Age of Empires

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Age of Empires

Age of Empires - W32 - USA.jpg

Windows - USA - 1st edition.

Developer Ensemble Studios
Publisher Microsoft
Published 1997-10-15
Platforms Macintosh Classic, Windows
Genres Real-time strategy, Strategy
Themes History, War
Series Age
Multiplayer Simultaneous co-op, Simultaneous teams, Simultaneous versus
Distribution Commercial

Age of Empires is a real-time strategy game developed by Ensemble Studios and published by Microsoft originally for Windows on 1997-10-15. It's the first game in the Age series.

Personal

Own?Yes. Two Windows CDs, only one jewel case with CD key.
Won?No.

I first played this game shortly after it was released when a friend of my brother's let me borrow it. I played through the Egyptian scenario to learn how to play, and then started playing online with him. I really enjoyed the game and got pretty good at it, well enough to beat most amateur-level players. I tried the next scenario, but got annoyed with a level where I didn't have a town center and gave up.

This wasn't the first real-time strategy game I played (that was Warcraft II: Tides of Darkness, but it was the last one to interest me since I noticed that they all pretty much follow the same routine.

Review

Video Game Review Icon - Enjoyment.png Video Game Review Icon - Control.png Video Game Review Icon - Appearance.png Video Game Review Icon - Sound.png Video Game Review Icon - Replayability.png
8 7 8 10 9

Best Version: Windows

— This section contains spoilers! —

Good

  • The graphic art is fantastic. Pre-rendered 3D graphics in 2D usually look awful, but the artists did a good job here.
  • The game's music and sound effects are really good.
  • The game's AI it very competent, and can be quite a challenge at the hardest difficulty.
  • A lot of detailed history was put into the game, and the various touches were noticed and enjoyed.
  • The built-in scenario editor was a wonderful bonus, and certainly stole many hours off my life.
  • The game had really good multiplayer support.
  • The manual is really informative and well-made.

Bad

  • The civilizations are not evenly balanced. The fast villagers of the Assyrians and Yamato make them superior for standard play.

Ugly

  • Nothing.

Rise of Rome

The Rise of Rome expansion adds new civilizations, new units, more scenarios, bigger maps, and lots of bug fixes.

Media

Documentation

Graphics

Representation

Strong female character?FailThere are no female characters.
Bechdel test?FailThere isn't any dialogue.
Strong person of color character?PassMost of the characters in the game are people of color.
Queer character?FailThere are no queer characters.

Links

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