![]() ![]() On the one hand, it looks retro, like your mind's eye remembers it from 1999, but on the other, the pixel count has vastly increased, the lighting is decent, and the backgrounds pleasingly detailed. The 2013 HD edition looked like a dog's dinner in comparison, and everything here has been rebuilt from the ground up. We've got this far without mentioning the visuals, which are surprisingly lovely. These aren't grand real-time battles like you might find in Total War, but rather stylised scenarios that borrow elements from history, exploring them through AoE's signature gameplay style. On top of the many campaigns, there are also historical battles, with famous events condensed into scenarios that loosely mimic reality, like a time where we played as Henry V and battled the French in and around Agincourt. ![]() Mission restrictions, such as a limited ability to recruit new units, further challenge the player into exploring new tactics, and these more authored scenarios certainly represent a wealth of content for players to dive into. In our experience, these objectives aren't all that nuanced, however, they do offer a change of pace and push you into playing out specific scenarios. There's even an advanced tutorial of sorts, based around the teachings of Sun Tzu.Įach mission is preceded by a fully-voiced introduction that sets the scene and gives you your objectives, and this voiced dialogue extends in-game, with named characters discussing events and developing the story. Even the tutorial is themed around historical events (in that instance you're battling the English with Willam Wallace), which is a nice way of bringing new players into the fold. These missions stray away from the more standard base building found in the sandbox mode, and instead of the old formula of building and upgrading your economy while attempting to dominate your rivals, you're instead tasked with completing more subtle objectives, such as recruiting new followers to your army while keeping key characters alive. There's a lot going on, and that starts when clicking through the menu to reveal an extraordinary range of options, from maps based on real-world locations through to options that let you tweak the kind of challenge you're after. Each civilisation starts with limited units and resources and then expands and evolves, moving through the ages to research new and potentially game-changing technology. ![]() That content is obviously missing from the Definitive Edition, although Forgotten Empires has tried to make up the shortfall by cramming in a dizzying array of things to do (including editing tools - bring on the community-made content), and there are literally hundreds of hours of strategising awaiting players.įor starters, there's the standard sandbox mode where you can either tackle AI-controlled factions or head online for more cerebral competition. ![]() That version of the game looks fairly rough by modern standards, although it is supported by a huge selection of player-generated content. Experience has taught us that we're nearly always looking back at the past with rose-tinted goggles, but that didn't stop us from picking up the 2013 edition of Age of Empires II, nor has it stopped us from being enthused about Forgotten Empires' attempts to restore Ensemble Studios' historical RTS to its former glory.įirst of all, the Definitive Edition is a marked improvement over the 2013 HD re-release. With over 200 hours of gameplay, 35+ civilizations, and 1,000 years of human history, you have endless ways to build your empire and defeat your enemies! Co-Op campaigns allow you and a friend to battle your way to victory together, or you can head online to challenge other players across 9 different game modes in your quest for world domination.Nostalgia is a powerful thing, and we're not the only ones who, from time to time, get swept up in the notion of "the good ol' days". Enjoy a new way to play one of the most beloved strategy games on console including optimizations for playing with a controller and new tutorials to get you into the fun quickly. Age of Empires II: Definitive Edition is now available across Xbox platforms. Start your historical journey here with the deluxe bundle designed to give you all that you need for the most comprehensive Age of Empires II experience! Includes Age of Empires II: Definitive Edition plus three add-ons including Lords of the West, Dawn of the Dukes and Dynasties of India.įor years, we’ve battled armies and conquered history. ![]()
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