Rise Of Nations is a very user friendly game and easy to learn. Microsoft & Big huge games have followed EA (Electronic Arts) with its Rise of Nations with regard to game engines. Most games are either real-time or turn based. Around three years ago EA developed its Shogun Total War strategy game. This was a real break through in the strategy gaming community. The game combined real time strategy and turn based strategy. The game was such a huge success that they are still creating games using the very same game engine. There have been several new releases since Shogun Total War such as; Medieval Total War, The Mongol invasion expansion pack, The Viking invasion expansion pack and the soon to be released Rome Total War. Now three years later, Microsoft took a look at this great idea and ran with it. It may not be the exact same game engine but is the very same idea. Rise Of Nations offers the gamer a real time and turn based strategy game. Rise Of Nations is a decent game. If you have played one of EA's Total War games it will be very easy to pick up and play. It's like playing a expanded version of Age Of Empires.

Description of game play

You have the choice of leading one of eighteen different nations (Listed below). Once you choose the nation that you will lead you will go to the strategic map. This is basically a map of the world. You start out as the leader of one small territory. The only way to expand your empire is to conquer the sounding territories. That's always easier said than done. In the same fashion as other RTS games you start out with a few foot soldiers and archers as well as a few workers. You must constantly build farms, developing your city, building defenses and gather resources. Along with this you must constantly do research in your library and build an army large enough to go on a conquest and conquer other territories and eventually other nations.

So when you first start the game on the strategic map you will take you army and move it to attack a near by territory. This territory will usually be a band a barbarians in the early stages of the game. These are prime targets for young empires. If you do not take them someone will. Barbarians are easier to conquer and no one declares war on you for expanding into a barbarian held territory. Once you move you army to attack the territory on the strategic map you will end your turn. Now you are sent to the RTS side of the game. You zoom in to your little village and life and the battle. This is all Real time and you only have so long to conquer your opponent. The usual time is 90 minutes. If you are able to build up a larger military faster than your opponent and conquer his capitol you win the territory.

The more territory you govern the more resources you have. If the game is going well for you soon you would have several different armies expanding your empire in all directions. After several hours of game play it will eventually come down to three or four super powers. This countries are always very hard to beat. But if you are not on the offense with them then they will attack you. I found the quickest way to conquer a super power is to attack their capitol territory as soon as possible. When I say capitol territory I am referring to their capitol on the strategic world map. Once your opponent looses his capitol you win his capitol territory and everything within his empire.

There is also another way to expand your nation is to attempt to purchase territories from other nations. Sometimes they will sell it to you. The way to build up your funds is do a lot of research in the commerce field. You must also expand your nation. The larger your nation is the more funds you receive each turn. If you can manage to conquer all of the opposing super powers, you are indeed the ruler of the world and therefore you win the game.

Nations the player can choose to lead
Aztecs - Bantu - British - Chinese - Egyptians - French - Germans - Greeks - Inca - Japanese - Koreans - Maya - Mongols - Nubians - Romans - Russians - Spanish - Turks

Ages
I Stone Age
II Classical Age
III Medieval Age
IV Gunpowder Age
V Enlightenment Age
VI Industrial Age
VII Modern Age
VIII Information Age

Areas of Research
Military - Civic - Commerce - Science

Game Play [ 7 of 10]
The game play is a lot of fun because it demands strategy as well as some knowledge of basic tactics. There will also be variable in every game that you play. You will never play the same game twice.

Replay Value [8 of 10]
The replay value may be one of the best things about this type of game. You will never get the same game twice. There are just too many variables. This is the main reason that I like this combined game engine. The replay value is great.

Graphics [6 of 10]
The graphics are average. They could have done a lot more work on the battlefield and map graphics. But then again I am always expecting a better game with better graphics and it just hasn't happened here.

Sound [8 of 10]
I like the sound that was incorporated into the game. There is a variety of different musical tunes that play during the game. You can change them around or shut them off.

Multi-Player [6 of 10]
Rise Of Nations does offer a muti-player option. I know there have been some issues with this section of the game. I was unable to get anywhere with it. There is a patch that has to be downloaded from the official site. This Multi-player room is ran in conjunction with Gamespy.

Over-All [7.5 of 10]

Conclusion

I would recommend Rise Of Nations to the strategy gamer or someone who enjoys playing Empire Earth or Age of Empires, RTS types of games. If you like this one there is also an expansion pack. The game and its engine are a success. I give Rise Of Nations two thumps up.

Rise Of Nations Series
Thrones & Patriots expansion pack

Official Site
www.microsoft.com/games/riseofnations/

Thanks for the read,

~Mac



Recommended: Yes