WILL THE AGE OF EMPIRES 4 TASTE THE CROWN
Age of Empires 4 continues the epic franchise that began many years ago when game patches came with magazines. Age of Empires 2 remains a popular competitive title that surpasses its predecessor in concurrent players on Steam.
Age of Empires 4 will take down the walls and win the crown? Let’s take another look at this installment to see what it has to offer.
Game Premise
Each match has a single goal: build your army and destroy your opponents’ bases. But this simplicity is not what Age of Empires 4 is all about. It’s a complicated game of rock paper scissors with limited resources and large armies.
Campaign for Single-Player
Four single-player campaigns are available that are based on historical events. The Norman campaign, which begins in 1066, tells multiple kings who fought for the throne through the ages. The Hundred Years War and the Mongol invasion of Russia by the Mongols are the other two. The Rise of Moscow follows the destruction left behind by the Mongols is the third.
These campaigns feature scene-setting that is a lot like a BBC History documentary. However, it’s not a bad thing. There are great visuals and enough information to keep nonhistory enthusiasts from getting overwhelmed.
You can also share your favorite campaigns with your friends by using the highly customizable skirmish mode.
Gameplay mechanics
A standard formula doesn’t have to be bad, especially developed many years ago. The Age of Empires mechanics make it easy for anyone to get started.
Start with the town center and a few villagers, and then you can set up basic survival skills. You will need to get your peasants to cut wood and gather food while your scout flies around the map looking for gold, stone, or any sheep.
You’ll be able to expand as fast as possible by using these resources. Rushing is not the way to go. You can’t ignore your army, even though there is a gold rush. It is crucial to building a defense force that can be used for attack.
Age of Empires 4 is a simple castle simulator.
Your civilization will progress as you build monuments that give one of two faction-specific bonuses, unlock better quality units, and a new look for your buildings. Upgrades are available for all units on the field. This ensures that you don’t have out-of-date soldiers ruining your progress.
Although the main objective of battles is to conquer and defeat your enemies, there are other objectives like building and defending Wonders or holding every Holy Site on a map.
Age of Empires is a game that requires constant scrolling and clicking. You can’t hold it in your hands, and you’ll suffer for not paying attention.
Visuals
There are many different visual styles, but the overall art design is excellent. Documentary films combine modern footage with computer-generated armies to help ground the facts.
The battle maps are well-constructed and easy to understand. The structures can also extend beyond their original boxes to change the surroundings. You can see it right away, as your town center has little fields and paths that branch out around it.
The only thing that was disappointing about the units was their quality. They are not bad, but they look a bit cartoony compared to the terrain. This is the new Age of Empires style and works well. However, it all comes down to personal taste. Franchise veterans might not feel at home.
Audio & Music
Audio quality is excellent across the board. The UI and gameplay sounds are clear and easy to recognize. This is crucial because you will be switching between buildings and units quickly, as well as being alerted for an approaching attack.
Background music is pleasant as well. It fits in with the theme, but it’s not distracting or repetitive. There is nothing to be unhappy about.
AI
Although the AI is more intuitive than Age of Empires 3, it can still send small, ineffective waves of attackers through a match. It’s capable of carrying out massive attacks with large numbers, if necessary, of siege engines against an established player.
It is still an RTS AI. This means that you will need to gather resources, build units quickly, and attack the player with frontal attacks.
However, it does use scouts, cavalry and sends groups of cavalry to harass your sides and scouts to attack your peasants. Even though they must trek halfway around the map, It can be frustrating, but it is an effective tactic that adds to the difficulty.
The AI cannot recognize choke points and tends not to build solid walls around their bases. However, it has many towers that can be used to reduce the attacking armies.
