“Star Crusader is as riveting as any space combat title published this year, but it is the strategy component that vaults it into the upper echelons of entertainment software. F.J. Lennon’s plot about a galactic empire and an uneasy alliance formed to thwart its imperialistic designs is a compelling backdrop and motivation for the real-time combat.”
“One of the key elements of the game is the storyline, which progresses based on how you fare against the enemy. The branching plot helps keep things interesting. . . . Star Crusader is a good game and worth the price of admission.”
“The storyline is even richer than those found in some Origin offerings and is filled with back-stabbing, infighting, and secret plots against different factions. . . . Star Crusader emerges as a prominent product in the category, worthy of being mentioned in the same breath as X-Wing and Wing Commander.”
“A seductive, involving storyline. . . .Obviously, this kind of story-driven combat will remind a lot of players of Wing Commander. But Star Crusader takes the concept several steps beyond the relatively passive exposition of Wing Commander. . . . And with it’s branching storyline, good voice-acting, and depth of command options, you’ll likely get plenty of gaming out of this one.”
“Star Crusader has all the excitement of Wing Commander or X-Wing, plus an intriguing story built around the rise and fall of a galactic empire. Not to be missed.”
“Take 2 has done a wonderful job of creating an interesting pocket of the universe. Each race has its own story and all are the stuff of good science fiction. . . . Take 2 has obviously taken the time to first develop a believable and interesting universe, and then to write a game set in it. . . . The story is what really drives me to play. With as rich a gaming universe as this, the science-fiction tale behind the game holds together well.”
“Star Crusader stands out from the crowd of “bugger ‘em, blast ‘em” space-flight combat sims with its combination of intriguing storyline, clear characterization, and sense of morality. The evolving plot reveals a story of betrayal, suspicion, moral dilemmas, and mixed emotions.”