What impressed me the most about these mini-documentaries is just how good they look, with players being shown the battlefield as it looks today, overlaid with wireframe images of the event that took place there. It introduces it to modern stands by introducing History Channel-style mini-documentaries before and after each mission. While I enjoy the traditional sketch art and narration utilized by the Age of Empires II Definitive Edition and earlier titles, Age of Empires IV takes this formula. ![]() Age of Empires allows players to experience key moments in History. When playing as the English, I am fond of building the Council Hall to enter the feudal age due to the Council Hall is an enhanced version of the archery range that allows me to recruit Longbowmen 200% faster than normal, which is useful for building up a large force of longbowmen to see off any feudal age attackers in both PvE and PvP environments.Īn added and rarely spoken off perk to building your way to a new age is players being free to assign as many villagers as they wish to the construction of a landmark, which greatly reduces the time required to unlock each era’s buildings and technologies. Players will want to experiment with each civilization’s landmarks to see which works best. These landmarks offer players various perks and bonuses, from increased unit production and passive area of effect healing to additional keeps and town centres. While certain civilizations ageing up by building a landmark or structure is nothing new, and we have seen this mechanic utilized as far back as 2006, the widespread adoption of this mechanic in Age of Empires Iv is refreshing, with seven out of the eight playable civilization being offered the choice between at least two landmarks at the start of every age. ![]() These changes, coupled with the unit improvements we have previously discussed, elevate even the most mundane cooperative or skirmish match into a far more enjoyable affair, greatly aiding in replayability for those who prefer to spend their time in battles against the AI rather than human opponents. In Age of the Empires IV, AI players display a wide range of human-like tendencies, including feint, flank and multi-prong attacks, and more importantly, AI no longer charge headlong into a meatgrinder once they are assured of defeat instead, AI will retreat whenever possible to await reinforcements or relocate to a more secure location. Units stationed on walls receive a passive damage debuff due to the defensive nature of their location.Įven the most hardcore fans of the franchise will concede that the AI in Ages of Empires has never been too bright, and that doesn’t even take into account the trainwreck that was the launch of Age of Empires III Definitive Edition that saw campaign AI stop creating buildings and units as soon as their starting resources were exhausted.Ranged units such as archers receive a range bonus when holding high ground such as hills or castle walls.Infantry and archers can hide in densely forested areas to ambush enemy armies and patrols.In Age of Empires 4, terrain plays a huge role and can change the outcome of a battle. In previous Age of Empires titles, with very few exceptions, the terrain made no difference to the outcome of a battle, and while this did ensure that everyone was on an equal footing, it was not very realistic. ![]() My favourite is the thundering of hooves as a unit of cavalry enters the battlefield.Īesthetics aside, the addition of unique specific abilities, such as longbowmen being able to deploy anti-calvary spikes and campfires, help to make combat far more tactical, with terrain finally affecting the outcome of each battle. They are closer to what we have come to expect from the Total War franchise than anything we have previously seen in Age of Empires.īattles in Age of Empires IV look more immersive than ever, with new animations and sound effects for every facet of battle, including flanking, charging, and holding ground. Infantry can now construct battering rams once the corresponding technology has been researched, allowing for greater fluidity in sieges alongside more traditional siege equipment such as towers, catapults, bombards and trebuchets.Ĭombined with the ability to garrison walls, sieges have never felt more dynamic. Age of Empires IV has finally addressed this, allowing for an even greater depth of siege defence than was previously possible.Įditor’s Comment: While adding catapult and trebuchet towers would be nice, I will take what I can get. It was always a pet peeve of mine how previous Age of Empire titles did not allow me to place archers and infantry on the walls. ![]() Age Of Empires IV proves, without a shadow of a doubt, that in the right developer’s hands, a modern RTS is possible and that remastering classic titles is not the only way ensure good RTS games in 2023.
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