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the Sequel

5 Rating: 5, Useful: 5 / 6
Date: January 23, 2000
Author: Amazon User

I think that it's much more complicated than the first one but the scale is much better because in the original AoE the people were the size of churches. Yes, this is definately the better of the two. It has got; better graphics, more AI of the opponents, you can now get formations, and of course that brilliant strategy is back on the screen!

Go Medieval on someone!

5 Rating: 5, Useful: 5 / 6
Date: January 15, 2001
Author: Amazon User

Microsoft actually out-did themselves with this sequel to one of the greatest strategy CD Rom games ever. This is bascially the same game as the original, only it's set in the Dark Ages. It is also a bit faster paced than the first one. AE II also offers a multitude of extra features not included in its predecessor, as well as a graphics package which leaves the old version in the dust. The buildings on AE II are much more life-size and intricate in detail. They are also more varied than the first & include Cathedrals and Castles.

Among the new features is your ability to garrison your townspeople in buildings & towers to get them out of harms way. Instead of being all men (like the first one), this one also includes female townspeople as well as Joan of Arc. Also new is the ability to create several types of military units at the same time using the same barracks / stable / archery range, etc. In the old version, you could make several units of one kind, but not several units of different kinds. A helpful aspect, to say the least. Another nice characteristic of the game is that you can actually upgrade scouts to light calvery. That means that you can have military units on horseback (that don't cost any gold) which are actually semi-decent in combat (not so with AE I).

This is a must-buy game for anyone who even casually enjoyed AE I. The expanded features and updated graphics give you a whole new realm to explore, command and conquer. Time to move up to the Age of Kings. Good luck!

Never gets boring

4 Rating: 4, Useful: 4 / 4
Date: April 07, 2004
Author: Amazon User

There are enough rave reviews here to get the point across, so I won't spend too much time. This game is addictive, historically fascinating (what if William Wallace did do battle with Genghis Khan?), and very easy on the eyes--the graphics are crystal clear. Just beware, you'll start playing, and without realizing it, the hours have flown by. The game never gets boring, and offers dozens of scenarios. Personal fave: attacking with elephants!

First game to shelf Starcraft

5 Rating: 5, Useful: 4 / 4
Date: December 31, 1999
Author: Amazon User

Starcraft had taken hour after hour of my time until i bought AOE 2. This is perhaps the best real time strategy game I have ever played. It has so many civilizations and upgrades, not to mention the number of maps. Starcraft is still one of the best games ever made, but it had to fall sometime. AOE 2 is the new King!

AMAZING, NO REGRETS ON BUYING THIS GAME!

5 Rating: 5, Useful: 4 / 4
Date: February 27, 2000
Author: Amazon User

I downloaded the demo of this game because I heard it was fun. I absolutely loved it. I got into the game immediately, and have been constantly playing the full version ever since I got it. THe multiple civilizations are fascinating, and I absolutely love how the game is set up.

The set up of the game is very good, and you can have up to fifteen units lined up for production, so there is no delay between unit production making for faster army manufacturing. The only thing that i wish this game had was an attack walk command like in Starcraft. If it has one, I have yet to discover it, and even if there is one, it is going to be hard to remember. So many things come into play in this game from units effectiveness against each other and buildings, height, and so on. There is no end to the fun in this game. I suggest anyone who loves realtime strategy get this game. It is better than the first one, Warcraft, Starcraft and all of the other realtime games I have ever played combined. It is worth every single penny.

Hear Ye, Hear Ye, This Game Rules!

5 Rating: 5, Useful: 7 / 11
Date: February 24, 2001
Author: Amazon User

900 AD. Rome has been sacked by barabarians. With no centralized government, the world is up for grabs. Age of Empires II: The Age of Kings is one of the best RTS Games I've ever played. Great graphics complement a wide variety of strategies. Will you rush your opponent in the Feudal Age and destroy his base early on? Or will you survive until a late-game Imperial Age battle with knights and cannon?

Resource management is fun, conquest is challenging, and strategies are advanced in this historical simulator of Middle Ages Combat. Armies are easy to raise, providing you have the right resources. You can trade resources and pay tribute to other players. Technologies are there to research that improve your soldiers and villagers. Allies are actually helpful, keeping up the pressure on your opponents while you build up for an all-out assault.

While this may seem familiar to many Age of Empires players, Age of Kings has many important differences. The first is the graphics, which have been highly improved. Along with the civilization attributes, each team has it's own special unique unit. This gives the game a more diverse feel. There are also more subtle differences, the most important being the fact that not all villagers are male anymore. Some are female. It's a randomly determined thing, and it makes it feel more real, but it doesn't affect game play.

If you like real time strategy games, Age of Empires II: The Age of Kings is a must have. If you really like it, you should buy Age of Empires II: The Conquerors Expansion. If you've never played an RTS, try this. Age of Empires II is a great game.

RTS at it's peak in monotony!

3 Rating: 3, Useful: 11 / 23
Date: January 26, 2000
Author: Amazon User

Briefly: I've never played the original AoE. I've played RTS since the original Warcraft RE-defined the genre a few years ago. (There were horrid RTS titles before WC1...)

I bought AoE2, expecting it to be a great game from all the reviews I've read. (Not the reviews on Amazon.com, but the editor reviews on nation-wide PC-game magazines which I tend-ED to expect fantastic criticism from.)

I have to say I was really dissapointed. Not only that I bought the game, but generally dissapointed in the folks at Ensemble Studios.

The graphics of AoE, and the music of AoE are in general, really nice. (There are some really annoying sounds that get to you after a while.) But in general -- this game introduces NOTHING new to the RTS genre. I've heard it said that this game does nothing but improve the graphics from the earlier AoE. I'd have to believe it. Especially since I was oddly reminded of Warcraft II while watching the various goings on in the game. (Not only reminded, but having flashbacks where I actually thought I was playing WCII.)

That, combined with the fact that a single-player game set on a hard difficulty level can take up to six hours to complete, depending on the complexity of the scenario, makes this really, undeniably, dreadfully dull.

I'm not going to say that the hardcore AoE2 fans out there are wrong -- they're most definately not. Obviously they've shown great support for this game. Personally, I love innovation, both in what I do, and what I experience. And from that point of view, AoE2 is a refinement of the RTS algorithm. It's got some new flashy things and shiny objects to make you "oooo" and occasionally "ahhh," but once you get past the initial pretty thingies, it's just another "canned money-maker," so to speak.

Turned me into a RTS fan... this one's great!

5 Rating: 5, Useful: 5 / 7
Date: March 06, 2001
Author: Amazon User

It ain't easy being king, but it sure is a heck of a fun time in 'Age of Kings II', one of the best PC historical real-time strategy games out there. There's not much I can say to extoll the virtues of this extremely fun game that hasn't already been said.

Only thing I can add is that I couldn't stand these games till I picked this one up. It's hard to describe the sheer pleasure of building a massive army, leading them straight to the walls of one of your allies cities, suddenly declaring yourself enemy and have your guys raze the place to the ground.

This game is packed with options, including the requisite multiplayer feature (itself loaded with options) several one-player historical campaigns and a special campaign specifically made to teach you the game. My favourite part is the campaign/scenario editor, where you can build your own battle from scratch.

All in all, one of the most perfect strategy games on the market...at least till AoE III is released.

great game

5 Rating: 5, Useful: 5 / 7
Date: December 27, 1999
Author: Amazon User

This is the best strategy game i have ever played. Its very addictive, i spent 3 hrs playing it the first day i got it. If someone says that it is too hard be cause, God forbid, the computer actually attacks, they just dont understand what makes up a good game. The scenarios are great and i like all the new enhancements. I reccomend you buy this game immediately.

Age of Empires II, The Best War-Sim Ever Made

5 Rating: 5, Useful: 5 / 7
Date: April 25, 2000
Author: Amazon User

Age of Empires II definetely executes the sole purpose of simulating an upbringing of a middle-age civilisation. It has excellent quality sound, as every civilisation has their own unique language. For example, if you tell a villager to chop wood, they will say something and this game has great effects when it comes to war. When archers shoot arrows, or when bombard towers shoot canons, or when a ship shoots a canon-ball that lands in the water(kerplunk).

There are up to 13 civilisations, all with their own UNIQUE units. There is some twist to this game with military units. Certain units have special stregth against others. For example, pikeman are excellent against any cavalry, especially elephants. There is NO civilisation that has an advantage over ALL the others. You can create stylish-buldings such as Castles, Universites, Monestaries, Stables, Blacksmiths, WONDERS(Very Neat)and MANY others. Units consist of Pikeman, Paladins, unique units(Woad Raiders, Cho KU NU, Samurai etc.), monks, and SO MANY more. And each civilisation has their own unique architecture style and wonder. Very good factor of this game that captures the eye.

Aoe2 is very easy to pick up, although it may seem complicated at first with so many different building options and other strange buttons. But AOE2 definetly fixes that with a Learning Campaign that definetely can make you an Intermediate player in an hour or so.

Multiplayer on the MSN Gaming Zone, is excellent. You can chat with your opponents, and it supports up to 8 people from anywhere in the world. Fascinating. If you want to get good FAST, I suggest learning from your opponents here.

All in all, AOE2 is a great-game for a person with excellent war-strategy mind, and love for history as Age of Kings gives accurate history as well. Do you have what it takes to bring your civilisation to the top?

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