When it comes to strategy games do you get much more classic than Age of Empires? This is the game that started it all and it is crazy to think that this game came out the better part of a quarter of a century ago! It is a series that has gone from strength to strength and today I am taking a step back in time to see how it holds up.
Age Of Empires 1 free download - Age of Empires III, Age of Empires Update, Age of Empires II HD, and many more programs. Age of Empires, the pivotal RTS that launched a 20-year legacy returns in definitive form for Windows 10 PCs. Bringing together all of the officially released content with modernized gameplay, all-new visuals and a host of other new features, Age of Empires: Definitive Edition is the complete RTS package. Summary: In 1997, Age of Empires changed RTS games forever. Today, twenty years later, Age of Empires: Definitive Edition begins that transformation anew with all-new graphics, remastered sound and music, and a smooth UI experience rebuilt from the ground up. Age of Empires (AoE) is a history-based real-time strategy video game developed by Ensemble Studios and published by Microsoft, and the first game in the Age of Empires series. The game uses the Genie Engine, a 2D sprite-based game engine. Age of Empires, released on October 26, 1997, was the first game in the series, as well as the first major release from Ensemble Studios. It was one of the first history-based real-time strategy games made, utilizing the Genie game engine.
Starting From Scratch
When you go back and look at a classic like this it is really hard to do so. On the one hand, I have very fond memories of playing this game and as a result, I can truly appreciate how this was a game-changer when it was released. On the flip side of this though, I am not sure I would ever in a million years expect someone new to the series to jump into this over one of the newer games in the Age of Empires series.As far as the presentation of the game goes, it is not bad. This is an older PC game so you have to keep that in mind, but the visuals are not all that bad and there is some very nice sprite work here that tugs on those nostalgia strings. It is worth noting that a Definitive Edition of this game was released a little while back that did improve the visuals.
Take It All
The goal of the game is that you are in charge of an empire. There are just under 20 for you to choose from and you have to make sure you are taking care of your people. What is cool is that the empire you choose will actually dictate a large portion of the early part of the game such as the resources and so on that you have. You will want the resources for your own empire, but so will others which can lead to war You cannot just take what you want and try to steamroll over the other nations. Well, you can try, but eventually, it will catch up to you. You have to shake hands and try to play nice at times, but never be scared to go to war when it is required. In going back and playing the game I did actually like how scaled back it was in comparison to what we have now. It made things a lot simpler and I still did have a fair bit of fun with it.
I think if you played Age of Empires back in the day it is worth going back and taking a look at it. The game holds up better than you would think and the more “basic” nature of it is actually part of its charm. It is really lacking in-depth and features in comparison to the modern games, but I still think there is something good here. For a player new to the series I would recommend checking out one of the newer games.
Final Score: 7.5/10
Pros:
- The dated visuals do have some charm
- It is not super complicated like some modern games
- You will find that the different nations each have their own personality
- It is one of the most classic strategy games of all time
- Even now, it is an addictive game
Cons:
- The visuals are quite dated which some might not find charming
- The game is lacking in features compared to the modern entries
Age of Empires combines great graphics, real-time strategy and an intriguing plot (our own history!) to raise a phoenix from the ashes of wayside, ordinary strategy games. Some of the more memorable features that make this game truly enjoyable include hunting and foraging for food, building and upgrading armies, establishing and strengthening a society and, ultimately, fighting war.
Food gathering is one part of Age of Empires that is truly impressive. Instead of mining gold to support your society (although you DO have to mine gold), food is a separate issue unto itself. You can build farms, fish, forage for berries or--my favorite--gather a hunting party and seek out prey. Beware, however, that if you choose to take on an elephant, you better have a bunch of hunters or the irate elephant may decide to trample you instead.
One thing that is annoying is the maximum limit on men. When a larger army is needed but your population is maxed you will have to send out workers to be slaughtered in order to make room for more military units. This seems slightly unrealistic when you have city is large enough to accommodate many more people.
The complex features of Age of Empires are engrossing. In addition to having the above choices of gathering food for my people, players also had to chop wood and mine both gold and stone for their needs. As your society progresses through the ages, so does its need for different minerals (e.g., gold and stone). As the ages pass, you'll find the new technology (as it becomes available) allows you to create bigger and better armies.
Going head-to-head with famous war strategists is also interesting. Although it is doubtful a player's soldiers would stand up to the likes of any of history's finest warlords, it is still neat to see names recognizable from history as well as the armies they lead. All things considered, Age of Empires is an enjoyable gaming experience which is enough to quell even the hungriest real-time war strategists among us.
Graphics: Intricate detail and bright, beautiful backgrounds.
Sound: Great ambient sounds, music, and battle sounds.
Enjoyment: Although the building at the beginning of a mission is slightly repetitive at times, the game is still extremely enjoyable.
Replay Value: Real-time strategy games are always replayable.
Age of Empires is not only a different game each time you play. It's a different game, period. Beautiful graphics, twelve civilizations, a comprehensive technology tree, dozens of units, randomly generated maps, and a rich soundtrack, add up to a more complete gaming experience. Age of Empires sets you within an historical context, not in a purely fictional world.
Features:
In Age of Empire, you are one of twelve powerful ancient civilizations, ranging from the Persians to the ancient Greeks. Though you start as only a small village, with just a few tribesmen, you must hunt and gather food, advance to more a sophisticated age, start learning self-sufficiency and technology, and then make the full leap to civilization. Competing against you are other cultures with whom you can fight, trade, or negotiate as you all try to progress from the Stone Age to the Iron Age.
Graphics:
The incredible hand drawn and 3D rendered graphics create an unparalleled, involving experience. This attention to detail brings your gaming experience into focus. Because in a great gaming environment there is no substitute for quality.
Sound FX:
In addition to this engaging and fun graphical world, Age of Empires includes a captivating and original musical score - a dramatic backdrop for your adventures. The CD-quality sounds of Age of Empires adds to the epic flavor and enriches the gaming experience.
Gameplay:
Age of Empires sets you within an historical context, not in a purely fictional world. But of course, if you would rather diverge from the beaten path, Age of Empires includes a built-in scenario editor so you can create your own conflicts and scenarios. Finally a game with real-time decision making. You will see the real-time results of your resource management decisions. Consider your options and move forward - assign civilization members to hunt, explore, conquer, or build. Know your place; not all civilizations will excel at the same skills -- if you are from the desert, you might not be an expert on ships and marine warfare. As you move through time you will be able to apply new technology to advance the state of buildings, weapons, tools, and ships.
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Overall:
Age of Empires also brings you the expanse of the unknown. You have room to roam -- the maps are large, plenty of room for you, and up to eight other players, to play in a multiplayer forum. In Age of Empires, there are many different multi-tribe scenarios you can choose from. Each with one or more victory conditions. Do you want to take part in a quick race to domination? Or an epic affair involving exploration of the known world and the accumulation of wealth? It's up to you. Choose your favorite form of world domination. Players can conquer or cooperate with existing tribes in a multiplayer environment via the Internet (through the Internet Gaming Zone), over a LAN or modem-to-modem.
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