Age of Empires 2: Age of Kings

Age of Empires 2: Age of Kings Review

Observant gamers familiar with Sid Meier's "Civilization" and Ubisoft's "WarCraft" would immediately notice that Microsoft's "Age of Empire II" is a mixture of the two. It has the primitive-to-more modern progression style similar to "Civilization." Here we have a combination of human resources to build military, political and research and development infrastructures. On the other hand, it has the combat views of "War Craft," where the battles cover both land and sea, but not air. Here I have to say "War Craft" probably has sharper combat graphics and animations. Nevertheless, the garden variety of no less than 15 military units is impressive. If I were to offer a strategy to defeat your enemies, it would be to build a robust navy when your scenario involves large bodies of water, not only to beat their fleet, but also with a Cannon Galleon, you can bombard your enemy's cities from the shore. I would describe this Cannon Galleon as a primitive warship that carries primitive tomahawk missiles. It is much more manageable to attack their mainland stronghold with your army after you ruin their coastal defense, military backbones and infrastructures such as mills, markets and universities within the reach of your cannons. Also, place your bombard towers and catapults called "Mangonel" and "Onager," which I don't know where in the world they got these names from, along your coast lines to ward-off naval batteries, though they may not last very long against Galleons and fire ships; the latter being no other than ships spraying out Greek fire that acts like flame throwers. Do not emulate what the computer player does unlike what Microsoft suggests. It wastes too many resources needlessly by building walls and gates that I believe you can get away without.

A notable difference is one can play either short or long games. A one-on-one game with the computer as your enemy with a difficulty level set at "Easy" can be won in a few hours. A longer game can be played with more than one enemies controlled by computer or done in a multi-player mode, and (or) increasing the difficulty level and the area coverage. There are more options to choose from where a player can choose the winning criteria, how many opponents to play against, custom and real maps (you can even create your own map and scenario), or play scenarios based on the real campaigns where one can pick among William Wallace, Joan the Arch, Genghis Khan, Frederick Barbarosa, and Sultan Salahadin. The civilization progression in this game only stops at the Imperial Age, the last available age after the Dark, Feudal and Castle Age, so you won't see riffles, tanks and missiles, or industrialized societies and technologies unlike "Civilization," though each age has impressive technological features except the Dark Age of course which resembles the Stone Age. If there is one big plus over "Civilization" and "War Craft," it is that this game is highly educational. Microsoft includes the history behind each of the 13 civilizations you can find in the CD with five more in the Expasion CD including the details about a special combat unit each represented culture has. On the other hand, one big minus is the relic collection feature by the monks that could also serves as a criteria of winning the game which I think is stupid. Playing "Age of Empire II" brought about a nostalgic experience of playing "Civilization" and "War Craft" when both were in their infancy back in the early 90's considering when one looks at these two games today, they are far more advanced and sophisticated. "Age of Empire II" is an excellent game, extremely addictive if you enjoy strategic simulation games. When you are playing this game, set an alarm to remind you to quit so you won't forget to eat, sleep, take a shower, go to the gym, or work.

Age of Empires 2: Age of Kings Feature

• You will take an ancient people through a 1000 year span, and develop trade, armies and technology to lead them to greatness
• Amass and equip an army like none ever seen, and use strategy to have them conquer enemies
• Construct means of commerce and diplomacy, while discreetly employing intrigue and regicide
• Command one of 13 civilizations - including the Franks, Japanese, Byzantines, Vikings, Mongols, and Celts
• Battle alongside heroes of the day - Joan of Arc, William Wallace, Genghis Khan, Saladin, or Barbarossa

Age of Empires 2: Age of Kings Overview

Rome has fallen and the world is up for grabs



Age of Empires II: The Age of Kings is the sequel to the award-winning,best-selling real-time strategy game Age of Empires. Age of Empires II spans athousand years, from the fall of Rome through the Middle Ages in which playerslead one of 13 civilizations into greatness. In Age of Empires II, you cancommand any one of 13 mighty civilizations. These include the Britons,Byzantines, Celts, Chinese, Franks, Goths, Japanese, Mongols, Persians,Saracens, Teutons, Turks, and Vikings.  Each civilization has uniqueattributes, strengths and weaknesses, buildings and technologies, as well as aunique combat unit based on its historical counterpart. Be sure to try them allto find the civilization that best suits your playing style.

The game keeps the epic scope of Age of Empires' game play while evolving the combat and economic features.

• Battlealongside heroes of the day - Strive with one of following heroes to victory: Joan of Arc, William Wallace, Genghis Khan, Saladin, and Barbarossa.
• Command one of 13 mighty civilizations - Includes the Franks, Japanese, Byzantines, Vikings, Mongols, and Celts. Each with unique attributes, buildings, technologies, and specific combat units based on its historical counterpart.
• Choose the path to greatness - Will it be an economic path created out of craftsmanship, trade and diplomacy? Or a military route of siege and naval warfare? Or by building a Wonder of the World that will stand the test of time? 
• Conquer a wo
  
  
  

  Age of Empires 2: Age of Kings Specifications

  
  When it comes to vast, kingdom-spanning ambition, you can't do better than Microsoft's Age of Empires II: The Age of Kings. Microsoft went all out to create this real-time strategy game, and it fairly hums with gorgeous graphics, sophisticated AI, and challenging scenarios for the novice and experienced player alike.

  The point of the game is to shepherd your fledgling civilization to world domination, using war, trade, and exploration. You start with the bare minimum to get going, and you've got to balance your people's needs with your desire to be a little Napoleon. The Age of Kings gives you a ton of new units and technologies to enrich your strategic options. Each scenario is placed accurately within history, but you're also free to create your own.

  The multiplayer format is robust, allowing up to nine players to share a world. When battles commence, you can take control of every aspect of your workers and soldiers, sending them running for shelter in the town center, ordering them to defend a watchtower, or setting their combat stance to "aggressive" for free-for-all sword smashing fun. When you're not fighting, find your idle peasants with a mouse click and send them back to work chopping trees, rounding up sheep, fishing, or mining gold and stone.

  As you acquire more resources, you can improve your soldier's gear and skills, start to trade more efficiently, and make life better for everyone in your empire. You can choose from 13 groups to manage, from the Japanese to the Teutons and Franks. Each group has unique units and special characteristics, making this a game that changes every time you play it.

  If all this sounds complicated, it is. New players may be intimidated by the range of choices, but the teaching scenarios are very helpful in conquering the controls. Age of Empires II is a sophisticated, gorgeous successor to the wildly popular original. It's a real feather in Microsoft's cap--a world-building game that will hold you captive. --Therese Littleton
  
  

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