Age Of Empires II
I grew up on Age of Empires II. It taught little me many valuable life lessons about patience, management, and being willing to smash someone else’s hard work into smithereens with zero notice.
That
last lesson really stuck.
Age of Empires II is a real time strategy game where you play as one of many medieval or renaissance civilizations, battling with other civilisations for supremacy. You build a settlement, raise an army, and then either diplomat your way to victory, sneak, or be the last one standing.
The
moment I drew Huns, I knew how this would go.
Originally released in 1999, Age of Empires II is a staple of many people’s childhoods. I played the remade version, the Definitive Edition, to take advantage of the graphics update, new civs, and a fresh look at a very nostalgic game.
The Definitive Edition comes with a number of updates on the original, but one that I was most excited about was the addition of new civilizations, especially African and non-European civilizations. It’s a nice touch that does wonders to bring AoE into the modern era and provide a more well-rounded view of the world and its history. Adding new scenarios to give a chance to dive in to these civs, too, provides a way to see history through a new lens.
I was also thrilled to see that the balance issues that have always been in the game are still there. The Huns are still wonderfully fun to play, and the Spanish are still fun to smash. This edition, though, includes entirely new ways to do that, through more streamlined multiplayer and online play. It’s an excellent way not only to enjoy the single player element of the game, but also better explore the possibilities of all the various civs.
Above all, though, the Definitive Edition continues to cement why Age of Empires II holds such a near and dear place in the hearts of all RTS fans. The range of civs and playstyles within them gives each player an opportunity to make the game their own, and to provide a challenge in every round. The possibilities of strategies offered by the game are excellent, and every game is a new opportunity to smash, build, or just have fun.
Developer: Forgotten Empires
Genre: Real-Time Strategy
Year: 2019
Country: United States
Language: English
Play Time: 2 Hours/Game