A new Age has dawned, the AOE franchise returns after a 5 year hiatus.
Written: Nov 24 '05 (Updated Nov 24 '05)
Product Rating:
Pros: Cinematically lifelike graphics, strategically challenging Home City addition, all-new combat dynamics, excellent tutorial and online-play.
Cons: System requirements are steep and a large monitor is recommended, learning curve for new RTS-players.
The Bottom Line: If you already love or have an interest in Real-Time-Strategy games, this is the best game ever released. History-buffs will also appreciate in-game graphics, however only powerful computers need apply.
Age of Empires III Release Date: October 18, 2005
Published by: Microsoft Game Studio
Developed by: Ensemble Studios
Genre: Real-Time Strategy
ESRB Rating: Teen
MSRP: $49 (Collecter's Edition $69)
WARNING: If you want to skip to my impressions of AOE3, jump down to Part Two. I've included a little history on the Age series for those of you not familiar with the game.
----- A dynasty explained, the Age of Empires series -----
PART ONE:
To better explain the nuances of Age of Empires, I'd like to take you for a trip in ye olde wayback machine. Back to October 15, 1997 and the release of the first Ensemble Studios game, Age of Empires. This game wasn't noteworthy for it's original setting or theme as the empire building genre had been done before (Warcraft, Civilization, Populous, The Settlers) and done quite well. Other Real Time Strategy (RTS) games such as Command and Conquer, X-COM, Jagged Alliance 2, and Total Anhillation were focusing more on combat than diplomacy and historical accuracy. What AOE did was balance the resource management, building phase, and combat action in a "historical" era that appealed to gamers of all ages. The RTS engine in AOE made the game fun for all types of players since you could win by several different methods, not just total military domination. Microsoft found themselves a runaway bestseller that spawned an expansion pack (Rise of Rome) a year later. This first venture into RTS gaming for Microsoft had a few problems, namely graphics that were a little behind the times, complete lack of a unit-build queues, and very non-intuitive unit movement. I have to mention the amazingly low (by today's standards) system requirements of: Pentium 1 90mhz, 16MB RAM, 30MB hard drive space.
Fast forward to 1999, Ensemble Studios is now linked with the newly formed Microsoft Game Studios which is focused on developing and releasing... GAMES! Age of Empires II: Age of Kings has just been released and again proves to be a bestseller. Many fans of the first game rushed to pick up the second title on its release date of October 16th, they were not dissapointed. Gamespot declared AOEII was "possibly the finest, most elegant, and most polished real-time strategy game ever made." That said, Ensemble Studios did a great job of 'tuning up' the game engine, economics and combat system, radically improving the graphics, and actually increasing the game's addiction factor by balancing all thirteen civilizations better than AOE. Unit pathfinding AI is increased 200% and your soldiers create formations automatically. Instead of the Stone Age to Iron Age romp of AOE, Age of King takes us from Rome's downfall through the Middle Ages and the beginning of both gunpowder and industry. The technology tree is vastly expanded for AOK, so much so you'll usually never get close to upgrading all your techs in a single game. This gives a variety to each game that keeps the replay value quite high. The added options and adjustments for multiplayer games only helps AOKs popularity, and online play on "The Zone" really takes off with this installment. The expected expansion pack is released on August 25, 2000, renewing interest of old and new players for a time. Of course system requirements have increased to match the new graphics: Pentium 166, 32MB RAM, 300MB hard drive space.
Note: While not a true part of the Age of Empires series, on October 31, 2002 Ensemble Studios and MGS release a variant entitled Age of Mythology. Instead of fostering your inner Napolean, Machiavelli, or Vasco Nuņez de Balboa, AOM lets out the Zeus and Hercules inside us all. I didn't take to the theme very well myself, but AOM still sold like space heaters in antarctica. The anticipated expansion pack for AOM arrived on September 30, 2003 and was titled The Titans. System requirements slid up the scale again: Pentium 450MHz, 128MB RAM, 16MB Video Card, 1.5GB hard drive space.
Age of Empires III
The next saga in Ensemble Studios Age series was released October 25, 2005 and is another huge jump forward in both game design and graphics. I'll focus in detail on the new 3D graphics, the 'Home City' feature, the resource harvesting and management, and the new combat system. In a nutshell, if you have a system that can smoothly run this game you'll experience the best historically based RTS out there. Read on to see what makes this a contender for Game of the Year in my book.
----- What new, what's changed, what's still the same? -----
PART TWO:
Graphics and System Requirements
As I'm sure you can tell by screenshots and the box art, the graphic engine shares nothing with Age of Kings or Age of Mythology. The system requirements have jumped up significantly with this version, and you'd better pay attention this time. Required specs are: Windows XP, Pentium 1.4 GHz, 256 MB of system RAM, 64 MB video card, 2 GB available hard disk space. Recommended specs are much closer to what you really need for acceptable game performance, these are: Pentium 4 2.4GHz or higher, 1 GB of RAM, Geforce FX 5700 or Radeon 9600 or higher video card.
These high end system specs are worth it when you turn the resolution up to 1280x1024 or higher, turn on the anti-aliasing features, and bump the graphics settings up a notch. Map sets include Caribbean, Texas, Rockies, Midwest, European, Artic, and more. These maps feature realistically rolling hills and jagged cliffs, rippling water and sandy beaches. The trees bend and wave in the wind and various critters jump and run around on the landscape. Fish jump near the shore on inland lakes while whales surface in the ocean. It's quite amazing the first time you see a large herd of American Bison grazing on the plains ahead.
Building graphics are second to none this time around, with lifelike buildings sized to scale from tiny (house) to massive (Imperial Age Fortress). Both land and water based units are equally attractive with the new graphics upgrades.
Home City
The biggest change from previous games in the AOE franchise is the addition of a 'Home City' to gameplay. This idea builds up the age of discovery feeling, men leaving their homelands and setting out for shores unknown with only their imaginations to guide them. Once a base is established the Home City begins to provide support via resource and military shipments. Each civilization has their own unique home city with civ-specific graphics. As you play each game you'll need to return to your Home City to request economic support, food, wood, and coin shipments, and also military reinforcements.
This is done by the addition of 'game cards' which create a rather 'board game' like feel at certain points. There are over 120 of these cards available in five separate categories, although only 20 cards may be used in any one game. This requires you to plan your 'game deck' very carefully and only select the cards you'll need based on your playing style. That said, you may build as many decks as you want which allows you to have different card sets depending on what strategy you'll be focusing on. On the main menu you'll choose the Manage a Home City option to build or modify your decks. As you advance and win multiple games your Home City status will increase, more cards will be available, and your home city level will rise.
The Explorer Unit
The Explorer unit is a new addition with AOE 3 and provides a hero-like unit that cannot be killed. He can be damaged to the point he collapses, you may then not use him until he regenerates full hitpoints or you pay 100 coin to ransom him.
His special abilities include Sharpshooter which gives him a 1-shot kill on any unit or map critter, each shot takes 30 seconds to recharge. He may also build Trading Posts on trade routes or in native villages. This ability allows him to wander about the map and bring in extra trade revenue without endangering a group of your settlers. The Explorer can also Recover Treasure from treasure guardians and damage or eliminate enemy scouting parties.
Combat
Combat is quite realistic in its execution and brutality, the teen rating is in my opinion due to the combat elements of this game. Units automatically assemble into formations when they are commanded to move. Infantry and calvary in the front, ranged units near the rear, and artillery bringing up the back. Using the Ctrl and number keys still creates formations as is the norm for RTS games, so most keys and tactics are similar to older Age of Empires games. Watching combat unfold is quite a spectacle, calvary charging, pikemen setting their spears, cannons thundering, all in glorious full-3D graphics. Cannonballs bounce, roll, and sometimes explode on contact. Each shot leaves puffs of smoke, trails of smoke follow musketballs, and debris litters the battlefield after each skirmish thanks to a fully destructible world.
Naval combat is definitely more important and better implemented than in other AOE versions. New ships of war fill out the roster along with transport and fishing vessels. Upgraded cannons, armor, and other new techs allow you to get an edge over your enemies naval forces. You'll welcome the broadside ability which allows your warships to unleash a full-force attack with all guns at once. This ability takes a while to recharge during which you can fire guns one at a time as normal. With several warships using broadside you can make quick work of a normal sized fleet.
----- Online Play on ESO -----
Unlike the previous Age games, AOE 3 uses Ensemble Studios Online as its matchmaking program. This is a big improvement over the 'Zone' used on AOE 1 and 2. Launching the multiplayer component is seamless and simple, just click the button on the main menu and wait for the logon screen. Any updates will download and then you may begin. Multiplayer options include Game Browser (look through available games), Quick Search (match instantly with players and start immediately), and Home City (manage your multiplayer home city settings). You can also check your online stats, look at clan information, and chat with other people in various lobbies.
The online play experience is pretty good from my limited experience. The Quick search options is a big help as I'm not a big fan of waiting 15 minutes for players to assemble in a lobby. Most players seem to have Cable/DSL connections as my games have been lag free and smooth. You can filter game searches by type, player number, and home city level (I.E. player skill). If you play online quite a bit you'll want to either start your own clan or join an existing one, this way you'll be able to play with the same people on your team and learn to balance each other better.
----- Bottom Line -----
I've always been a RTS nut myself, so my recommendation is to buy this game ASAP. It's one of the best period and/or history themed games on the market, the graphics are 2nd to none, and yeah it has been done before... but why mess with a system that works great? The AI players aren't super-intelligent so you'll want to play online eventually. 2v2 and 3v3 games run smoothly enough you'll have no complaints most of the time. If you have a decent enough system to run this game properly it will be a feast for the eyes and the armchair general. In my opinion there isn't a better strategy game to spend a few hours with on a cold and windy winter night.
NOTE: For newcomers to the Age of Empires universe there is also a collector's edition of AOE III with the official Age of Empires III soundtrack, a unique and quite gorgeous box, hardbound "The Art of Empires" 210 page book, an exclusive "Making of Age of Empires III" DVD with behind-the-scenes video and commentary, 43" x 27" color poster painted by Craig Mullins of concept art, exclusive Age of Empires III Player's Guide, and a Collector's Edition Game Manual. All this for only $20 more than the standard edition, MSRP $69.
Epinions.com periodically updates pricing and product information from third-party sources, so some information may be slightly out-of-date. You should confirm all information before relying on it.
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