Factsheet

Developer:
Firefly Studios
Based in London, England

Release date:
23 September, 2014

Platforms:
Steam
GOG

Website:
strongholdcrusader2.com

Regular Price:

USD49.99
GBP29.99
EUR34.99

Description

Stronghold Crusader 2 is the long awaited sequel to Stronghold Crusader, a game many consider to be the definitive castle sim. After 12 years Firefly are returning to the desert to make the game they have always wanted to make, recapturing the original Crusader’s addictive, fast-paced gameplay in a new 3D engine. “Ready when it’s ready”, Crusader 2 will define old school real time strategy with fiendish AI characters, fast-paced skirmish gameplay and new troops, traps and castles.

History

When it was first released in 2002 Stronghold Crusader put a unique twist on the gameplay of the original Stronghold by focussing on skirmish gameplay and replayability above all else. With a new setting, additional content and a greater focus on real-time strategy over the sim gameplay elements of the original Stronghold, Crusader quickly became the fan-favourite. Since launch Crusader has sold over two million copies, with over 3000 user-made maps still in circulation on one Stronghold fansite and fans still playing the game today. Recently Stronghold Crusader HD gave the game a new lease of life, offered as a free update for existing owners of the game and made available for purchase on GOG and Steam. Crusader 2 has been on the mind of Lead Designer Simon Bradbury since the release of Stronghold Crusader in 2002. It is only now, having become a fully independent studio, that Firefly feel comfortable delivering a worthy sequel to their fans’ favourite game. As a developer their mission is to recapture the addictive, intense gameplay that made the original Crusader a classic. Players can also expect new visuals, a reworked battle interface, new AI characters, environmental threats, new units and real-time physics.

Features

  • Build the Ultimate Castle - Design mighty strongholds and fill them with fiendish traps to crush your enemies!
  • Skirmish Mode - Lay siege to your enemies in fast-paced custom skirmish matches against the AI.
  • 8 Player Multiplayer - Mix and match human and AI players, maps and game modes to set up your ideal multiplayer game.
  • Battle a Wide Range of AI Lords - Classic AI characters return alongside new blood, each with distinct personalities, castles and play styles.
  • Challenge the Crusader Trail - Test your mettle across a range of increasingly tough skirmish campaigns.
  • Co-op Play - Share control over castle building, troop control and resource management in Co-op Mode.
  • Castle Sandbox - Dive into the Map Editor or Free Build mode and construct the ultimate castle without fear of attack.

Videos

Launch Trailer - YouTube

E3 2014 GameSpot Stage Demo - YouTube

Pre-Order Trailer - YouTube

The Music of Crusader 2 - YouTube


Images

download all screenshots & photos as .zip (97MB)
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Artwork

download all artwork as .zip (19MB)
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download logo files as .zip (2MB)
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Selected Articles

  • "For old, war-tested Stronghold players Crusader 2 is a triumphant evolution of the game that they've held dear for the last twelve years."
    - John-Paul Jones, Strategy Informer
  • "The game feel polished and modern: It’s properly 3D-modelled and constructed around a rigorous physics engine."
    - Steve Boxer, Empire
  • "Unique, fast-paced castle-building action the way it was meant to be."
    - Sergio Brinkhuis, Hooked Gamers
  • "Stronghold Crusader II is a game that will steal hours of your life if you let it."
    - Paul Tamburro, Game Revolution

Stronghold Soundtrack
Available for free from soundcloud.com.


About Firefly Studios

Boilerplate
Firefly Studios is a BAFTA nominated video game studio consisting of around 30 full and part-time staff, specialising in strategy games since 1999.

More information
More information on Firefly Studios, our logo & relevant media are available here.


Stronghold Crusader 2 Credits

Simon Bradbury
Lead Designer, Firefly Studios

Eric Ouellette
Company President, Firefly Studios

Paul Harris
Senior Producer, Firefly Studios


presskit() by Rami Ismail (Vlambeer) - also thanks to these fine folks