007
    1
    I loved Stronghold and Crusader. Two of the best games I've ever played. They rock! So, being a lover of the these two, I decided to give SH2 a go. Frankly, I was very excited to play it. The screenshots looked awesome and the information on the game was quite appealing, especially all the extras they added to buildings, Lord control, feasts, crime and punishment, and much more, I loved Stronghold and Crusader. Two of the best games I've ever played. They rock! So, being a lover of the these two, I decided to give SH2 a go. Frankly, I was very excited to play it. The screenshots looked awesome and the information on the game was quite appealing, especially all the extras they added to buildings, Lord control, feasts, crime and punishment, and much more, however, shortly after installing the game, I was VERY disappointed. The graphics are horrible, loading times are slower than the molasses in January, and even if you are running a top of the line system, the game lags really bad. The game is also quite buggy even with the latest patches. It runs worse than Morrowind, and that's bad enough. The developers should be ashamed of themselves for releasing such dribble. It just goes to show you that sometimes, sequels are not as good as the originals. I still have the game, but am taking it back tomorrow for a refund. I reinstalled Stronghold and Crusader, and will stick with those. I heard Legends is just as bad. What a shame... All in all, I give SH2 a two thumbs waaaaay down. Save your money. Bah! Crypts… Expand
  13. Macstout
    Apr 29, 2005
    2
    What a deception ! This last opus is currently the same game as Strohghold I with 3D added. Unfortunately, graphics are very poor, back 4 years ago and the game is bugged. AI is prehistoric and after playing few hours, you still don't have fun.... Stronghold and Stronghold crusader were really good game but this new one is terrible. I'm just upset about myself having bought the What a deception ! This last opus is currently the same game as Strohghold I with 3D added. Unfortunately, graphics are very poor, back 4 years ago and the game is bugged. AI is prehistoric and after playing few hours, you still don't have fun.... Stronghold and Stronghold crusader were really good game but this new one is terrible. I'm just upset about myself having bought the game without looking at the evaluations on internet....save your money buy something else !… Expand
  14. TomM.
    May 18, 2005
    3
    The first Stronghold rocked and Crusader was excellent as well. So what happened? Were the guys who programmed and coded this game drunk? The lag is so bad it makes the game NOT fun to play. I installed it, played until I experienced a few dozen bugs, uninstalled it and threw it in my junk CD drawer in my file cabnet. My machine runs Doom 3, Rome Total War, Far Cry and other graphics The first Stronghold rocked and Crusader was excellent as well. So what happened? Were the guys who programmed and coded this game drunk? The lag is so bad it makes the game NOT fun to play. I installed it, played until I experienced a few dozen bugs, uninstalled it and threw it in my junk CD drawer in my file cabnet. My machine runs Doom 3, Rome Total War, Far Cry and other graphics intensive games smooth as silk. But not this game...hmmm.… Expand
  15. DavidC.
    Jul 10, 2005
    4
    Stronghold 2 is the worst example of a prematurely released game since Vampire Masquerade. What was a funny, charming and challenging series pays a tragic price for the obligatory transition to a 3d engine. An even greater sin are the many softball reviews that hide the simple truth that this game is unfinished, unplayable and falls far short of being a competitive RTS with any replay Stronghold 2 is the worst example of a prematurely released game since Vampire Masquerade. What was a funny, charming and challenging series pays a tragic price for the obligatory transition to a 3d engine. An even greater sin are the many softball reviews that hide the simple truth that this game is unfinished, unplayable and falls far short of being a competitive RTS with any replay value. Shame, shame.… Expand
  16. RaldyG.
    Jul 18, 2005
    2
    This game is good, except the frame rates and lag issues are horrible, ive waited for a long time for this game to come out, im really disappointed.
  17. EdvinM.
    Jul 25, 2005
    4
    Yes, the game itself is wonderful, worth to die for. But the bugs and the crashes, shame on SH2 team. Two patches created, still no results seen. Actually you cant blame the team, its the publishers who rushed the team too hard. The random crashes during MultiPlayer, sometimes transfers me to the main menu, sometimes closes the game and shows me the error report send message on Yes, the game itself is wonderful, worth to die for. But the bugs and the crashes, shame on SH2 team. Two patches created, still no results seen. Actually you cant blame the team, its the publishers who rushed the team too hard. The random crashes during MultiPlayer, sometimes transfers me to the main menu, sometimes closes the game and shows me the error report send message on StrongHold2.exe. Sometimes when I start a mission, it says "Defeat" at the start of the game! I mean the graphics, are lovable, the game itself is great! I would rate it 11, but sadly no. Ill give it a sad 4. The most amazing thing I have ever seen in a game is, that SinglePlayer lags even more than MultiPlayer.Someone should sue the games creators, as we didn't get the quality as promised, not our money worth.… Expand
  18. ChrisL.
    May 27, 2006
    1
    This game is horrible. the lag blows, and way to expensive for such a badly planned game like this one. don't waste ur time and money.
  19. JT
    Sep 25, 2006
    1
    What a tease. Such a disappointment. Insane lag and frequent crashes. I give it a one.
  20. shadowman
    Jan 14, 2006
    0
    Don't Buy Game Big Waste of Time and i payed over $50. Online play is the worst scam since Watergate. Trust Me. Multiplayer is a joke and thats what makes a game like this worth buying. Just Research Strongholds notorious lags and crashes suffers from memory leaks and it dosen't matter how high tech of a rig your running you computer junkies 64bit or 32bit multiplayer loadedDon't Buy Game Big Waste of Time and i payed over $50. Online play is the worst scam since Watergate. Trust Me. Multiplayer is a joke and thats what makes a game like this worth buying. Just Research Strongholds notorious lags and crashes suffers from memory leaks and it dosen't matter how high tech of a rig your running you computer junkies 64bit or 32bit multiplayer loaded with issues Firefly Studios i wll say, almost the best game ever developed hand down, loved Crusaders. Tthat Stronghold 1 to you newbees. But you really blew it with this one, didn't you! Yea you know you did. With all the frustration this game has caused me you could stick it. Becase thats what all you corporate basterds did to me. Why dont you finish what you started your pathes suck. Whats the matter didn't you do your homework spend the money now and fix your mistakes you cheap sons of bitches. Don't just cut your losses. Are you trying to give your company a bad image. Firefly Studios you guys should strike next time the big wigs start breathing down your neck. Hast Makes Wast Just Show Them Assholes This if they can't reshedule their deadlines.… Expand
  21. TimP.
    Jan 16, 2006
    0
    I loved the original Stronghold. While it could tend to be a slow game its' technical drawbacks did not impede game play. Once you get to a certain point, it matters not if you've accumulated an adequate "force" to complete missions because the technological drawbacks make the game like a DC-10 with no tail control... practically impossible. Firefly should be ashamed for selling I loved the original Stronghold. While it could tend to be a slow game its' technical drawbacks did not impede game play. Once you get to a certain point, it matters not if you've accumulated an adequate "force" to complete missions because the technological drawbacks make the game like a DC-10 with no tail control... practically impossible. Firefly should be ashamed for selling a product where the engine controlling scrolling, for instance, does not function. Avoid wasting your money on SH2.… Expand
  22. TravisH
    Jun 29, 2006
    0
    This game is so friken messed up. It pisses me off everyday that you can't even play multiplayer half the time without it locking up, and yet the company will not make any patches for it even after a year. They are now making a 3rd game and im afraid stronghold 2 is just going to go down the drain.
  23. dyshpo
    Jul 29, 2013
    2
    Game management AI is hit and miss freezes even graphic quality turned down Com AI is not very stable attacking randomly predictable failures brought on by civilians Sub par voice acting.
  24. Tripnip14
    Jul 3, 2013
    4
    The A.I. is retarded, and the bugs are ridiculous. Crossbows shoot faster than bowmen, a small rock from a mangonel causes an area of affect attack that sends men flying, and knights are useless on foot due to the fact they have to sheath and then redraw their sword every time they kill an enemy and move on to a new one. Just stick to the original, you cry from disappointment, despite theThe A.I. is retarded, and the bugs are ridiculous. Crossbows shoot faster than bowmen, a small rock from a mangonel causes an area of affect attack that sends men flying, and knights are useless on foot due to the fact they have to sheath and then redraw their sword every time they kill an enemy and move on to a new one. Just stick to the original, you cry from disappointment, despite the new features.… Expand
  25. ClarenceF.
    Jun 21, 2005
    0
    I can't even install it. It installs Disk1 for several minutes, and then sees disk2 as corrupt or not there, even though I can view the contents! Their tech support is absolutlely worthless!
  26. Avoh
    Aug 8, 2011
    0
    I bought the entire collection, stronghold, stronghold crusader, crusader extreme, legends, stronghold 2 from walmart for 20 bucks, I believe playing them for a hour has actually taken a few years off my life. --- WORST RTS to exist

Awards & Rankings

20
#20 Most Discussed PC Game of 2005
17
#17 Most Shared PC Game of 2005

Critic Reviews

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Metascore
63

Mixed or average reviews - based on 33 Critic Reviews

Critic score distribution:
  1. Positive: 7 out of 33
  2. Mixed: 22 out of 33
  3. Negative: 4 out of 33
  1. Yahoo!
    80
    The new perspective works excellently and the added buildings and units are welcome. It's a shame some of the old problems, like the unconvincing AI, are still around, but the intricate economy and unusual siege play make it stand out.
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  2. Next Level Gaming
    70
    Even with the painfully long load screens and the lags in the game play I still enjoy this game.
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  3. GameSpot
    59
    A poor story, weak artificial intelligence, and plenty of bugs mar what otherwise could have been a simple yet fun castle-building game.
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