#Age of empires iv review how to#

Exploring o ther unique elements like one culture not requiring any resources to execute research provides plenty of depth. Want to annihilate the enemy at long range? Get some English longbowmen in the ranks! And when nothing else but giant elephant wrath will do, pick the Delhi Sultanate and rip through opposing fortifications. Feel like playing incredibly aggressive? Pick the Mongols and begin expanding immediately and putting pressure on your opponent.

Within the eight different civilizations, there is a ton of gameplay diversity, even inside each culture. The video vignettes and bonus history content keep things interesting among many traditional вЂњresource up and goвЂќ missions.Д¬lick image thumbnails to view larger version Whatever the case, it works, and I found myself motivated to complete each fierce war involving William the Conqueror, King John, and others to unravel the next layer of edutainment. Some of the video segments occur in an offbeat fashion where ancient battles and history are superimposed onto modern environments. I havenвЂ™t had a Magna Carta refresher like this since high school. Instead, I had a blast nerding out during History-channel-style videos and segments between missions. However, the most enjoyable aspect of the campaigns wasnвЂ™t the gameplay. Much of the good stuff here outside of the ordinary involves historical figures that lead troops that have been given special abilities for the campaign, adding a bit of zest and flair to the rote. These campaign offerings are heavily rooted in classical RTS and mostly involve building up forces and resources and taking out your opponents, but there are some nice surprises here too.

#Age of empires iv review how to#

ThereвЂ™s a meaty campaign in which the first segment functions as an extensive tutorial that can teach even an RTS neophyte to harvest resources, form control groups, and learn how to break down walled fortifications. While the divisive Age of Empires III hit 16 years ago, itвЂ™s a bit of a dulling anesthetic seeing IV play things so close to Age of Empires II. at a comfortable difficulty level if you donвЂ™t feel like taking on other players.ДЄge of Empires IV is incredibly safe in its execution, channeling the spirit of Age of Empires II for many of its systems, mechanics, and features. If multiplayer isnвЂ™t your thing, you do miss out on a hefty chunk of the game, but there are always skirmishes to take on A.I.

While there is a lengthy campaign that spans multiple civilizations, the longevity of the experience lies in multiplayer encounters. Age of Empires IV gives players eight different civilizations to explore in both single-player and multiplayer real-time strategy.