When Age of Empires III first launched back in 2005, critics praised its beautiful (at the time) graphics and the integrated multiplayer. Ensemble Studios provided the integrated multiplayer that had been absent from the previous two titles, and in doing so extended the lifespan of the game longer than it might have lasted as solely a single-player title. With the launch of Age of Empires III: Definitive Edition, many of those same aspects are worth noting. It has the feeling of classic strategy games but somehow seems just as at home on PCs as it did 15 years ago.
Slow and Steady Wins the Race
Age of Empires III: Definite Edition is not a fast-paced game. Like most RTS titles, it can be slow and plodding but the pace quickly picks up the more time you spend playing. Before long, you will find yourself balancing the tasks of your settlers (basic worker units) versus your explorer and soldiers. Fast-paced action it might not be, but there are plenty of elements to keep you interested.
There are four main gameplay modes: Story Mode, Historical Battles, Skirmish, and Multiplayer. Story Mode provides three different fictional campaigns to take part in, each set in a different region of the world with different nations and foes to face.
Historical Battles allows you to play and experience battles from history for yourself, although the only one present at the time of writing was the Battle of Algiers, when two Barbary pirates sought to seize the city of Algiers for themselves.
Skirmish is the standard choose-your-enemy, choose-your-type gameplay style you expect from an RTS game, and Multiplayer is self-explanatory.
Progression Between Battles
One of the most interesting elements of Age of Empires III: Definitive Edition (and one that players of the 2005 title will be familiar with) is the Home City feature. Throughout a game, your Home City can send supplies to your colony. You choose the supplies you want from a series of options.
The Home City element allows you to unlock more supply options (in the form of cards) and customise your deck. These unlocks can help you progress more quickly or give you an edge in a tight situation in a future battle. The ability to unlock more cards and customise your loadout for each nation encourages players to play for longer and unlock all of the options.
What’s Cooking, Good Looking?
Age of Empires III: Definitive Edition is an attractive game. It’s not a beautiful game, but the textures are nice enough to look at. The added detail in the individual units and the towns is quite impressive, particularly when held against the original game.
Even a GPU as outdated as the GTX 1070 maxed out almost every detail in the visual option list. One element that is definitely worth noting is that you can choose to swap out the interface in the game and use the classic UI rather than the newer version, a fun tribute to the game’s roots.
Here’s a Llama, There’s a Llama
Age of Empires III: Definitive Edition brings back many of the elements players loved from the previous games, but it also adds something fresh to the mix: two new nations. The Swedes and the Incas grace the scene, each nation setting itself apart from the others in an already-diverse game. Of the two, though, the Incas are the better pick. Why? Llamas.
Llamas act as a major resource for the Incas. They fatten faster than cows and yield more food once fully fattened. If you train too many, you also receive the single best message in the game: “You are at the Llama unit limit.” You literally reach the point of too many llamas, something that only exists in the world of video games.
A remake of a classic game is often enough to appeal to long-time fans, but the addition of new nations is just the cherry on top. When you also consider that many of the historical inaccuracies of the original game have been corrected (although you still shouldn’t use AoE III as a source for a research paper), the remake holds even more appeal.
Solid Foundation, Solid Rebuild
Age of Empires III: Definitive Edition is a solid remake. Even as a standalone title, the RTS elements are complex and appealing enough to keep players hooked for hours on end. Considering the inclusion of the game in Game Pass and the low price point on Steam, you owe it to yourself to check it out.