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From:Microsoft
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User Rating: Amazon Sales Rank:#749 |
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 Works with Windows Vista Business (64 bit), 2008-09-12
The package comes with two CDs, an Age of Empires II: Age of Kings Technology tree card of laminated cardboard, a Age of Empires II: Age of Kings game manual, at 142 pages and a Age of Empires II: The Conquerors Expansion manual, at 48 pages. The manuals are in the same book, back-to-back.
CD one:
The Age of Empires II: Age of Kings CD, version 2.0a. There is no patch for this game CD, as the CD contains the latest update.
CD two:
The Age of Empires II: The Conquerors, version 1.0b. There is a patch for the game, "update v1.0c" (Age2XPatch.exe), you can download via the "web connection" link in the game menu.
Gameplay is fine. for the nuances of the game, check the Amazon listings for the stand-alone game and it's expansion package, ASIN: B00002NDRY and ASIN: B00004VP4M
A game close to my heart, 2008-08-12
Still playing this game after 5 years. Theres just something about gathering resources, building an economy or military, researching technologies, and expanding your civilization in such a way that defines strategy. And thats what I love about this game. Once I start playing it, I pause it and I look at the terrain around me. I take about 10 minutes to decide on how I want to build my civilization specifically, where to put my walls, and eventually how to defend the perimeter, and where to put my buildings. And while Im playing Im constantly pausing and taking 10 minutes to make important decisions. Should I gather more food to create more villagers (who will work and bring in more resources over the long-term)? Or should it be wood which I can use to build my Navy or Siege Weapons in case of an unexpected attack? How about Gold? Everything is costing a little bit of gold right now so more is surely needed especially if I advance to the next age. And what about stone? Ah yes precious stone. Always the most expensive to purchase at market and rarest of resources. Stone is needed for strong walls and castles fortifying my civilization for a strong perimiter while I build my economy and military behind those walls. Oh and whats this! An enemy villager is building a castle just outside my walls? OK I'll have to send a couple military units out there to get rid of him. And dont forget about that relic before its too late! I'll need to build a monastery, create a monk, then transport ship in order to control it (a relic is something in the game that when you find it and carry it back to your monastery, it generates gold for you). Lots and lots of strategy in this game. Once you have a decent empire built, next thing you're doing is pulling up wordpad and jotting down notes of whats best to do or what needs to be done. Basically, you are King and need to decide what is best for your empire. It makes me wish life was a little more like this everytime I play it =).
I also want to mention that this game is more preferable over AoE 3. The third AoE is about colonial civilizations and isnt too realistic. In AoE 2 its more realistic having civilizations from hundreds of years ago. Its about war like it was during those days and how each of those civilizations had a certain ability to them that rose above the rest. For example, the Huns dont need to build houses in this game. Representing back then they probably laid on the ground and didnt really care (makes sense to me, they were barbarians). The chinese civ accels in gunpowder technology (seeing how they were first to use it). Every civilization in thie game reflects a certain value about them they had in the past. Making this game truly realistic, mind racking, and challenging.
I once lost my copy of this game when I moved. When I realized it, although I didnt want to play it I went out and bought it anyway. I NEED to have it with me at all times. Its the one computer game I will ever need ... I ended up playing it next day anyway. And it was one of those memorable moments I had with the game. I was 5 minutes of gametime away from winning when my empire was sieged! =( lol Very awesome, makes me think what I could have done better. But I have another game saved from last month Im doing well in. Im quite happy with how I managed my empire so Im gonna finish it and hopefully get a win this time (im playing hardest difficulty vs max enemies with no allies). So it aint easy. Ive played dozens of times at this level and only won ONCE. So getting a win after putting in all that time and effort really makes your day.
 Fun and Addictive Strategy Game, 2008-07-07
I know that I'm a little late on the Age of Empires craze, and that Age of Empires III has now been released, replacing the Age of Empires II that I know. I have marveled at the graphics of the newest game, though can't help but wonder how its gameplay stands up against Age of Empires II own marvelous catch.
This game, along with the Conquerers Expansion, is currently a favorite game of mine. The main goal is to successfully build a civilization capable of defending itself from adversaries, constructing vast momuments if greatness, and establishing firm trade and economy with friendly civilizations. It requires plenty of strategy and knowledge to emerge victorious.
Let's start with the good points:
1. AOE II is easy to learn and play. The game includes learning campaign, though I found myself able to figure out the streategies and secrets of the game by exploration and the detailed game manual. The units are easy to manipulate and command, and a mini map in the corner of the screen displays the expanse of the region that can be switched to several different modes to show only military units, trade units, etc.
2. Gameplay is extremely addictive. After I was drawn into AOE II, I found it difficult to stop! I've constructed countless empires so far, and plan to construct many more. This game hooks you from the start and will not release you!
3. There are a bounty of strategies. Some reviewers have complained about the lack of tactics involved in the game, how there is only one real way to win. I find that that is not true. There are tons of different strategies besides the easy path, clever tactics that you yourself can invent to keep gameplay interesting. Some games I will attempt to train a powerful military to destroy my enemies. Other times I will focus on trade and economy. A third time I might focus on converting enemy units with monks, or performing naval sneak attacks. The possibilities are endless if you expand your thinking beyond the main strategy.
Now for the faults:
1. Winning by conquest proves unnecessarily difficult in single player games. As the computer is clearly more efficient than the human player, I find that the speed it takes for the computer player to build up an army is impossibly fast. Before I've even built a seige workshop, I'll see my adversaries leading a pack of battering rams and three rows of powerful soldiers toward my city. Even when you think you have an army large enough too defeat an enemy, don't be fooled. The computer players seem to have a marvelous ability to create soldiers even when their city is virtually destroyed. And one you reach the Castle Age, the computer player will send a large army as an invasion. If you've built up a good army, you should be able to defend yourself without losing too many soldiers. The computer player, however, will return throughout the rest of the game, seeming unable to lose any of its soldiers. As they regenrate lost militaty units like magic, you stand there with the same soldiers you've had all along, struggling to obtain enough resources to build more. And before you can build a camp next to a mine, there comes more enemies, until your armies been overwhelmed and you fall to your adversaries.It takes a lot of strategy to win with conquest...I just think that games against the computer should be more fair.
Overall, this game is a fun and addictive strategy empire builder that has me hooked. I would reccommend it to those interested in the great ancient civilizations and those who wish for a challenging strategy game that hooks the player.
probably best rts war game ever made, 2008-03-13
This game really is pretty amazing. I've had it for the past 5 years, and I still have tons of fun playing it. The graphics are much less glossy than newer games, and I actually think that in a way the graphics benefit from not being 3d. It makes the old-time feel more authentic....
Anyway, awesome game overall. I just wish they made a version for osx, instead they release age of empires 3! This game might be less flashy the age of emp. 3, but it's definitely more enjoyable.
One of the best games ever, 2008-01-22
This is a great game. Excellent replay value. Multiplayer is the best. All the expansion packs are in this box set, so you;re good to go.
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