#AGE OF EMPIRES 4 REVIEWS SERIES#

Once players learn which unit types are best suited for facing each enemy unit, battles can become both predictable and sometimes tedious. Often, players will face several waves of the same kinds of enemy combatants using preset, familiar strategies. The other significant concerns about Age of Empires 4 are its repetition and disorganization, at least in the solo campaign. For the casual player, however, or to hardcore strategy fans without a predilection towards history, there is a skip option should the cutscenes become more of a hindrance than an engaging feature of gameplay. This is a fairly unique, educational mechanic and one that will likely be engaging to most history buffs. These videos outline aspects of culture, events leading up to the battles, and how war technologies developed. The plot of each campaign is narrated like a historical documentary through 'Hands-on History' videos, and players are treated to cutscene footage of real locations to give them a bit of context behind the battle they are about to fight. Most of the campaign of Age of Empires 4 leans into the series' educational side and embraces its role as the premier historical RTS.

#AGE OF EMPIRES 4 REVIEWS SERIES#

These features ensure that, whether a player is new to the Age of Empires series or a veteran, no matter how they choose to play, they can jump right in and enjoy the game. In particular, the addition of Story Mode allows players to bypass some of the major aspects of strategizing and the minutia of resource management to engage in battles without as much tactical know-how and simply interact with some of the major events in world history. The pacing of this progression is still engaging, a hallmark of Age of Empires and the RTS genre.Īge of Empires 4 is a game with impressive accessibility features, including options to filter colors, narrate the UI, control when and where subtitles appear, increase the contrast, and select an optimal difficulty. As armies and cities grow stronger, they gain access to better fighters and new technologies, including the beloved Age of Empires siege technology like trebuchets. To maintain supplies and soldiers, they will also spend time raiding and establishing (or re-establishing) cities to work the land, gather necessary resources, and develop a healthy economy. Players will need to strategically position these allies to do the most damage to various enemy forces.

Related: What Age of Empires 3: Definitive Edition Changes From The OriginalĪ significant part of gameplay in Age of Empires 4 is warfare, and every civilization and culture has its own units that can fight or lend support and healing. All of these features combine to make Age of Empires 4 a definitive experience that could pave the way for new games in the series, but some of the warfare mechanics feel clunky and out of place in modern gaming. They can also practice their skills in the Art of War mode, a returning feature from Age of Empires 3: Definitive Edition that allows players to try out different war strategies. In addition to the solo campaign modes in Age of Empires 4, players can engage in multiplayer co-op or PvP and play against enemy AI or one another to advance through the ages and determine who emerges victorious and who will be lost to history.

Age of empires 4 reviews