The original isometric Stronghold Crusader was released way back in 2002, a year after Stronghold, and both were very well-received.
It's a great period for the Stronghold series to return to. A particularly fine example of said internecine monotheism was the long period of the Crusades, when a load of nobles wearing steel onesies were pressure-cooked in the sun whilst hundreds of servants died killing the distressed locals in spectacular sieges. That sacred place where people of all faiths have convened to massacre each other in the name of the same god since the year dot. The addition of some extra content in the form of purely aesthetic options and new emblems is simply icing on a nicely presented, if rather tiny, cake.Ah, the holy land. That being said, the seven missions are also quite hard and will likely last players a fair while. Whilst seven missions with little in the way of new gameplay may seem bare compared to some downloadable content, the price here certainly reflects the size of the installment. At this price point, it’s hard not to recommend this to fans of Stronghold. Thankfully, The Emperor and the Hermit is a very generously priced DLC pack at just $3.99. Hardened Stronghold fans will enjoy playing through new missions against the new AIs, but with the exception of a few neat little extras like the shields and design options, that’s all there is to find here. No new units or gameplay mechanics are offered in this package, so it really just offers more of the same. While the new visual options for castles are pleasing, they don’t add to the gameplay, and that is what this DLC is lacking. Unfortunately, the Emperor and the Hermit doesn’t have a great deal to offer beyond the core seven skirmish scenarios.
Experienced players who are well-versed with Stronghold will find a rewarding challenge in these new missions.
The AI puts up a reasonable fight in each of the new missions, and the two AI characters build castles that are tough to overcome for the uninitiated. New players would be wise to avoid this DLC until they’ve tackled the rest of the core game, as it’s not for beginners. The missions themselves are well-paced and appropriately challenging. In addition to the new mini-campaign, the DLC also comes with new aesthetic castle designs, custom shield emblems and a few achievements.
New AIs are provided in the form of the two characters, whilst the bulk of the DLC is in the form of seven new missions to play through, featuring the Emperor and the Hermit. The content is themed around the two titular characters, both religious zealots in command of armies of equally zealous followers. The Emperor and the Hermit DLC offers a small but noteworthy bundle of new features to entice fans of Stronghold Crusader 2. There’s a lot to keep track of in Stronghold games, but it’s a well-rounded strategic experience that has a sizable following. You’ll be tasked with building a fortress, providing food for its citizens and organizing resource-gathering whilst also preparing your military for both defense and offense. Stronghold Crusader 2 advances the gameplay from earlier Stronghold games, most notably the first Stronghold Crusader. FireFly Studios have been developing Stronghold games for years, and The Emperor and the Hermit is the latest DLC for their most recent title, Stronghold Crusader 2. With a mixed focus on both military combat and castle building, Stronghold takes a more construction-centric approach than other RTS games, but it also features some traditional warfare reminiscent of Age of Empires. The Stronghold series is a survivor of the now comparatively rare RTS genre. Stronghold Crusader 2: The Emperor and the Hermit DLC – What We Think