Age of Empires III

ok people! dont listen to all the people giving this game a junky review. For a game like this beauty it is almost a crime to give this game a bad review!! I would like to say that the game has b-e-a-uuutiful graphics and the game play is fun and addictive. However, don't get to stuck on the story mode because it aint great! if u want to get the best out of this game you have to play online or the instant action mode! BUY THIS GAME!!

I've been waiting for Age of Empires III ever single I finally finished exhausting all of the fun from Age of Empires II. I really think it was well worth the wait.

First, it is VERY much like Age of Empires II. That is a HUGE bonus for me. I love the Age of Empires series and if they'd changed the whole gameplay a great deal, it would have lost a lot of what I adore about this series. I can literally play each of these games for months and months before I begin to get bored. That is the brilliance of a well designed real time strategy (RTS) game.

Next, the graphics are of course MUCH improved over previous versions. That of course means you need a much faster machine than you had before! Hopefully most people out there upgrade their computers regularly, to run ANY packages that come out each year - the newest release of PhotoShop, the newest games that come out. If you have a slow, old machine and can't run the newest games, well you really only have yourself to blame. I NEVER want game makers to make bad games just so they can run on ancient machines. It's their duty to make the best games possible. It's my job to get the machine that are current, to run them.

OK, so on to gameplay. You get a collection of fun cultures, each one nicely costumed and with appropriate vocals and sounds. I love the detail in the homes, the people, the environments. You can "skirmish" to your heart's content, learning about the strengths and weaknesses and looks of each group. But don't go thinking you can memorize what works in each situation. The game does nicely to add complexity to that cookie-cutter approach.

Instead, you have a great deal of customization ability, even on the fly. You can really build your style of culture to match your personal point of view, within cultural limits of course. This means when you face others in combat, you can never assume "Oh they're an X which means I just have to do Y". You have to watch, react, and implement a new plan.

I really enjoyed the graphics a great deal here, from the cantering horses to the forests and smoke and flames. They did a great job of really making you feel that there is a little world being run inside your computer monitor.

The sounds are equally good, with the voices and sounds, the background noises and alerts. I admit the trumpet calls get a little repetitive, but what can you do.

I suppose to some the downside is the fact that you need a modern machine. Again, I don't consider that a downside. It's an awesome game with a lot going on. It's not meant to run on a little 386. It's hard for old system owners to accept, but the world moves on. If you're going to play modern games, you have to move along with it. Believe me, it's only going to get worse as more games come out. It's time to grab that piggy bank and upgrade.

I did find it really amusing that the scenario begins with the Aztecs. We just spent Black and White II fighting those All-Powerful Aztecs. What is it with the Aztecs in modern games?? I guess these things come in waves :)

Highly recommended!

Let me start off by saying this: DON'T BE SWAYED BY THE AWFUL REVIEWS HERE. Most of the problems people had that they are complaining about in reviews here only apply to a small percentage of people who got the game. In other words, most people didn't have problems because of Windows 2000 because most people didn't get this game with Windows 2000 computers. And people with choppy gameplay and such, well their computers are just awful apparently. I played for hours so far on a 2 GHZ comp with 512 MB ram and a 256 graphics card with NO choppiness whatsoever, at all, on almost max settings. Either people have problems changing settings or their computer is terrible. But anyway, on to the game...

The game is awesome. Although most of what I have done is skirmish mode so far, I have played almost all of the sides for at least one full game, in addition to everything in the demo before it came out. The graphics are incredible, and the thrill one gets from seeing your cannons blast away the enemy is awesome. The sides all have a unique feel to them, and have many different unit selections and economic advantages. The game is a thrill to play, and is extremely entertaining with plenty to do in each map. The home cities are spiffy and exciting, with plenty to send, and, I would imagine, plenty to customize eventually. The physics are incredible, with cannon balls rolling and bouncing in a manner reminiscent of The Patriot, buildings falling apart as they are hit, and trees falling over. Men throw torches at buildings instead of shooting them until they blow up like in Age of Empires 2, and it is very exciting to watch infantry and cavalry duke it out. The game truly feels like Age of Empires 2 and 1 to me, both of which I played since they were released to the present. The game works very similarly, but has a refreshing setting and excellent graphics. Age of Empires 3 is an awesome game!

Great game and everything I've come to expect from a good RTS...with one problem. Everytime you're attacked off screen, a trumpet call sounds. It almost sounds like you're getting a text message. Well this game is basically one big battle, so the trumpet call goes off about once every five or six seconds on average. Now imagine a level that takes you forty minutes to complete. The ENTIRE time you're playing its playing what sounds like the first four notes of the FFVII victory tune. Bah bah bah bah....bah bah bah bah.....bah bah bah bah..."Sir we need re enforcements on...bah bah bah bah....the main gate"....bah bah bah bah....bah bah bah bah......bah bah bah bah....."get those archers on...bah bah bah bah.....those tower units" bah bah bah bah. I uninstalled the game after about ten minutes because there's no way to turn this feature off unless you turn off all sound.

The reviewer who said the graphics were great must be a Microsoft employee, they are laughable. Smoke comes up as large squares, when units attack a building they have a black rectangle with what is suppose to be a flame in the middle attached to them. The game play is not bad but frankly with the graphics being so poor it is difficult to really enjoy the game.

The reviewer who said the graphics were great must be a Microsoft employee, they are laughable. Smoke comes up as large squares, when units attack a building they have a black rectangle with what is suppose to be a flame in the middle attached to them. The game play is not bad but frankly with the graphics being so poor it is difficult to really enjoy the game.

This newest version of the Age of Empires, Age of Empires III places you in the age of exploration and conquest roughly 1500-1850. You're now a European power, and it is your task to explore, colonize, and conquer North and South America.

Main Features

Manufacturer: Microsoft Corporation

Manufacturer Part Number: G10-00025

Manufacturer Website Address: www.microsoft.com

Software Sub Type: Strategy Game

Software Name: Age of Empires III - Complete Product

Features & Benefits:

Engage in epic strategic battles:

You control the action as you experience a new level of exciting combat with realistic effects. You will engage in battle with blades, gunpowder, or both

Develop and strengthen a unique, customized Home City:

The Home City represents your capital back in Europe and plays a supporting role in your attempt to control the New World.

Explore a vibrant New World:

Take advantage of colonial era elements, perhaps establishing alliances with Native Americans, finding new resources in the Amazon rain forest, and more.

Experience stunning graphics:

Witness new lighting effects and shadows while immersed in a world that feels bright and sunny, yet which has a softness and depth that is revolutionary to PC games.

Discover culturally diverse civilizations:

Play as the British and have a stellar economy, play as the French and easily ally with Native Americans, or play as the Spanish and have more support from your home country in Europe.

Game Rating: T - (Teen) - (13+) - Blood,Violence

Language Support: English

Platform Support: PC

License Type: Complete Product

License Pricing: Standard

License Quantity: 1 User

It's the dawn of a new age in real-time strategy (RTS) games. A brave New World is rising--a hostile yet beautiful world, filled with innovative gameplay, new strategic scenarios, eye-searing graphics and much more. Welcome to a world called Age of Empires III.

Campaign
In this action adventure tale of historical fiction, players take on the role of Morgan Black and his family, struggling against the hostile wilderness and a mysterious cult that's crept in from Europe.

In a series of 24 scenarios divided into three acts, Morgan Black and his descendants help the Aztecs resist conquest by Spanish conquistadors, pit the French against the British in the French and Indian War and help Simon Bolivar lead revolutions in South America.

Multiplayer
Whether you're searching for a quick game or hoping to talk strategy with friends online, Age of Empires III's Multiplayer site is your community destination.

Here, you can play with persistent Home Cities that gain power and strategic options the more games you play, compete for a spot on dozens of ladders, help organize your clan or chat after a game -- all without leaving the multiplayer portal.

Fans of Age of Mythology's Quick Search can still look for games swiftly, while players looking for something specific can browse game lists to find the set of options that matches their tastes.

New Feature--Home Cities
This revolutionary new feature to the RTS landscape is incorporated into all aspects of Age of Empires III -- from Campaign to Multiplayer -- and is unlike anything you've experienced before.

Much like the persistent character from a role-playing game that encourages you to keep playing, your Home City is an important support system to your efforts in the New World. During a game, your Home City can regularly send you supplies or military reinforcements.

You are the leader of your colony, but your success brings glory back to Mother Europe. The more games you play, and the better you do, the more powerful your Home City will become. Every few games, you gain the ability to both upgrade and customize your Home City:

• Upgrade your city by unlocking new types of soldiers or buildings, or improving those you already have.
• Broaden your tech tree in whatever direction most fits your play style--invest in warships, native alliances, cavalry, artillery or economy.
• Customize your Home City by changing the appearance of buildings, the weather or even the types of people who walk, work and perform in its streets.
• Throughout a game, as well as in between games, you can visit your Home City to watch its citizens go about their lives, get an opinion on how you're doing, plot your next move or just marvel at the beautiful sunset.

Full 3-D Graphics, Destructible Environments and More
We first set out to reproduce the rich detail of Age of Empires II: Age of Kings. As we strove to make the fascinating Age of Empires III time period come alive, that goal quickly evolved: We at Ensemble Studios wanted to create the best-looking game ever. From the stunning water effects to the hundreds of units battling on-screen, you'll feel like you're a part of the action in the New World.

• Tone mapping--This photo imaging technique balances the colors in a scene on the fly. The end result is a rich, warm game where bright colors are vibrantly rendered alongside darker counterparts, such as shadows.
• Lighting and shadows--The sun is always shining in Age of Empires, so it's important that lighting and shadows be an awe-inspiring experience. Units and buildings cast shadows according to a real sun position, and even cast shadows on each other. High Dynamic Range rendering allows us to represent the shiny glints of sunlight that bounce off highly reflective surfaces.
• Bump and specular mapping--Water glistens like water. Metal shines like metal. These advanced techniques serve to provide an extra level of rendering detail heretofore unseen in real-time strategy (RTS) gaming.
• Water--We felt that portraying stunning, realistic water effects in the game was so important that we devoted a programmer to it full-time. You'll find the water rich with details like foam near the shore, accurately modeled water motion, flotsam in rivers and realistic water colors. Plus, reflections change with the viewing angle, the angle of sunlight and the motion of the water. The overall effect is breathtaking.
• Cliffs and Riverbeds--Instead of just stretching terrain, we built a system to attach geometry to the terrain map to allow for realistic overhangs and steep cliffs, from areas like the American Southwest. This effect is supported on random maps too.

Civilizations

British Quick access to Settlers gives the British one of the strongest economies in the game. The ability to upgrade two key units -- the Musketeer and Hussar -- make the British military formidable in the late game. The British Home City emphasizes improvements to technology and naval warfare.	Dutch Although Dutch Settlers are limited and costly, their civilization makes up for this economic disadvantage by building Banks and generating coin automatically. The Dutch Home City emphasizes upgrades to defense and economy.
French Although the French economy starts slowly, the Coureur unit, a Villager with strong fighting skills, makes the French difficult to attack early. The French also have the strongest cavalry unit in the game -- the Cuirassier. Plus, the French are experts at allying with the Native Americans.	German The Germans have fewer Settlers and therefore a slower economy. Fortunately, both the Settler Wagon and Uhlan cavalry spawn for free from the German Town Center. Plus, the Germans start with the ability to send Mercenaries from their Home City (long before other civilizations can).
Native American European civilizations can learn new technologies and gain troops by forging alliances with the Native Americans. A British player who allies with the Iroquois is essentially playing as two civilizations: the British and the Iroquois.	Ottoman For the Ottomans, Settlers spawn automatically from the Town Center. Building a Mosque and conducting research help keep that Settler production steady. Befitting their position straddling Europe and Asia, the Ottomans have more unique units than any other civilization.
Portuguese Starting the game with two Town Centers, the Portuguese can quickly produce Settlers, control territory or support their allies. The Spyglass ability allows the Portuguese to easily spy on the enemy. The Portuguese also have a strong navy, strong light infantry and the best Dragoons in the game.	Russian Starting the game with extra resources but fewer Settlers gives the Russians the flexibility of focusing on economy or an early raid. Russian infantry, individually weak, are trained in blocks at a faster rate, providing the Russians with the opportunity to overwhelm their enemy with greater numbers.
Spanish The Spanish have a strong military, with both hand infantry and cavalry. Flexibility in early shipments from the Home City give the Spanish the option to attack early or set up for a strong, late economy. Spanish Home City improvements benefit soldiers, buildings and naval units.

Combat
Age of Empires III gives players an amazing amount of control over their side of the battlefield.

• More to command -- Not only are you in command of large and diverse armies of infantry, cavalry and artillery, but also Native American warriors, mercenaries and tall ships.
• Multiple formations -- You can assign different formations to your army for different strengths and weaknesses, or have the game automatically choose the most appropriate formation. Examples include:
• Volley -- ranged infantry, like musketeers, take turns firing at enemies ahead of them.
• Charge -- your soldiers walk, then run into combat. Cavalry wield sabers, and musketeers fix bayonets. This formation does tremendous damage but makes your soldiers more prone to injury.
• Bombard -- your soldiers protect the cannons, while the cannons shell enemy ranks. Available only when you have artillery in your army.
• Battles are easier to follow -- You can still command individual units. But when the units fight in formation, you'll be able to tell exactly who is winning the fight.
• Real-time physics -- Infantry struck by cannon fire will be thrown like rag dolls, perhaps even over a cliff and into the water. Cannonballs bounce and ricochet.
• Detailed destructions -- Shingles, shutters and whole towers may fly off a building and interact with the terrain, such as crashing into nearby water. This next generation effect is done on the fly so that each building always has a unique destruction, no matter how many times you see it.
• Unique animations -- With hundreds of unique combat animations, you'll never see the same battle twice.