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Shovelware

3 Rating: 3, Useful: 25 / 38
Date: November 19, 1999
Author: Amazon User

AoE II is AoE I with enhanced graphics, but it's the same game. Granted, they've fixed some bugs from the first game (such as path finding) and made archer's arrows actually arc instead of flying straight, but under the face lift lies AoE I. When playing solitare games, you always get gang banged simultainously by all other civs. This is AoE's way of balancing your brain with the very weak AI. Why didn't they enhance the AI so it fights with itself instead of every game having 3:1 odds against the player! If you start beating on one of the three civs, the other two rush you with all of their troops. If you get higher technology levels than the AI players, all three rush you with all of their troops. And of course while you're managing your forces in battle, the computer is fighting the battle as well as cranking out more forces and moving them to the front. Humans can't manipulate building troops, managing farms, fighting battles, rapairing damage, and building new structures simultainously like the computer can.

Bottom line - if you are obsessed with AoE I, you'll enjoy AoE II because it is really the same game. Like AoE I, this game is really only good when playing multiplayer games against HUMANS so all players are on the same multitasking playing field.

Oh, and some people reviewing this game mistakenly refer to this game as a strategy game. This game really has no aspects of strategy at all. It's really a tactical game in which the player who can throw together a horde of troops first wins.

Nice improvements, but some critical flaws.

3 Rating: 3, Useful: 10 / 10
Date: November 15, 1999
Author: Amazon User

If you liked the first AOE, you'll probably like this game. It has some nice new features - for instance, hotkeys for finding idle villagers. That said, however, I think they've made a HUGE mistake: the buildings are too big! Clearly someone there made the classic "bigger is better" mistake, and now the screen space is really tight. The buildings are enormous, making it tough to navigate around (and around them).

Someone over at Microsoft has completely missed the point of real-time strategy. You have to be able to see what you're doing. It doesn't matter if you can count the hairs on the tails of the horses in the stable. By limiting the visual field (and there's no zoom-out that I could see - if there is, it should be easier to find) they've reduced your ability to respond to threats and execute on your tactical plan.

All in all, the new artwork scale is a major screwup, making an otherwise really playable game much less interesting.

Strategy, combat, history -- outstanding game

5 Rating: 5, Useful: 12 / 14
Date: October 24, 2000
Author: Amazon User

If you enjoy action and strategy, Age of Empires 2 is a must-have game that makes huge advances on its predecessor. Graphics are a nice improvement, but most important is that everything seems more in scale. The unique units and varied architectures associated with the different civilisations allow you to quickly change the character of the game by selecting different options; likewise, varying the map changes the face of the game.

Most welcome are settings allowing you to take maximum advantage of very high performance PCs, while scaling back graphics and number of units controlled to enable the program to run on older Pentium's as well. This is key, and Microsoft does it better than other makers of entertainment software.

Gameplay is first rate. You can assign numbers to groups of units and control them quite easily, specifying formation types (close, wide, flank, etc.) A mini-map in the lower right alerts you to units engaged in combat, construction completed and other events that require your attention.

In general, success comes down to matching the right units against the appropriate enemy unit types, while constructing fortifications in a way that is defensible. At the same time you must run the economy -- gathering resources in anticipation of need. You will build and deploy units, construct and repair structures and advance technologies. Sound easy? Well...

There is a learning campaign, so that you can get up to speed on game controls and shortcuts before taking on the computer or real opponents online. While you can play immediately and have a great time, I agree with several other reviewers that it will take a lot of time to master every aspect of AOE II, but that's part of the fun.

Also part of the learning: there are definite advantages to some civilisations, and diplomacy can be extremely important. On the downside: the elaborate screen allows a pretty limited display of the battlefield map, so there can be a LOT happening in the periphery and you must pay attention. This is a small concession to the enhanced graphics of AOE II when compared to the original AOE.

Overall, very highly recommended for both strategy and action gamers. The random map generator and variety of civilsations and maps lets AOE II continue to seem new and challenging every time you play.

Best Strategy Game....No Doubt!

5 Rating: 5, Useful: 9 / 9
Date: February 06, 2000
Author: Amazon User

This game clearly wipes out any other strategy game out there. Age 1 was great...Age 2 is better! Why? Better everything! Better graphics, sounds, AI (how smart the computer plays), etc. Also, most popular game on the MSN Gaming Zone! If your a strategy fan, this is a game you don't want to miss. Every online game site, and magazine rated this game at least 9.0/10. And people complain about RAM? I got 48, and it runs good with 2 players. One problem, but it can be fixed: Computer surrenders. Just download an update from Microsoft, and done! Well, I'm off to play Aoe2!

You should be ashamed of yourself if you don't own this game

5 Rating: 5, Useful: 10 / 11
Date: December 15, 2000
Author: Amazon User

There are times in the gaming industry that a certain game will come along and reshape the way we think about how that genre is played. StarCraft did this for RTS. And AOE II expanded on the trusted design of that and made a game that is historically accurate, fun to play, completely balanced, and free of bugs (which is all-too-common in games today).

You can choose one of 13 civilizations to play in a skirmish. Or you can play King of the Hill. Or you can play Fortress. Or you can play...I think you get the point. There are tons of options for single player game play. And the historically accurate missions follow the lives, trials and battles of William Wallace, Joan of Arc, Ghengas Khan, Barbarosa, and Saladin. While these campaigns are somewhat static and "rail," they are engrossing and interesting.

All 13 civilzations are wonderfully balanced. Unique units for each are an especially nice touch. And the ages that you advance through provide a new element of strategy (for instance, you will never even consider attacking with the Turks in the early stages because of their advantange in the later stages; likewise, the Britons and Persians are ideal for a quick win because of their advantages in earlier ages. Once you advance with them, you'll find that they don't have the "strength" needed to pull ahead, though I have devised numerous strategies for the Britions that will allow victory in the late ages).

Overall, one of the best games ever. You are without excuse to not own this game. Even non-RTS fans will enjoy it.

AoE 2: it's all about the gameplay!

5 Rating: 5, Useful: 9 / 10
Date: February 29, 2000
Author: Amazon User

I'm not exactly unbiased, here; I absolutely loved Age of Empires. The moment I got word that AoE2 was in the works, I knew I would buy it. AoE had so many great aspects; real-world history, great graphics, intelligent interface and build systems and excelent and varied resource gathering. Everything you want in an RTS. Their best achievement, though, was the random map feature... endless replayability.

Of course, AoE had it's faults: bad AI pathfinding, not enough distinction between the different cultures (every culture had the same vocal cues, BIG no-no), some others.

AoE2: the Age of Kings is a wonderful sequel for many reasons, the most significant being gameplay. Military units now have the desperately needed behavior and formation commands, making combat infinitely more interesting and fun. Garissoning units allows for better protection of your peasants (and better defense of your hometown), as well as allowing for ambushes. Farming is now more realistic, with farms that roll over any terrain and that are renewable at a click. Plus all the great multiplayer customization is back, with many splendid additions. Perhaps best of all, the military units are exquisitely balanced against each other, with each society having a unique unit that allows for varied and exciting combat.

While gameplay should be the number one concern of any developer, the graphics (while beautiful) are the same as they ever were. However, keep in mind that beautiful graphics cannot mask an uninteresting or unoriginal game (Total Annihilation: Kingdoms, Unreal, Quake 3 Arena). Great gameplay will always shine through mediocre or outdated graphics (Starcraft, Caesar 3, Prince of Persia).

AoE2 is one to get.

It has everything

5 Rating: 5, Useful: 10 / 12
Date: December 07, 1999
Author: Amazon User

First of all, I loved AOE I, and was looking very mush forward to the second comming. And WHAT a game! Everything that you've been scream about i all these years that where missing in RTS games is in this one. There even a button you can click to cyckle through idle villagers, and soldiers. Emsemble Studios have created (in my oppision) one of best RTS games to date.

And the built-in campaigns are clever, though and lots of fun to play.

Almost everything in this game is a masterstroke, although it takes cute a machine to play it. But if you have a Pentium 400 or above with a lot of ram, and a videocard (12 md over more) there's absolutly no problem in playing this, even in 1280 x 1024.

Buy it and be preparad to lose some time of you life, because this game is addictive.

The RTS Perfection...

5 Rating: 5, Useful: 10 / 12
Date: January 01, 2001
Author: Amazon User

I ahve one key word for you, and that word is, "wow". I have been an RTS game fanatic for many years now...and never have I seen a game come as close to perfection as this! Microsoft has combined the excellent interface of Age of Empires 1 and some killer graphics, new civilizations, etc. into a bestselling masterpiece. Here are some major differences: (1) The addition of unique units and 'female' villagers adds a more realistic affect. (2) The civilization changes suit the Middle-Age era very well. (3) 4 new campaigns including one to help you learn the ropes to the game are a HUGE improvement to AOK's predescessor. (4) The ability to record games allows the revision and improvement of your game. (5) Ever had a 'perfect' multiplayer game going? Now you can save it and resume at a later time! (6) Garrisoning units can provide for a better defense. (7) New techs (murder holes, currency, etc), units (trebuchet, battering ram, etc), and buildings (university, castle, etc) help you better understand the medieval time period. (8) Killer graphics and sound add a whole new realism to the game. This is a MUST BUY for anyone; gamer or not!

go buy memory!

4 Rating: 4, Useful: 20 / 33
Date: November 18, 1999
Author: Amazon User

this would have got 5 stars if they wouldn't have lied to me and told me i need 32MB to run the game. THAT IS BULL! you need 128MB in order for it to run smooth. so now i have to go buy some DIMMS.

Very good--but not great

4 Rating: 4, Useful: 11 / 14
Date: November 17, 1999
Author: Amazon User

The game has a number of improvements over the original. I like being able to hide the villagers in the town center so they can fight back, I like the gates, and I like the fact that the buildings are much more difficult to knock down. There are a number of other improvements as well.

If I have a gripe, though, it is that the campaigns are much too difficult, and not terribly intriguing. The campaigns in AoE I were excellent, particularly the Nineveh thing, and the campaigns in the Rise of Rome add-on were, each and every one, simply spectacular. I can't even imagine the number of enjoyable hours I spent playing--and thinking about--winning these campaigns.

But in II, the object seems to be simply to survive. You are attacked early and steadily, most of the time by more than one civ., giving you little time to develop resources. Very frustrating, and not as much fun as the original.

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