Age Of Empires II: Definitive Edition Review — A Pinnacle In Strategy Games

Strategy games have remained a mainstay of entertainment in the gaming industry due to their mind-boggling level design, challenging environment, and inspirational story events based on the past. Many games have improved this genre, and among those revolutionary titles, the Age of Empires series has remained pre-eminent in developing and setting the bar for future strategy titles.

Story And Setting

The Age of Empires II campaign mode has always been a leading factor in my decision to play the game. The many storylines of heroic entities from the past that you can discover and learn about are undoubtedly one of its most appealing features.

Every civilization has its unique storyline based on canon events, and there are more than 30 civilizations to explore.

The Age of Empires II campaign is astonishingly commendable due to its diversity. It delivers a fascinating narrative by covering almost every historical battle from the past and nearly every continent.

Moreover, the game’s flawless voice-overs build a captivating perspective for the player to experience playing any civilization. 

Every civilization has its unique storyline based on canon events, and there are more than 30 civilizations to explore. Admirably, each scenario consists of a level design carefully implemented to enhance the map’s exploration rather than using a procedural generator feature.

I admire the designer’s ability to design a story-rich campaign that thoroughly acquaints the player with each civilization. With such a classic and captivating storytelling approach to the game, it is challenging and amusing to explore the highlights of iconic battles of past civilizations.

Gameplay

The gameplay of Age of Empires II: Definitive Edition revolves around multiple factors that require the players to have good knowledge of their surroundings and the Tech Tree. Although the game offers an in-depth tutorial covering most aspects, the vacancy of mastering a civilization in the first place still exists.

Since there are many civilizations to select from, it is important to note that each civilization offers a unique set of advantages and disadvantages based on your playstyle. Choosing a map also impacts what you play, as you don’t want to be a naval-focused civilization on a landlocked map.

Learning how to counter each civilization is also essential, as each one offers unique units, and some may also affect the Tech Tree.

The micro-skills will be displayed in every series, but I believe Age of Empires II hosts the most feature-rich gameplay.

The Tech Tree includes upgrades and research to enhance your troops and civilization. It may seem complicated at first glance, but playing the game a couple of times will give you a basic understanding of how to read it.

Simply put, I would say that Tech Tree plays a vital role in balancing the gameplay, as it removes certain upgrades from one civilization while enhancing the other.

All in all, I confidently say that Age of Empires II: Definitive Edition is hands down the most likable title in its series I have experienced in terms of gameplay.

The First-Rate Gameplay Experience In Its Series

I want to highlight the fact that I think Age of Empires II surpasses its sequels in terms of gameplay and possibly in narrative. Despite the release of Age of Empires IV, there is a clear difference in player base, which states that Age of Empires II is a dominating title in the series.

The micro-skills will be displayed in every series, but I believe Age of Empires II hosts the most feature-rich gameplay. It allows for much control over units, whether in a group or individually.

Since there are many civilizations to select from, it is important to note that each civilization offers a unique set of advantages and disadvantages based on your playstyle.

The most appealing factor about Age of Empires II is its population mechanic, which I admire most. No matter what unit you train, it will always consume one housing space in population, which leaves you with the convenience of training an armageddon and marching it on the field of glory.

Since the population limit can exceed 500 units, the game leaves you with the integrity of ruling the battlefield with an immense army. The population count intensifies the match outcome with time and delivers a more thrilling gameplay experience, in my opinion, which is not a factor in the later titles.

Overall, I think Age of Empires II: Definitive Edition’s gameplay is innovative and should be considered ideal for setting the standard for the upcoming titles in the series. 

Visuals And Performance

Age of Empires II: Definitive Edition did not kill the original game’s choppy yet canny artful visuals. Its inspiring art is redefined efficiently, preserving nostalgic vibes while maintaining up-to-date visual standards.

However, the animation overhaul has drastically improved in the Definitive Edition. The frame quality is improved, and the textures are more exhilarating. The architectural work is also well-defined in terms of how the old settlements used to be, and the shifting of the buildings’ outlook as you progress from one age to another is also astonishing.

To summarize, Age of Empires II: Definitive Edition carries forward the successful legacy of the original version

Additionally, the game offers Enhanced Graphic Pack DLC, which loads the assets in HD quality. Most commendably, this DLC is free to access. 

The game’s performance appears flawless, as there are no bugs to encounter whether you play the story or the online match. However, it is advised to check the Enhanced Graphic Pack requirements before using it as it may crash the game for not using appropriate hardware.

To summarize, Age of Empires II: Definitive Edition carries forward the successful legacy of the original version. I found the game just as compelling as I used to play it in the early 2000s.

Verdict

Age of Empires II: Definitive Edition proposes a reviving experience of the original series with enhanced features and many new civilizations. Since the game receives active development support and new content periodically, I believe this title will remain dominant in its series, not even giving its sequels a chance to surpass it.

This has been my review of Age of Empires II: Definitive Edition. While you’re here, consider checking out some of our other reviews:

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