Download/HomepageCombine the brilliant Civilization II with Warcraft II and add a dash of
Command And Conquer. Mix in crystal clear, beautifully detailed graphics and a handful of
lifelike sprites. You have just created Age Of Empires!
There is nothing original about this game - Microsoft have taken the best elements of some
of the top games in the sim/strategy genre and repackaged them. Nevertheless, Age of
Empires has to be one of the most absorbing and enjoyable games this year. The player
starts with a couple of primitive tribesmen, and a mud hut. The game calls for developing
this unpromising start into a civilization, researching tools and skills, creating
priests, cavalry and wood-cutters, and building magnificent cities. At the same time you
have to keep tribes of hostiles away, and eventually plan a campaign to destroy their
civilization and take over the world.
Age of Empires gives you lots of scenarios and campaigns based on history to play with, as
well as free-form games. The network game, played over the Internet or on a LAN, is as
exciting as only human opponents can make a game. it is impossible not to become really
involved in AOE - I found myself screaming abuse at a Hittite who sneaked into my camp and
burned down my temple. (never did like Hittites).
The demonstration version (free from ZD-Net and lots of magazine CDS) is excellent, with
five scenarios and a battle to play. The full version costs around $50 from high street
stores.
This may sound paltry, but it's something you should know: Microsoft did NOT make Age of Empires. The game was created by Ensemble Studios, a small Dallas-based software company, who then brought it to Gates for marketing purposes.
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