Mount & Blade: With Fire & Sword vs Stronghold Crusader 2
Mount & Blade: With Fire & Sword
Mount & Blade: With Fire & Sword is second in line when it comes to the best Mount & Blade game there is. Granted that the game isn't exactly perfect, it does bring along several exciting new features such as the addition of muskets, pistols and grenades, an enhanced, faction-based single-player game, as well as a list of original multiplayer content including new game modes like Captain Team Deathmatch. You can also customize your soldiers with the weapon and armor of your choice. Unfortunately, like many older games, Mount & Blade: With Fire & Sword hasn't really aged well, so you can expect some issues with the game and well, outdated graphics.That said, the game still offer a pretty epic gameplay that can be comparable to Mount & Blade Warband to some extent. However, if you have to choose one of the two, we'd still recommend you to get Warband rather than With Fire & Sword though.
Stronghold Crusader 2
Stronghold Crusader 2 returns to the desert of the Middle East right in the middle of the war of religions known as the Crusades after a long hiatus. Similar to the previous game, you'll get to play as a brutal Crusader Knight or Arabic freedom fighter as you lead your respective armies to annihilate the other in the game's fast-paced gameplay. Being a series known for its brilliant castle simulations, you can also build huge castles in the desert to house your population and to recruit massive armies to fuel your battles.There are more than 25 unique unit types, each with their own special abilities; other game modes aside from the main story-based campaigns as well as a multiplayer aspect that can house up to 8 players.
That said, the game has a lot of bugs and as such, your gaming experience will definitely be impacted. Many features that fans of the series have loved were somehow taken out of this sequel too and that had angered and disappointed a lot of the game's fans. All in all though, if you enjoy Crusades-themed games, you might want to get the first game in this spin-off series.