AoE for me, me, me! (Age of Empires I & II (2) Gold Collector's Edition (PC))

Member Name: Astavar

Product:	Age of Empires I & II (2) Gold Collector's Edition (PC)
Date:	21/07/09 (4 review reads)
Rating:

Advantages: Challenging game that never tires

Disadvantages: Getting a little old now

I've been playing Age of Empires for many years now, and I think I'll be playing it for many more. I bought the Gold edition because it represented the best value at the time - and considering how cheaply it can be picked up now, I think it still does. While AoE II with the Conquerors expansion installed is my particular favourite, I do also play just AoEII minus the expansion installation, as some of my online playing partners don't have the expansion. The later games - AoE III and Age of Mythology - are not even close to being as engaging as AoE I & II. While AoM has some interesting units, the gameplay quickly becomes too easy & repetitive to maintain that interest.

AoE isn't a game for beginners - it's a reasonably complex strategy game that requires you to manage & balance the gathering of resources, production of various types of units, constructing building, developing technologies, and conducting military campaigns. The games offer a set of campaigns that increase in difficulty as you work through them, or the choice of playing random map games. The player can set up a map, changing various settings to suit their own playing style - or to present themselves new challenges. Different civilisations have different strengths and weaknesses that make them suited for different types of map or game objectives. While the computer opponents do tend to play in fairly predictable patterns, turning the difficulty settings up does produce a fairly challenging adversary - and when the player has had enough of playing against a computer, they can bring new life back to the game by playing online against real people.

All in all, AoE isa keeper. I've yet to find another game of this type that meets the standard of AoE, let alone betters it. Get into it!

Summary: An oldie but a goodie