Crusader Kings (PC) Game Review

The 2004 Paradox game based in the middle ages on the ownership of land and the hierarchy of kingship. For those of you who've played many paradox games and liked this, then best skip past this review because my score is in no way complementary. For me, this game almost hit the mark and yet its bad points were too large to ignore and dragged it down alot. Besides, it probably didn't help that I hadn't really given a bad review since starting these and this was the only game I had at my current flat which I didn't need a disk for and fraps worked perfectly with. Just in case the review itself isn't too clear

Pros: *graphical style is quite nice (although most of the brides tend to look horrendously ugly) *music is quite good but samey and repetitive *System of hierarchy is fairly simple and easy to grasp *Claims system means countries don't usually just declare war on you for no reason (although with Egypt that didn't exactly hold true) *As always it doesn't need the disk to run and you can save anytime

Cons: *There appears to be no ranking system and ultimately it's unclear what "victory" looks like *Building works in provinces is both limited and expensive and, taking forever, leaves you twiddling your thumbs until another marriage is needed *Biggest gripe - if you try to expand and use your troops in other provinces, not only does your reputation go way down but they will eventually all rebel against you and even a new King cannot inspire loyalty as he has the same reputation!

System requirements
Windows
256 MB RAM, 4X CD-ROM drive, DirectX 8.1, Windows 98
Mac OS:
500 MHz CPU, 256 MB RAM

Category:

Gaming

Tags:

• crusader
• kings
• review
• pc
• game
• paradox
• entertainment
• medieval
• dark
• ages

[Ursanclaw]

You do know that you can mobilise a vassals army by clicking on the province right? (even though it destroys 10% loyalty)

BTW, is there anyone who can help me with the following problem:

Through "breeding programs" I created a ruler with starting stats of 12 m, 10 d, 13i and 14s, and I want him dead (long story, just want his son to rule), but the problem is, he survives every assassination attempt.

Anyone who might know of a very succesful way to kill him?

[scottishterrierdude]

Aye, that's how I usually mobilise them.

A very successful way of killing characters is pressing F12 then typing in "die" - does the trick for me.

[coledash]

I understand that the game is really hard for newcomers, especially when theres practically no good tutorial/guides to go around. But please, do not mock a really good game just because you suck at it.

I dont mean that you should give it straight out 10/10, but at least give it cons and pros it really deserves.

The game is so full (try playing 1.0) of bugs and the horrible learning curve really are thorns on this games side.

[scottishterrierdude]

I really didn't mock this game I just gave my opinion on it. I never tell anyone to like or dislike a game but rather what I think of it. I'm glad you like it and I gave it the score I think it deserves as I do for all the games I review. Not to sound patronising but it is only a game try not to take it personally.

[joshy1987now]

great review. i like the honesty :) really helps. thanx.

[scottishterrierdude]

No problem, glad you liked it. I try to be brutally honest with games but only because it means more when I give a game a good review, rather than be someone who dolls out 10s here, there, and everywhere.

[ACMilan868]

This is one of the best games ever made.

[Kaarox]

Thanks for the review, I was interested in giving it a crack and even with the negative view It gave a good insight into the game.

[fartingunicorn7]

Hey could anyone help me with a clarification? :)

Are the battles in Crusader Kings based on some sort of randomness like (Europa unverisalis 3).

Or is it like battles in hearts of iron, where the battles were set (battles were swayed by multiple factors, BUT they never had any randomness).

When i mean randomness, i mean like a "rolling of the dice" battle system!!!

THANKSSSS!!!!

[XinBiDe]

Ahhh yes, 240p, my old friend...

[Zamolxx]

Dude change the laws and you can give titles even to your daughters. I love how someone who doesn't know important aspects of a game make reviews of it and bad ones at that. Paradox make complex games, visit their respective forum for more info.

[Zamolxx]

What difficulty did you use?

[ALECSF15]

Love this game,! but i cant play it on my windows 7 :(

i have no idea how to fix the glitch :/

[TovChapaev]

You are too nice, if you ask me. CK is easily one of the worst gaming experiences of my life, and I really wanted to like this game, as I am a Paradox junkie. I played it to the death, but after a couple of hundred hours of gameplay, the nonsense piled up too goddamn much to be bearable any longer. Courts turned into ERs with diseases targeting mostly male heirs, miscarriages all the time, vassals who have no memory of what you do for them and act completely randomly just to piss you off etc.

[TheSailor085]

I just played it today. This game is really EPIC.

[1337lolguyman]

This game reminds me of The Guild with the dynasties and stuff.

[cecasander]

Truth to be said, Crusader Kings (as with most Paradox titles) certainly isn't for everyone. I love it to death, but I can imagine why it would annoy people. The whole rebellion/backstabbing/little personal control thing is actually a fairly accurate simulator of medieval politics (and if you learn how to play with sliders and policies, can be manipulated) but they can lead to both very frustrating as well as intriguing results in-game.