Name of game:

Age of Empires

Version:

1.0b

Company:

Microsoft

Date reviewed:

May 21, 1999

Date updated:

N/A

Playability:

70% (42/60)

Fun:

17/20

This game is fun to play only on the easiest level and even then I lose all the time. However, the really cool cheats incorporated in the game really make this a fun experience J

Beginner:

8/10

There is a campaign for the beginner that outlines most of the features of the game. The first campaign was the only one that I could finish without cheating. I guess I'm not very good at these kind of games.

Advanced:

3/10

The advanced campaigns are based on the computer cheating and not on superior AI. In fact, AI is very weak for this game. Units might die right in front of their allies without them even noticing the fight a few feet in front of them.

Average play time:

4/5

The cheats in this game might make a game last a very long time because even with 10 photon men you still need a considerable amount of time to destroy all the buildings the enemy can built in a rather short time.

Pace:

10/15

Sometimes I wish that the pace would pick up some speed while at other times there is too much going on and I can't keep up with all the fights that break out everywhere on the map.

Comments:

This game is really fun to play, if only to try out all the cool cheat units that average out the computer's ability to build things a lot faster than you.

Graphics:

80% (32/40)

3dfx:

0/0

N/A

Resolution:

8/8

The resolution is great for a game of this type

Speed:

6/10

Sometimes there is too much going on and the pace is too quick while when starting out things take too long to get done.

Colors:

3/5

Average

Details:

6/7

Very nice unit details, the hunters and cheat units look especially awesome.

Interface:

9/10

The interface is very good and I can access all the information I want when I want it.

Comments:

Overall, the graphics look very good and the attention to detail makes Age of Empires a really impressive game. In my opinion, this is a graphically superior game than newer games of this type. Although the in-game graphics are good, some of the cutscenes for the campaigns look like low resolution bitmap animations.

Options:

80% (24/30)

Save:

3/3

Easy to save games, doesn't take long

Load:

6/7

Easy to load games as well.

Play options:

10/10

Lots of options, many campaigns, stand-alone scenarios, the ability to build your own scenarios and even campaigns with all the whistles and bells that you might wish for.

Multiplayer:

3/10

Although Age of Empires is a very solid title overall, the same cannot be said about the multiplayer experience. First of all, it is very difficult to access msn gaming zone and even if you do, chances are that it will be really slow. It's true that it might be the fact that my isp is msn, but I would think that to be an advantage in this particular case. All the other options of multiplayer games are also there and can be taken advantage of.

Details:

2/0

I really like to watch the units going about their business.

Comments:

There are lots of options and you can make your own campaigns complete with sounds and introductions, this is an area where this game really does excel. However, it would make a big difference if the internet multiplayer mode would be easier to access.

Sound:

57% (17/30)

Voice:

2/7

I don't remember being greeted by any exceptional voice acting.

Ambient:

7/8

There are birds, other units, houses burning, boats moving, and they are all rather well done

Music:

2/5

The music is rather weak but it keeps a low profile.

Effects:

6/10

Some of the units sound really weird when fighting but I can't tell for sure if this is what they sounded like in the Iron Age.

Comments:

Age of Empires emphasizes its graphics and playability over its ability to produce great sound effects.

Longevity:

77% (23/30)

Now:

6/10

At the beginning I didn't like the game because the computer cheats too much and I couldn't make any decent progress honestly.

Later:

17/20

The ability to make your own campaigns and beat the computer using the cheat units while building a huge empire will bring me back to this game for months to come.

Long time:

0/0

N/A

Comments:

The most fun is to start from scratch and see how big your empire can get. Version 1.0b increases the unit limit to 200, allowing for rather large armies to be build. My favorite strategy is building lots of workers and make them construct towers since there is no limit to how many you can build (at least I think so).

Overall:

70% (7/10)

Highs:

8/10

Good empire building simulation, cool unit animation, lots of options, really cool cheats.

Lows:

-3/5

Computer cheats excessively, pace is too slow at times.

Others:

2/0

Graphics are good and it's fun to watch the different units go about their business.

Comments:

Good game that I still play even though it is rather old.

Score:

73% (145/200) Grade: B

Overall

Comments:

Age of Empires is good empire building sim that has wonderfully animated units and lots of action (for the most part). The computer AI is rather weak but makes up for it by cheating with its resource production and management. However, there are some really cool cheats that make this game really worth playing. You can also build your own campaigns that are as complex as you like. Unfortunately, the multiplayer options don't work as well as the rest of the game. Overall, this is an above average game that is worth playing because of its many features and the high replay value. However, if you decide not to cheat, then you better be very good at this kind of game because otherwise you might get frustrated rather quickly and pass up on the game, which would be a mistake. (Just in case: you can press enter and type "photon man" to get one of the cool cheat units).