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Well-balanced, complex strategy

5 Rating: 5, Useful: 0 / 0
Date: August 04, 2008
Author: Amazon User

I hate the phrase "Total Package" but it is apt in this expanded "Rise of Nations" dual-disc package.

The original game was good - and very frustrating. The computer will neither lay down and let you roll over it, nor simply overwhelm you. It will, however, put up a heckuva good fight.

Even with overwhelming force, attrition plays such a large part of the damage your invading units receive that by the time the opponent is beat, you'll not have much left to mount an effective attack.

In short, this is a strategy game that really makes you think ahead.

on sale

3 Rating: 3, Useful: 0 / 5
Date: May 02, 2008
Author: Amazon User

Got Rise of Nations on sale for $20, wouldn't pay more than that...
tip: turn game speed down; took 40 minutes game time to conquer world.
Not worth playing second time round, have un-installed.

Rise of Nations Thrones and Patriots

5 Rating: 5, Useful: 4 / 5
Date: January 21, 2008
Author: Amazon User

Rise of Nations: Thrones & Patriots
I purchased this for my grandson for Christmas. He loved it. I had to fight to get him to turn it off. He is 12. This follows along the same lines as Age of Empires (Age of Kings) Age of Empires 2: Age of Kings

Just what I was hoping

5 Rating: 5, Useful: 4 / 6
Date: September 29, 2007
Author: Amazon User

Just have to say that the American civ fits with my style of gameplay so well that it has really increased the fun of the game. So much so that I have yet to try any of the other new civs. I keep meaning to, but . . .

Choosing governments has been executed very well, too, and I think it's a definite plus. I'd look forward to that concept expanded somewhat in a sequel . . .

On The Whole, Good

5 Rating: 5, Useful: 0 / 0
Date: November 19, 2006
Author: Amazon User

I don't have RON Expansion but when I played it at a friend's house, it was just a blast! The Cold War campain was really cool, but the coolest thing in the game are HUMMERS!!!! Only problem with them is that the light tank replaces them in the INFO age, just like stealth bombers replace stratigic bombers. Since I only had a limited time at my friend's house I wasn't able to test the editor.

Crashes without fail

1 Rating: 1, Useful: 1 / 2
Date: July 17, 2006
Author: Amazon User

I have the same issue as Yossarian. The Exception window appears after I attack a city in one of the first tutorials. I get the same thing if I try the other campaigns, just not quite as quickly. Unfortunately, I can only get it exchanged for the same item (if opened) and the Microsoft web support is useless on it.

Expansion value for kids

4 Rating: 4, Useful: 3 / 4
Date: September 18, 2005
Author: Amazon User

Firstly, I have already reviewed Rise of Nations; it is excellent and the expansion pack makes it better. If you don't have either RON, or if $$ doesn't matter then go for Gold and get the best.

However, my situation is that I bought the expansion pack as an 'extra' for my children (who love RoN) and for them this expansion pack was NOT good value. Other expansion packs we have bought (notably age of empires and age of empires II) have added to the game play in significant 'game changing' ways.

The RoN expansion does have new nations and new unique units; as one reviewer says if you are a 'thinking man' these new subtleties are an interesting nut to crack. But if you are a 'thinking child' the differences are too subtle (or complex) to fully grasp. The senate is comprehensible; the distinctions between the different generals really isn't.

The biggest disapointment was the campaigns. In age of kings each new campaign had introduced my children to a piece of history with which they became fascinated. RoN does have a good campaign system which I raved about before. However the expansion pack is really just the same thing with the countries relabeled. There are a couple of new tweaks but nothing in the campaigns themselves to render them as immersive as the AOK versions.

All in all, the expansion pack makes a brilliant game better. But viewed as an expense almost equivalent to a new game, I cannot recommend this UNLESS you have a deep and thorough grasp of the underlying subtleties of the original version.

Great game, the six campaigns need some work

4 Rating: 4, Useful: 0 / 0
Date: July 01, 2005
Author: Amazon User

Ive played this game a lot over time and have found it to be a very fun game. Good battle graphics and realistic aspects to running your nation. However, the 6 newer campaigns have limited scenarios and are too simple. The normal campaign doesn't have enough regions to conquer. Despite these downsides, the campaign is still loads of fun, especially the new world and cold war campaigns. Another downside is the limited power of war elephants, who dont dominate the battlefield like they should. However, they are still a strong asset to your armies. Another upside of this expansion is the added resources. The original didnt have campaign map resources, but the expansion has doubled the variety.

Chock full of bugs

1 Rating: 1, Useful: 3 / 15
Date: May 14, 2005
Author: Amazon User

I absolutely loved the original "Rise of Nations". Fantastic RTS game. Also extremely stable; this will be important in a moment. I "upgraded" to this expansion after about 6 months of Rise of Nations. It immediately transformed my gaming experience from one of delight in a deep, complex, and endlessly replayable RTS game into one of unbridled frustration. The expansion causes the game to crash constantly and without warning (although I often get an amazingly helpful "Exception!" window afterwards). It crashes during loading. It crashes during saving. It crashes at the start of the game. It crashes 3 hours into a game. It crashes when 100 units are fighting. It crashes when a single peasant is walking. It will even, in something I've never seen before, crash in the middle of crashing. It is without doubt the least stable game or expansion I have ever played, and I've played Temple of Elemental Evil. I regret the day I bought this expansion because it has so colored my view of the game that I don't even like playing the original anymore because I half expect it to die with every move. The nominal benefits of the expansion (4 new nations, a few new campaigns, and tweaks to some old nations) are SLIGHTLY outweighed by the fact that you have no chance in hell of playing or finishing any of them. Avoid this expansion at all costs.

Wonderful expansion for a great game (4.75 stars)

4 Rating: 4, Useful: 4 / 5
Date: March 18, 2005
Author: Amazon User

I have already posted a full review of Rise of Nations, so I won't go into many details here. However, in terms of what it adds to the original game, Throne and Patriots is probably the best expansion pack I have ever played. The new stuff like governments, new units, the four campaigns, and other options simply make the game feel even more user-friendly and realistic. I never played Rise of Nations without the expansion pack, and it is really hard to tell where the original game ends and the expansion begins. THey fit together that well. I have only played the Napoleonic campaign, and it is excellent. The special units, like the government unit and the generals, add a nice touch to the game without throwing things off balance. If there is anything lacking in this game, it has to do with sounds and visuals, not gameplay. To make the game even more immersive, I wish that the special units had just a tad bit of voice acting, like some verbal acknowledgment as they go into action. Also, the geography could use a bit more diversity--weather changes and day & night cycles would have probably pushed me toward giving this game an outright 5 stars. Nonetheless, Rise of Nations is definitely a top-10 favorite game of all time for me. I highly recommend it (and the expansion) to anyone who likes well-done strategy games.

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