It is one of my favorite sagas of the strategy in real time, immovable in my ideal top, but it is surprising that in its more than 20 years of history so little has been lavished in numerical deliveries, partly by the closure of Ensemble Studios in 2009. From there came the experiments, the remasters and the remakes.
- Date: 2014
- Where: Microsoft Store (also in iOS, 2015, and Android, 2017)
- How much: free-to-play
The worst possible experiment, trying to sell a game by the weight of its name although it has nothing to do with the original saga. We could not start this review of the worst in Age of Empires with another title than Age of Empires: Castle Siege. A free-to-play that tried to replicate the Clash of Clans mobile success formula. Your servers will close on May 13, 2019, by the way. Worst luck has run, in any case, that Age of Empires: World Domination for Android and iOS that did not last a year in the market and was not available in all territories, so we directly obviate this list.
Age of Empires: Mythologies
- Date: 2008
- Where: Nintendo DS
- How much: No Available
Age of Empires: Mythologies was Nintendo DS's second attempt to offer a turn-based version of the classic Ensemble Studios saga, in this case about the mythological spin-off released on PC in 2002. Its reception was much milder than the first I work for DS, in part by separating more from his own mythology. And that he kept the gifts of the deities.
Age of Empires: The Age of Kings
- Date: 2006
- Where: Nintendo DS
- How much: No Available
Age of Empires: The Age of Kings was the first step of the classic RTS to the turn-based strategy in the line of Advance Wars, as the second game mentioned by DS replied in the same way. But at least here that enjoyed better views, being a rarity worth seeing in this great Nintendo laptop. Especially for fans of Intelligent Systems.
Age of Empires Online
- Date: 2011
- Where: Games for Windows Live (on Steam since 2012)
- How much: No Available
Age of Empires Online had a convulsive development when going through two studios, but we promised ourselves happy when he took the helm Gas Powered Games, led by Chris Taylor (director of the great Total Annihilation of 1997). However, the harsh reality hit us hard because of the abusive policies of free-to-play and the essential requirement to be permanently connected to the Internet in order to play. He had crashes that crashed the progress, of course, which ended up tarnishing an RTS, on the other hand, quite funny and with a lot of untapped potential behind. A shame.
Age of Empires: Definitive Edition
- Date: 2018
- Where: Microsoft Store
- How much: $22,60
When the remake of the first Age of Empires was presented, we were happy, because there were not few of us who scored that 1997 classic. The trouble is that Age of Empires: Definitive Edition was not as definitive as it seemed and all because of an AI erratic with flagrant flaws of behavior. A year later and have begun to correct several of these weight problems, but still far from overcoming the original despite the improvements introduced at a playable level taking as example subsequent deliveries. Blessed irony.
Age of Empires III
- Date: 2005
- Where: PC
- How much: $41,81
With Age of Empires III, Ensemble Studios resumed the classic path after the mythological spin-off of 2002. It had everything in its face, since traveling from the age of discovery to the imperial age was also very striking. But it also provided original details, such as trade by train or especially the management of the metropolis, with touches of RPG, a bit on the line (practical and visual) of the Heroes of Might & Magic. And despite everything, neither the base game nor its two expansions (The Warchiefs and The Asian Dynasties) managed to elevate it to Olympus ... by the weight of AoE2.
Age of Empires
- Date: 1997
- Where: PC
- How much: No Available
We said before that the remake of Age of Empires failed to overcome the essence of the product that originated everything in 1997. And is that Ensemble Studios managed to establish a highly recognizable bases where he distanced himself from all those strategy games in which he was inspired, as Civilization, WarCraft and Command & Conquer. Today, more limited at the level of functions, if we compare it with all the improvements received in the genre, it continues to enjoy a wonderful, almost mystical halo every time we enter it. As if a priest were singing to us his already mythical WOLOLO.
Age of Empires II: The Age of Kings
- Date: 1999
- Where: PC (also on PS2 since 2001)
- How much: $22,60 (Steam Version on HD)
For many, Age of Empires II: The Age of Kings is the best of the series. We are also in the year where it celebrates its 20th anniversary and with four expansions behind it (the last three came out in 2013, 2015 and 2016, by work of Forgotten Empires), in the absence of its remake under the name Age of Empires II: Definitive Edition. The classic that refined the formula started in 1997, one of the RTS par excellence in terms of procrastination is concerned and one of the most interesting mods have contributed. In addition, a game where we enjoy learning history. What more could you want? Little, go.
Age of Mythology
- Date: 2002
- Where: PC
- How much: $31,64 (Steam Version on HD)
Pulling more of heart, although giving my own reasons to raise it with the first position, I must place Age of Mythology as the best Age of Empires of all. A spin-off that has the factions with greater differences of the whole saga, with the power of the deities and a setting where they met Greeks, Nordics and Egyptians. He was also the first to use a 3D engine. In its day it enjoyed a great expansion (The Titans) until thirteen years later, by means of Age of Mythology: Extended Edition (already in Steam), the second one was published (Tale of the Dragon), which unfortunately was not the height. I must also say that the soundtrack of the 2002 original, by Stephen Rippy and Kevin McMullan, is my favorite.
And what will happen to Age of Empires IV? Hopefully we know news in E3 2019.
What is your list? comments right below.