Pros and Cons of Age of Empires Definitive Edition
Pros
- No lootboxes or microtransactions.
- Faithful recreation of the original game.
- Maps look spectacular with new graphics.
- UI has been upgraded for a more modern feel.
- Menus and backgrounds all look and feel great.
- Kept classic sound effects in place.
- New sounds fit in very well.
- A few of the units look great with the new art style.
- Runs incredibly well on modern machines.
- Old strategies still work very well.
- Easy to pick up and play even for new gamers.
- A really solid nostalgia trip for gamers from the late 90s.
Cons
- Exceptionally outdated game play.
- Poor unit pacing and overall movement.
- Still buggy.
- Doesn’t have all the upgrades you’d expect from a modern game.
- Visual improvements still aren’t that impressive.
- No major additions.
- Most upgrades are surface level.
- Unit balance problems still exist from the original game.
- Still no real difference between the various types of civilizations.
- Ignored the changes made by the rest of the series.
- Seems to be strongly reliant on nostalgia.
- Price is too high for what’s essentially a decades-old game.
- New graphics aren’t quite as charming as the old styles.
- Not worth the hype.
Trivia
- AI – artificial intelligence; the programming that determines how units act in the game.
- Balance – the relative strengths of the units in the game. Age of Empires has traditionally been all about the balance between infantry, ranged, and cavalry units.
- Civilization – one of the playable factions of the game; mostly cosmetic.
- RTS – real-time strategy.
- Special unit – civilization-only units. This is really the only thing that sets civilizations apart.
- Wololo – the iconic sound of a priest character. This is something you’ll come to hate if you’re on the wrong side.
Final Score
- Game visuals: 5/5.
- Gameplay and mechanics: 3/5.
- Storyline and lore: 3/5.
- Sound design and music: 5/5.
- Level of fun: 4/5.
Useful Sites
- Official Website: Age of Empire: Definitive Edition.
- Microsoft Store: Age of Empire: Definitive Edition.
Judgment Time
It was hard to come up with a definitive judgment for this Age of Empires Definitive Edition review. There are really two valid ways to look at the game. One is based on the game itself, a strategy title released in 2018. The other is the game as viewed through the lens of nostalgia. Using the former, it’s not a terribly good game. Using the latter, though, it’s amazing.
If you’re a huge fan of all the updates to RTS games over the last two decades or of the changes made to the Age of Empires series after the first game, you’re going to be very annoyed by this title. We enjoyed our time played during this Age of Empire Definitive Edition review, but it’s not for everyone.
What did you think about Age of Empires Definitive Edition review? Was it worth the wait? Did it live up to your memories? Be sure to let us know!
Image source: AgeofEmpires
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