Age of Empires II – Classic is Stronger than Ever
There are hardly any fans of RTS games which have not spent tens of hours playing Age of Empires II. It was officially launched in 1999 as a heavily updated sequel of the original title released a couple of years earlier. The basic yet engaging gameplay was a total hit in the bullseye, and Age of Empires II quickly ranked next to mega-hits like WarCraft. The complex storyline and huge variety of units kept fans busy for months. Furthermore, it looked like the developer Ensemble Studios has struck a perfect balance between the detailed city management, soldiery units, and epic battle scenes.
No matter if you prefer playing campaign missions, single-player against AI, or multiplayer, you’ll most probably be completely captivated by the heroic saga development. Actually, this unique diversity presented in a rather simplistic way is what was driving users to keep playing. The monumental battles are the icing on the cake and will happen no matter if you are ready or not. Anyway, the developing studio knew that even the best RTS games need updates because otherwise, players will just go on with the next big hit on the shelves. That is why a sequel was released in 2002 with the help of SkyBox Labs disguised as Age of Mythology!
Although it attracted the attention of many players at the beginning, this title did not live up to expectations. Indeed, Age of Mythology is played even today without being much improved over the years, but most Age of Empires II fans just continued with their favorite. Perhaps that was why the company took another shot and released Age of Empires III in 2005. However, the same mistake was made, and the sequel was just too different. A precedent has been set as an outdated version continued to be preferred years after its initial release and despite several updated versions!
First Age of Empires II Update
In 2013, Ensemble Studios, with the help of Hidden Path Entertainment and Xbox Game Studios, released the long-awaited Age of Empires II HD version. It became playable on Steamworks, connecting thousands of players in epic multiplayer battles. Actually, the integration was the only notable difference in this high-definition update of the classic real-time strategy. And the graphics, of course, with significantly improved water reflections, building shades, and unit details.
Although many players highly ranked Age of Empires II: HD Edition, it again failed to deliver something valuable to the old masterpiece. Many users remained mesmerized by the 14-year-old version. Besides the visual appearance, we must mention the upgraded AI, several new trading cards and features, and better workshop support. However, the big boom was postponed for another time. And after a few minor updates, this moment finally came in 2019!
Age of Empires II: Definitive Edition
Forgotten Empires and the publisher Xbox Game Studios finally achieved a major breakthrough in the final quarter of 2019. Age of Empires II: Definitive Edition came as a fresh breeze for players nostalgic for the old days. The classic Age of Empires II gameplay was updated with a few additional civilizations widening the historical scope of the storyline. Some of the oldest European nations are now available, including Bulgarians, Lithuanians, and Tatars. Visually, the sequel is much better than everything we have seen so far – 4K graphics, significantly improved visuals (troops, buildings, and surrounding environment), and even more epic video elements.
Players and spectators (another new feature) are not capable of zooming in and out, including during battles and sieges. Besides the new civilizations, buildings, and military units, a new expansion was added without removing any of the previous ones – The Last Khans. Players can enjoy fresh and very well narrated campaigns. The music and voice sounds have been brought to another level as well, comparable with the newest trends. Overall, the game was finally brought to that new level that all fans have been expecting for years. We can’t say that Definitive Edition breathes new life into the Age of Empires II because the title as a whole has never lost its popularity. It’s just that the updates so far have been mediocre!
Great Multiplayer Experience
The Steam integration was transferred to Age of Empires II: Definitive Edition. Only six months after the release of the final version, more than 50,000 subscribers have been reported. This shows how popular the title remains to be after 20+ years! The huge number of followers means that you don’t have to wait long to enter a multiplayer game. Servers are full of potential matches, so you only need to find a suitable lobby through the Multiplayer functionality of the game. It’s unnecessary to say that this aspect was also improved by Forgotten Empires and the other involved parties.
Conclusion
In October 2021, Relic Entertainment, World’s Edge, and Xbox Game Studios launched in a partnership Age of Empires IV! It’s a far superior game compared to Age of Empires II, or at least the commercials say so. The truth is that the classic RTS will never become obsolete. The real question is whether the new version will be at least half as successful or will be forgotten in just a few months. Back in 1999, the AOE2 created a dynasty, and today the title is stronger than ever!