Age of Empires 2: Age of Kings for Windows
- ESRB Descriptor: Violence Blood
- ESRB Rating: T - (Teen)
- Publisher: Microsoft
- Genre: Strategy
- Platform: Windows
- Game Series: Age of Empires
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Archers Fire!
Pros
Detailed strategic controls.
Cons
AI could be better at times.
Recommended it?
Yes
The Bottom Line:
You'll never look at your older RTS's the same again.
Troops can be garrisoned:
Since having AoE2, I've gone back and played some WarCraft2 and StarCraft, and I always start missing all the extra features that AoE2 offers. Especially when someone starts hacking my peasants to pieces; I want to ring the bell to send them running for the town center. You can also garrison units in most buildings for protection and to heal. Placing archers in towers and castles allows them to increase the buildings offensive capabilities. (It's true that StarCraft allows that with Terrans and their bunkers, but it's no where near as effective.)
Advanced Formations:
AoE2 gives the player a wider variety of combat options. Your troops can be set to act offensively (keep following and attacking the enemy which often gets them killed), defensively (attack nearby troops but pull back to their assigned spot when the threat passes), hold position (troops won't move, but ranged units will fire on enemies), and don't move (good for artillery that is killing your own troops). Your forces can also be arranged into formations, keeping them clustered together in an ordered army instead of a mob. The faster units won't run off and leave your weaker units vulnerable -- like monks. I've had the most success with the standard formation (stronger melee units line up in front with archers and monks behind) and the box formation (stronger units surrounding the weaker). This feature keeps your army together and makes it easier to keep your battlefield well-ordered.
Tougher Gameplay:
AoE2 is a much tougher game than the original. On a couple of the campaign missions, I'll be holding my own until I see a knight coming followed by a train of battering rams. Unless you are prepared with a group of knights to derail the train, your base can end up gutted in a matter of minutes. I've also found that I'm having to fend off 3 opponents at a time, which can make it extremely tough to defend large bases without getting overrun. It's a tough game to beat which walks a fine line between a good challenge and simply being frustrating. Luckily you can save whenever you want.
Odd AI:
I almost hesitate to complain about this, because it is both good and bad. I'll have a small army holding a point where the computer keeps sending troops, and lone soldiers will come wandering up to attack my base. They obviously have some point back in my base set as their attack point, since they won't even stop and defend themselves when they get slaughtered. This seems bad, but if it would hold that lone soldier back until there was a small force to attack, I would probably get overrun left and right. Like I said, it is both good and bad.
Finally Verdict:
I've recommended this game to a number of people, and I'll recommend it to you also (assuming that you like RTS's).
Since having AoE2, I've gone back and played some WarCraft2 and StarCraft, and I always start missing all the extra features that AoE2 offers. Especially when someone starts hacking my peasants to pieces; I want to ring the bell to send them running for the town center. You can also garrison units in most buildings for protection and to heal. Placing archers in towers and castles allows them to increase the buildings offensive capabilities. (It's true that StarCraft allows that with Terrans and their bunkers, but it's no where near as effective.)
Advanced Formations:
AoE2 gives the player a wider variety of combat options. Your troops can be set to act offensively (keep following and attacking the enemy which often gets them killed), defensively (attack nearby troops but pull back to their assigned spot when the threat passes), hold position (troops won't move, but ranged units will fire on enemies), and don't move (good for artillery that is killing your own troops). Your forces can also be arranged into formations, keeping them clustered together in an ordered army instead of a mob. The faster units won't run off and leave your weaker units vulnerable -- like monks. I've had the most success with the standard formation (stronger melee units line up in front with archers and monks behind) and the box formation (stronger units surrounding the weaker). This feature keeps your army together and makes it easier to keep your battlefield well-ordered.
Tougher Gameplay:
AoE2 is a much tougher game than the original. On a couple of the campaign missions, I'll be holding my own until I see a knight coming followed by a train of battering rams. Unless you are prepared with a group of knights to derail the train, your base can end up gutted in a matter of minutes. I've also found that I'm having to fend off 3 opponents at a time, which can make it extremely tough to defend large bases without getting overrun. It's a tough game to beat which walks a fine line between a good challenge and simply being frustrating. Luckily you can save whenever you want.
Odd AI:
I almost hesitate to complain about this, because it is both good and bad. I'll have a small army holding a point where the computer keeps sending troops, and lone soldiers will come wandering up to attack my base. They obviously have some point back in my base set as their attack point, since they won't even stop and defend themselves when they get slaughtered. This seems bad, but if it would hold that lone soldier back until there was a small force to attack, I would probably get overrun left and right. Like I said, it is both good and bad.
Finally Verdict:
I've recommended this game to a number of people, and I'll recommend it to you also (assuming that you like RTS's).
