Quirky interface oversights and glitches keep Stronghold 3 from being too fun for too long...
The latest installment to the series tries to appease fans of the original game by simplifying the game-play mechanics. Gone is the ridiculous justice system of Stronghold 2, but the game remains just as frustrating do to instability and performance issues.
The graphics are the best of any Stronghold game to date, however they are still not up to par with other modern games. Large castles do however look impressive, and the game engine does a good job creating dramatic lighting and shadow effects, but Stronghold 3 still looks six years old.
Quirky interface oversights and glitches keep Stronghold 3 from being too fun for too long, and battles often get frustrating as a player tries to click on his or her troops during a siege.
The game's storyline is unimaginative, and doesn't really give a player any sense of purpose during the campaign missions. The beloved skirmish game and skirmish trail modes from Stronghold Crusader are sadly missing, which really limits Stronghold 3's lasting appeal.
I have not given up on this game quite yet. There is always a chance that Firefly Studios will address Stronghold 3's shortcomings with hot-fixes and free content downloads. For now however, you are better off waiting until the price is dropped to $19.99.