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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User ReviewRead All Reviews »
"Rome has fallen and the world is up for grabs"
Pros
Hours of enjoyment.
Cons
Highly addictive.
Recommended it?
Yes
The Bottom Line:
A game more addictive than smoking crack.
Well, it has certainly been some time since I regularly contributed to Epinions. Almost two months, in fact. I'd like to think that this minor vacation is over, and now I'm back in the groove.
So what have I been doing with my time, you ask? Four words: Age of Empires, II.
Back in early October, I purchased a brand new computer, after my old one finally kicked to bucket for good. Sure, she was a fighter for quite some time, but I finally realized it was time to put the old girl out to pasture. So I went online, bought the latest and greatest from Dell (reviews to come?). When I went to my local computer shop to buy some amenities, I stopped by the software section to see what sort of cool things might be there. It wasn't long before I found the games. I decided to splurge on a game that looked pretty interesting, and had a relatively low price.
Scenario
Age of Empires II: The Age of Kings, is a "Sim-City" like game, where you get to build a civilization from the ground up. It takes place shortly after the fall of Rome, and you have 13 civilizations to choose from, such as the Mongols, Celts, Vikings, Persians, Chinese, and others. Using villagers, you can collect valuable resources, such as food, gold, stone, and wood. With those resources, they can construct various buildings, like farms, gold mines, or military buildings. Military buildings can be used to generate foot soldiers, archers, knights, siege engines, watercraft, and such. As you build up your civilization, you progress through different time periods, from the "Dark Ages", through the "Feudal" and "Castle" ages, to the "Imperial Age". You can win the game through various strategies, such as military conquest, diplomacy, or cultural dominance. A single player can play against up to seven computer generated opponents, or against other players in a networked or online setting.
The game also features two other scenarios to play. A "Campaign" feature allows the user to take on the role of such historical figures like Joan of Arc, and others, to engage in a quest to follow in the footsteps of said historical figure. (The Joan of Arc scenario does end with a fiery death, but rather with the unity and triumph of France). A "Regicide" option provides a sort of chess like setting, where every player has a king which must be protected. If invading forces kill your king, the game is over.
Graphics
The graphics in the game are pretty good. There are three settings you can apply to enhance the visual presentation. I generally choose the middle setting to strike a balance between a good visual, and game performance. The game map can be set on various sizes, and various terrains. Terrains include such settings as desert, continental, islands, and the like. One can opt to have the whole map visible at the start, or blacked out, showing only what areas have been explored.
Documentation
A user manual and a quick reference card are included. They provide detailed information on the specific strengths and weaknesses of each unit in the game.
Minimum System Requirements
Windows 95 or Windows NT 4.0
32 MB RAM
166 MHz processor
300 MB of hard drive space
2 MB/2D video card
Audio board with speakers or headphones (optional, but recommended)
To play online one needs a 28.8 Kbs modem or better. For best performance, you need a DSL. You will also need a suitable browser, such as Internet Explorer 4.0 or Netscape Communicator 4.0.
Other Features
Loading the game is very quick and easy, as the software walks you through the process. There is a tutorial that shows a new user how to perform basic tasks during play. There is also a map editor, which allows you to create your own map scenario for play. I've played around with this feature, but cannot seem to find how to put things like gold and stone quarries on the map, which are used by players to gain much needed resources. Perhaps the most interesting side feature is a capsule which provides a history of the real life civilizations that are represented in this game. It discusses the names, dates, and places that contributed to the rose, and fall, of each civilization, along with its contributions to the history of mankind. Not just a game, but educational too!
Overall
Overall, this game has quickly become my new addiction. I've played almost every civilization, in every map scenario, at least a few times, and I never get bored. For $20, this game provides hours of entertainment. Recently, I was at the same computer store where I purchased this, and I saw a companion module, "Age of Conquerors", which provides as an add-on to this game. It was bit pricey, but perhaps when the price falls…. I will recommend this game to anyone who likes simulation games, such as Sim-City. Just make sure you don't have anything important to do, such as a family or a job.
So what have I been doing with my time, you ask? Four words: Age of Empires, II.
Back in early October, I purchased a brand new computer, after my old one finally kicked to bucket for good. Sure, she was a fighter for quite some time, but I finally realized it was time to put the old girl out to pasture. So I went online, bought the latest and greatest from Dell (reviews to come?). When I went to my local computer shop to buy some amenities, I stopped by the software section to see what sort of cool things might be there. It wasn't long before I found the games. I decided to splurge on a game that looked pretty interesting, and had a relatively low price.
Scenario
Age of Empires II: The Age of Kings, is a "Sim-City" like game, where you get to build a civilization from the ground up. It takes place shortly after the fall of Rome, and you have 13 civilizations to choose from, such as the Mongols, Celts, Vikings, Persians, Chinese, and others. Using villagers, you can collect valuable resources, such as food, gold, stone, and wood. With those resources, they can construct various buildings, like farms, gold mines, or military buildings. Military buildings can be used to generate foot soldiers, archers, knights, siege engines, watercraft, and such. As you build up your civilization, you progress through different time periods, from the "Dark Ages", through the "Feudal" and "Castle" ages, to the "Imperial Age". You can win the game through various strategies, such as military conquest, diplomacy, or cultural dominance. A single player can play against up to seven computer generated opponents, or against other players in a networked or online setting.
The game also features two other scenarios to play. A "Campaign" feature allows the user to take on the role of such historical figures like Joan of Arc, and others, to engage in a quest to follow in the footsteps of said historical figure. (The Joan of Arc scenario does end with a fiery death, but rather with the unity and triumph of France). A "Regicide" option provides a sort of chess like setting, where every player has a king which must be protected. If invading forces kill your king, the game is over.
Graphics
The graphics in the game are pretty good. There are three settings you can apply to enhance the visual presentation. I generally choose the middle setting to strike a balance between a good visual, and game performance. The game map can be set on various sizes, and various terrains. Terrains include such settings as desert, continental, islands, and the like. One can opt to have the whole map visible at the start, or blacked out, showing only what areas have been explored.
Documentation
A user manual and a quick reference card are included. They provide detailed information on the specific strengths and weaknesses of each unit in the game.
Minimum System Requirements
Windows 95 or Windows NT 4.0
32 MB RAM
166 MHz processor
300 MB of hard drive space
2 MB/2D video card
Audio board with speakers or headphones (optional, but recommended)
To play online one needs a 28.8 Kbs modem or better. For best performance, you need a DSL. You will also need a suitable browser, such as Internet Explorer 4.0 or Netscape Communicator 4.0.
Other Features
Loading the game is very quick and easy, as the software walks you through the process. There is a tutorial that shows a new user how to perform basic tasks during play. There is also a map editor, which allows you to create your own map scenario for play. I've played around with this feature, but cannot seem to find how to put things like gold and stone quarries on the map, which are used by players to gain much needed resources. Perhaps the most interesting side feature is a capsule which provides a history of the real life civilizations that are represented in this game. It discusses the names, dates, and places that contributed to the rose, and fall, of each civilization, along with its contributions to the history of mankind. Not just a game, but educational too!
Overall
Overall, this game has quickly become my new addiction. I've played almost every civilization, in every map scenario, at least a few times, and I never get bored. For $20, this game provides hours of entertainment. Recently, I was at the same computer store where I purchased this, and I saw a companion module, "Age of Conquerors", which provides as an add-on to this game. It was bit pricey, but perhaps when the price falls…. I will recommend this game to anyone who likes simulation games, such as Sim-City. Just make sure you don't have anything important to do, such as a family or a job.
