I Played EVERY Age of Empires Game in 2022

[@MiniUchiha]

It's interesting to me how some people are put off by the card system in in AoE3 but to me that is the single most important gameplay mechanic that makes you go back and play another round. It creates so much variety in the gameplay and it enables civs to have many different strats as long as you work with the cards that you've got in your deck. I really think AoE3 shines in it's multiplayer and it's still getting updated to this day

[@AndysTake]

Very interesting, that’s definitely a reason why I find it a lot more dynamic - although I will say does change up the gameplay loop for better or worse :) and I love that it’s getting new updates with the def edition!

[@vladgrecu7816]

Nah i prefer AOE 2 definitive edition

[@mohaglade4892]

aoe3 has more players than aoe4

[@cyberyaya8483]

@@mohaglade4892 currently that's not true. AOE4 has double the amount of AOE3, and during its peak its like triple the amount. And AOE2 has the most players all the time.

[@phoenixzappa7366]

AOE1 never gets any love. 🥲🥲😭

[@Dr.Akakia]

Nothing can beat AOE2 and AOE3 specially the DE versions

[@serardin6661]

6:17 You can zoom further than that, you need the free UHD graphics dlc to to that.

[@TekEffekt]

The Malian and Ottomans update are more than a flavor pack as they bring with them not only two very unique civs but also a complete naval combat rework.

[@AndysTake]

Ah interesting! What’s the naval rework about?

[@muleavenger9772]

@@AndysTake They made the navies play like rock paper scissors like on the land battles. You then have late have cannon ships. Some civs get special ships or abilities. They are trying to make it match the land battles in a way. It is a step in the right directions in my opinion but water was never a big focus in my opinion.

[@Maveriqxs]

I got AOE 1 from a cereal box, that game was my childhood so much fun even the cheats were iconic! Age of mythology built on that, probably my favourite RTS game, the other games never quite did it for me. I think there's something about the bronze age just feels so epic for age of empires

[@AndysTake]

Damn from a cereal box! That must’ve been epic!

[@Maveriqxs]

@@AndysTake It was! And seeing that intro every time was iconic, disappointed they didn't include it in the definitive edition

[@datscrazy4095]

ya, I was hoping he would cover it

[@Saxon709]

I got it from a cereal box too, but my family didn't have a PC at the time lol was disappointing.

[@PmasterFunk9]

Can confirm. Also got it from a cereal box and it changed my life. Lol

[@kruko8200]

I just love Aoe3 as it has so many builds with the decks, natives, mercs, revolt, boom, rush, etc. Also they give so much respect to cultures having many of the cards being related to historical moments or cultural aspects. Lastly it has the most satisfying artillery (great bombards, Lil Bombards, Sebastopol, Papal Bombards and gatling type units) nothing like killing 15 strelets with a single cannonball. edit: if you play it the default UI is kinda wack, use the classic UI

[@donjezza10]

Something that I think people should keep in perspective is that each game is set in a specific period of time, and the gameplay reflects each time period very well in my opinion. The first game had more demand for resources and less complexity in its system, but that was reflective of the basic nature of the Stone to Iron ages of mankind. Meanwhile, the colonial times (oh wait, sorry... the "Commercial times") were coming off the heels of previously established empires, so there was less need for certain materials and more complex government systems. Which game I like the most is largely based around what time period I'm currently interested in experiencing, and I personally like that the games differentiate in mechanics to build better emersion.

[@lucashund4675]

Aoe 1 has that real magic that other aoes never quite had. It is a very nostalgic game, but its a shame theu didn’t put more work into it

[@fearan9406]

ya the pathing and pop cap is a killer

[@charlesmiv3842]

@@fearan9406 Oh god the path finding. Units getting stuck on other units, or trying to march a band through a city or woods was a nightmare.

[@spiffygonzales5899]

@@fearan9406 They fixed the pathfinding with the update.

[@Nutellafuerst]

Which is why I'm super hyped for the RoR DLC...i wanna play my childhood game again

[@alphaxgaming6879]

Indeed the nostalgie is there

[@LCB_Instituto]

AoE3 = changes, eeew >:( AoE4 = no changes, eeew >:(

[@dtowncl0wn642]

a lot of people don't know but if your archers on high ground in this game they get an attack bonus

[@Adri9570]

- Obi Wan Kenobi: city chancellor, marksmanship are our speciality ( ͡° ͜ʖ ͡°)

[@rohitchaoji]

I'd like to point out that the changes between the original and definitive editions of the game (Age of Empires 2 I mean) are more than just aesthetic. There are several UI and gameplay changes as well, even though the core gameplay remains the same. Such as zooming in/out which was not a feature until DE, and that panning thingy you showed immediately after, among a few other things that were added in DE as quality of life features. There are also differences in balancing of units and buildings. Also in the original Age of Empires 1, there was no tech tree. It came printed out along with the manual and is a Definitive Edition feature. So I'd say there are some significant changes in the UI between the original and definitive editions that changes the game experience itself.

[@TekEffekt]

The complaints about AOE4’s graphics are overblown. Some units are bland yes but the architecture of the buildings is the best in the series to me. This ties well into how distinct and different each of the civs are.

[@AndysTake]

I think the architecture is indeed the best thing about AOE4’s graphics!

[@minjod]

How in the world did you completely ignore Age Of Mythology?

[@Ldutch01]

because its not and age of empires game

[@nachorodriguez6380]

​@@Ldutch01 The game that looks like Age of Empires, plays like Age of Empires and was even made by the same studio that made Age of Empires? Nah, definitely not the same franchise.

[@Ldutch01]

@@nachorodriguez6380 yes... definitley not the same franchise. its a different game

[@nachorodriguez6380]

@@Ldutch01 Fair enough, but I disagree. This is kind of like putting Demon Souls, Bloodborne and Elden Ring in the same bag as Dark Souls. The only significant difference between them is the name and the lore, but they play basically the same, have the same core mechanics, have similar aesthetics and were made by the same studio. I think it's fair to treat them as the same franchise. The same happens here.

[@robertlakatos8758]

It is a spin-off, part of the franchise but not the main series

[@RoyalPurpleSPower]

Having played the original AOE3 back in the day Ill say that two things. 1. I really enjoyed it, the home city mechanic and the time period were very fun and cool to play through. 2. The definitive edition is a massive upgrade compared to the original in terms of visuals and ui. When you showed it on screen my first thought was "that looks too good to be AOE3" The ui looked cleaner, thd buildings were sharper, the units looked good. Great game and great video, just wanted to point out that the original aoe 3 looked no where near that good back when I played it. Personally AOE 4 is my favorite as I love how different all the factions play and it really reminds of Age of Mythology in that way.

[@reign4213]

Scouting isnt viewed as a chore, rather as a core game mechanic, that will determine your sucsess in the game

[@AndysTake]

Yeah that’s definitely one way to look at it!

[@Athielmon]

AoE3 is definetly the best for me. One thing you forgot to mention about AoE3 is the combat. Jesus, the combat in AoE3 is just perfect, the game took the rock paper scissors to another level, units have melee attack, siege attack, range attack, snare, different abilities, its just outstanding the amount of mechanics you get from that game.

[@deumevet]

thats vvhy it is the less popular game, this and t he fact that factions are very different from each other.

[@Athielmon]

@@deumevet that's literally the fun. I havent meet anyone who played aoe3 and still prefer aoe2

[@lau9076]

​@@AthielmonThe factions being different would be fine,is it weren't different just for the sake of it. Many units could be the same,or many civs could share some units,but the devs just wanted to make starcraft for no reason. If you want to play a non european civ,you should read the wiki of that civ before,otherwise you would have no idea what to do. That not only affect gameplay,but immersion aswell,because china, ethiopia and india had cannons, but they can't use them in game, and is frustrating because they are very important in an army to have them.

[@funkophone]

3 is the deepest & best Age game hands down.

[@bibliotecadekuat9526]

What really hurts AoE3 are the AoE2 purists who cannot adapt to new things. After a lot of 3's matches, i can say it is as complex as 2's, although not in the same aspects. Infinite resource buildings may sound broken, but they gather extremely slow. So you either risk it and fight for the resources or stagnate your eco. You must be ready for everything. Literally, even the craziest ideas can get you off guard. Transforming your buildings into units without hard counter? Sure. No house strats? Possible. Skipping ages? Yup. Contain the enemy army with a zoo? Done it. In that game everything is possible amd I love it. The native civies is a really good mechanic. You can get some interesting units that will catch your enemies off guard

[@cloverraven]

As far as campaigns Warcraft 3 has a good transition from scenario to scenario. A bit too Hero heavy, but it could make for a good campaign template. I’m in the Minority, but Age of mythology campaign did not scratch that itch for me. It tried valiantly though

[@portman8909]

I like both AOE 3 and AOE 4 the most.

[@spiffygonzales5899]

The first one will always be the greatest. I don't know what it is, and I can't even say it's the nostalgia. But there's something about that one that's just better than the others. I think it's the fluidity, the units, the progression, and the balance.

[@AndysTake]

Yeah there’s something about it that just makes me feel warm inside

[@sartajwali8630]

I installed AoE 1 by chance, in windows 98 cd there was Microsoft games folder and AoE trial version was provided. This was my first ever experience with any RTS game, though it took me 3 days to get understanding of how one can play such game. Self experience is best experience I suppose and AoE 1 is still my best version as it introduced me to new kind of games i.e. strategy games.

[@JacaboBlanco]

One of the only games i had for pc way way back as a kid. This, roller coaster tycoon and a few other random stuff. The good ole days man

[@trowachess]

Would like to see your take on Age of Mythology!

[@AndysTake]

Would love to see it get a definitive edition! :D

[@CALLE92JOHANSSON]

@@AndysTake They just announced it's in the works!

[@vladimiralexanderlagos1477]

I am surprised nobody had ever made this precise comparative video analysis before. I think it was really on point, and it was refreshing to see someone approach the franchise without a blatant AoE2 bias. For my part, I guess some additional observations on each game would be as follows: AoE1: The thing that puts me off the most is that the technology tree has no opportunity costs: most techs unlock both production and military bonuses, which means that there is only one obvious path of progression through the game. However, I do love the variety of civs and units and I hope the franchise revisits the period sometime in the future (which they seem to be about to do as per a recent announcement). AoE2: The game's technology tree is way better, with actual choices between military and production paths. The civs are rather cookie cutter designed though, with only one or two unique units and a few stats tweaks to differentiate them. I really enjoyed this game at the time it came out, but it always bothered me how un-historical the units seemed (I mean seeing steel armed Mayan men-at-arms, or shield bearing armor plated japanese knights always burned my eyes). AoE3: This was always my favorite entry. I loved the replayability offered by the card system, the historical accuracy in the military units, the speed allowed by batch production of units, and the overall visual polish. I also loved the sense of adventure and discovery produced by the treasures, native villages, and whimsical decorations like fallen trees or non-huntable wild animals. However, I did resent at the time the imbalance injected by unlocking the cards with 'Experience points' and the lack of resource gathering depots did break the immersion a lot. BTW, stone did disappear, but it was replaced by 'experience' as the fourth resource. AoE4: It was released in a clearly unfinished form and that jaded player opinions against it a lot. I still feel it lacks that sense of adventure, wonder and exploration that AoE3 has. It feels prosaic and mechanical; nothing is there unless it serves a purpose (in AoE3 you see flocks of birds flying around or swans in lakes, but none of those whimsical touches exist in AoE4). I also dislike that we regressed to single unit producing buildings. On the other hand, it was able to build on and improve on the city building aspect of AoE2 and it does a much better job at portraying units with much greater historical accuracy as well. It took me a while, but I've warmed up to it a lot recently and it has leapfrogged over AoE2 to take the second spot in my personal ranking list.

[@militarygradepotato]

Aoe2 is seasoned with salt and pepper and aoe3 is seasoned with everything in the kitchen sink.

[@galahad00001]

I've been playing aoe2 for over 2 decades and I'm still suck at multiplayer. 10/10 best game

[@darkranger116]

I agree pretty much all throughout. AOE 4 didnt really feel like it was that different, and i think i've had aoe 2 installed on my computer for 24 years straight, lol

[@austinthe710messiah2]

I've been Playing a lot of crusaders kings 3 lately, and I almost feel an Age of Empires hybrid is what I'm looking for.

[@da1ace]

You forgot to mention how asymmetric the civs in aoe3 are as well.

[@kingstarscream3807]

Age of Empires 3 is the best game is the series by far. So fast-paced and cerebral.

[@charlesmiv3842]

Not quite sure about “cerebral” but yeah lol

[@DragracerSA]

Nah

[@Stewart1499]

Translation: I’m not good enough to play 2

[@savagecabbage6119]

​@@Stewart1499How is aoe3 easier than 2?

[@Stewart1499]

@@savagecabbage6119 the only harder part about 3 is that nothing is intuitive. 2 is more straight forward which makes it easier to learn the units and technologies, but the micro and macro is so much deeper on 2.

[@Dottol-]

To be fair the trade posts can directly contribute to earning cards in AOE3

[@berka05]

Aoe3 for me was the shit. I played the shit out of aoe2 actually and it was fun. Main reason aoe3 was not as popular is because of insane graphics back in 06. Not everyone had mad PC's back then, so everyone just got stuck with aoe2.

[@SciFi2285]

I love AOE. But I am also aware of its limitations. It is a war game with historical flavor. Most 1v1 games last between 15 minutes and 1 hour. Team games can go for a little longer. But ultimately you are building a base and micromanaging a small army. Winning invariably involves battlefield dominance. And all the professional players do the exact same thing (i.e. the meta). This is both a strength and a weakness. It is easy to pick up. But mastering it is more about skill than strategy.

[@AndysTake]

Indeed. My biggest complaint is perhaps that I can’t “chill” and build up my empire before the more experienced player comes at me right away with a massive army and stomps me. It’s definitely about the meta and learning the minute details to really optimize everything. For better or worse, like you said.

[@papiew1]

What are your thoughts about the Empire Earth trilogy? When I was younger, those games kinda took the spark of AoE from me since it went from stone age to space age. Granted not as in-depth for faction uniqueness on the first game, but the second game went more in-depth. Would be cool to see a video like this for EE 1 (and the expansions), EE 2 and EE 3 (the death of the series)!

[@AndysTake]

I’d love to but if believe it or not - Empire Earth is a series I’ve never played! :O

[@papiew1]

@@AndysTake Interesting! I highly recommend it if AoE is your style. The downside that really sucks is that it will likely never get remasters since it had a pretty hard downfall (rip). I think my favorite experience of EE was replaying EE 1 with the Age of Supremacy Expansion that essentially allows you to have multiple planets with a couple players on each. After a long game of fighting and taking over your planet, you build space docks once you're at that age and have a final war with the other planets that you've never met before (or they come and colonize you). That blew my mind!

[@AndysTake]

@@papiew1 That sounds epic, damn! So which EE is your favourite?

[@papiew1]

@@AndysTake I would say EEII for it's depth in faction differences, innovative game mechanics and community mods - but I have to admit EE had the Space Age and Priests that could summon a flippin' hurricane in the prehistoric ages (I guess to simulate early myth as if it was fact) so it's a really close one for me!

[@AndysTake]

@@papiew1 so EE2 doesn’t have some age?

[@GBlockbreaker]

you can absolutely merge units permanently into specific groups, using ctrl + one of the number keys, in general you missed out on a bunch of info in this video it seems, like missing out on Age of Mythology which came out inbetween aoe2 and aoe3 and is usually more considered a part of the aoe series than aoe4 is lol, and a bunch of spinoffs like aoe online (which was bad lol) and aom for the nds (which was meh lol) also the bad ui in aoe3 is more of a fault of the remaster, the original aoe3 ui was perfectly fine and in fact still usable in the remaster, the card system is something one has to get used to, as someone that grew up with the games and played aoe3 a ton it's completely intuitive to me and the main reason i still play it the most i've also always felt the same about aoe4, it had no new core mechanicss, you say it's got very different factions but aom and aoe3 did that to a much more extreme degree, however aoe4 does fulfill all the childhood wishes i had for the series like putting units on walls and unit dialogue being more dynamic and the units changing their language over the ages is my favorite detail in the entire game

[@rainking4621]

Playing AoE 1 on MSN Gaming Zone in the early 2000s was probably the most fun I've had playing video games online. A few years ago I bought the Definition Edition hoping to relive some of that magic but there was practically no one online. Shame.

[@SarudeDanstorm]

AoE2 DE keybinds are highly customizable. Right Click drag can work just like it does in the other games, idk why the default is the way it currently is.

[@VojvodaSloboda]

Like you said, aoe4 is a spiritual successor to aoe2 rather than an aoe4. Following the trend of how aoe has progressed through the ages from the first to the third game, aoe4 should have had a pre industrial age with guns, industrial age with tanks and modern day with stealth bombers, drones and stuff like that.

[@sergialcoleadelagala5519]

Does anyone know why there was such a long hiatus between Age of Empires 3 and 4? I'm also new in the series, and I was wondering the same question many times.

[@kingstarscream3807]

Sure. Here's a quick timeline to explain it. 2007 - The final expansion for AOE3 is released 2008 - Ensemble Studios (the AOE team) is kicked off of AOE to make a console RTS - Halo Wars, game is successful but ensemble studios dissolved 2011 - A new AOE game is released called Age of Empires Online, it bombs because it was full of microtransactions Then RTS lost popularity for a decade *year of AOEOs release fixed, credit to FloosWorld

[@AndysTake]

@@kingstarscream3807 Great overview!

[@sergialcoleadelagala5519]

@@kingstarscream3807 Oh, I see. Thanks, mate. That's quite a sad history for such a famous saga like AOE :(

[@FloosWorld_AoE]

@@kingstarscream3807 AoE:O came in 2011 tho. :) To continue your timeline that explains everything until now: 2012 - first public version of the "Forgotten Empires" mod for AoE 2 released. This mod later became an official part of the game via a DLC for AoE 2 HD Edition in 2013 2013 - AoE 2 HD and Forgotten DLC released 2014 - Age of Mythology gets remastered for the 1st time as an "Extended Edition" on Steam 2015 - Age of Empires 2 receives yet another DLC with "African Kingdoms" 2016 - Age of Empires 2 and Mythology receive new DLCs with "Rise of the Rajas" and "Tale of the Dragon" 2017 - To celebrate the series's 20th Anniversary, Microsoft announces Definitive Editions for AoE 1-3 as well as AoE 4 2018-2020 - Release of AoE 1, 2 and 3 DE. 2 and 3 receive even more DLCs 2021 - AoE 4 released 2023 - AoE 2 and 4 will be ported to Xbox, AoE 2 will receive a DLC that ports AoE 1 into AoE 2 and yet more to come

[@VillaMasterSF]

the foodlimit of 50 in AoE1 is so annoying

[@thalmoragent9344]

Age of Mythology game needs a Part 2/2nd Game. The Classical/Antiquity vibe is amazing

[@GBlockbreaker]

the remake, yes remake, was announced like a year ago

[@Tanuvein]

I'll admit I was put off by AoE3 when it came out, I was really suspicious of the card system but this convinced me to give it a try at some point.

[@joelgrebinsilvestri]

I grew up playing Age of Empires 2 and Age of mythology and warcraft 3. GOLDEN TIMES in my country there were championship of those games. i was 12 years old. and now in 2023 i want to play back age of empires, i know that warcraft 3 remake was a failure

[@Helloshy]

How is the home city confusing💀?

[@sampaz3790]

Agree with the campaigns of aoe4 I couldn’t get into them as much as the ones from aoe2 and 3. The whole history channel type approach just was as enjoyable.

[@sniperdubey]

Hate to break it to you, but AoE2 is the 78th most played game on steam and consistently has double the player base of AoE4. I would highly recommend actually getting into AoE2. It's not unfriendly to noobs at all, the tutorial is great and art of war will really help you hone your skills. As it is the most popular of the AoE games, with the biggest tournaments, there are also a large number of pro players and casts you can watch if you want to improve as well as many people who make guides and other educational videos on the game like Sotl and TWest. The modding scene is also fantastic, and there are tons of map makers who make great maps for ranked and lobby play.

[@paxromana9709]

I think I mentioned this before but please try Startcraft. I do believe you will enjoy it, based on what you enjoyed in aoe and your complains about it. SC1 if you can stand the graphics (not remastered is free), ad SC2 if you want the best rts experience, first campaign is free, 3 commanders in coop are free and so is the multiplayer. You only have to invest a little time to get the taste of the game.

[@NerevarineKing]

I played a demo for 3 back in the day, but didn't play Age of Empire 1/2 until a few years ago. Now that 3 has a free trial version, I may need to revisit it.

[@platinumdirt904]

You should look at some footage of the original aoe 3 the ui was much cleaner they made it worse in the definitive edition

[@l.s.9095]

Not mentioning Age of Mythology is a great shame if you ask me.

[@AndysTake]

Never played it sadly, and it’s not a numbered AOE game. But I would’ve mentioned it if was a definitive edition title and I had played it! ;)

[@l.s.9095]

@@AndysTake Understandable.😀

[@zhappy]

I wonder if you'll check out Age of Mythology (Titans expansion), a truly unique game

[@DakkaDakkaDakkaWaagh]

I think a lot of people that are so tied to aoe2 missed the significance of the gameplay of homecities, its basically a completely different game. Pros make the best use of homecities are there are lots of different strats. In some ways its the most "strategic" age of empires, will definitely lacking in some aspect. 1 2 and 4 just have a completely different feel to aoe3, Im sad that ao4 is so lackluster tbh. I love both aoe2 and aoe3 and wish they had somehow combined the best parts of both

[@thenordiccomrade7100]

You forgot one title from the series, AoE:Online (it’s still playable)

[@kimmyjosh35]

Which is better AoE or Total War? I would like to know a brief comparison sir

[@spiffygonzales5899]

AoE is by far the better RTS (regardless what the TW stans will tell you, I play both quite a bit). The paradox games are much better grand strategy and 4X. Total war is a sort of in between. The newer ones are different though. The campaign is mainly meant to support the battles which are themselves mostly arcade RTS. The older ones are similar but in battle they're more focused on your tactics than the sort of rock paper scissors matchup system of the newer ones. And the progression is more fluid with stat bonuses being smaller to maintain the tactics aspect.

[@kimmyjosh35]

@@spiffygonzales5899 yeah me too I played them both but i spend more time in aoe 3 definitive edition

[@spiffygonzales5899]

@@kimmyjosh35 Lol I mostly do AoE 1 definitive edition. I just like the sense of progression and the balance it has... Well minus ballistas.

[@AndysTake]

I prefer TW games by far. Comes down to the sense of realism and scale for me - I like that my battles are connected through the campaign map, and that I can have massive goals in mind other than just winning this “game” or the next :)

[@kimmyjosh35]

@@AndysTake thank you sir can you make a KZbin video comparing both games

[@9pwnr]

When I was younger I used to play Age of Empires I a lot, the looks were honestly simple but charming. I do feel like the visual graphics of the definitive version on steam feels too cheap and that honestly bothers me from buying it.

[@MRbeqa100]

3 is the best

[@gambaownsus]

Never played any of Age Of Empire, which one would you recommend playing :)! (old school gamer here, starcraft/w3 player) never managed to play this game in the early days

[@FloosWorld_AoE]

Minor thing: It's called Age of Empires :P For some kind of reason people love to leave out the s. I definitely recommend Age of Empires 2: Definitive Edition

[@IDKisReal2401]

Just as above mentioned, I would recommend 2 DE, it has the biggest player base, the most content and is still being updated to this day

[@portman8909]

I'd recommend Age of Empires 4 if you prefer unique feeling factions. AOE 2 most units perform and look the same. This applies to buildings as well.

[@User_92020]

The units are walking 40 miles per hour

[@Syt1976]

Great video. :-) But is it really complete without including Star Wars: Galactic Battlegrounds (and Clone Campaigns expansion)? ;-) It was a reskin of AoE2, but Star Wars, adding air units as well (for better of worse). I was a big AoE2 fan at the time, plus a Star Wars fan, and having AT-ATs stomp across the map was silly fun. :D The game is available on GOG and Steam now, I think. :-)

[@chellybub]

I got Age 2 from a box of cereal when I was like 16 hahaha! 😜 I had played it before, but didn't care about it that much. But when I got my ghetto copy for free I loved it way more lol 😎 It's not a bad series, certainly hard to find a classic RTS that's still able to hold up this day in age. Going back to starcraft or even old total war... Hmmmm maybe even command and conquer/red alert, can be kinda hard. Weirdly I think AoE has aged the best 😌 I guess Rome TW is decent too, but I have way more nostalgia with that one... but I think Age is timeless, even without the remasters 😁

[@AndysTake]

Wow you too from a box of cereal, I read another person also did that! Crazy, when was this and where haha! Yeah the core gameplay has definitely aged well, and with the remastered graphics, I’d say AOE1 especially holds up well, although AOE3 looks just legendary right now.

[@chellybub]

@@AndysTake hmmmm I think it was like 2003 or 2004 when I was in Highschool

[@joaomiguelvieira6157]

how about age of empires online?

[@cyberpsybin]

Age of Mythology clears all

[@brandonstanley9125]

The music is chill

[@chef_moquin9535]

My favorite thing of aoe 1 was the sounds, between the sound of combat, building sounds, unit sounds, and the music. Even the old style graphics I still prefer over the de version which that’s pure nostalgia speaking but I can’t help it 😂

[@NightOwlGames]

loved Age of empires 2 played it for years! just got the 4th game i prefer 2, is 1 and 3 worth a go?

[@savarinodragoantonio6505]

Aoe 3 is my favorite, 4th is great too, but aoe 3 is way much faster and there is something that really makes it feel weird in comparison to other aoe, is that its not longer a city builder, cities tend to be really small compared to other aoes so you dont have an attachment to defend it, still I really like it, with its cannons and muskets, its my favorite time period so I always pick aoe3

[@Punggles]

What an awesome video 🤘 Absolutely love these games and return to 2 & 4 regularly. I know you briefly touched on it but AOE 2 has one of the greatest soundtracks ever. 4 was surprisingly great, not perfect but extremely fun.

[@AndysTake]

Thank you so much, Punggles! Would you say you’re more familiar with AOE than Total War or PDX games?

[@Punggles]

@@AndysTake No, definitely more experience with Total War. I played AOE 2 when I was younger and only recently returned to both when 4 came out. AOE 2 Definitive Edition is fantastic

[@manu_spawn]

I loved AoE when i was kid. It is what made me fall in love with history, but when i discovered Total War, i was done with the saga.

[@AndysTake]

Yeah I get that, TW for me personally is a lot more fun because of the campaign and scale of the battles. Much more realistic. AOE can be great fun in multiplayer though :)

[@FloosWorld_AoE]

Idk, Total War always was for me a turn based strategy game in first place that makes the RTS part optional.

[@wynnluna5706]

I agree in aoe3 no gathering building is removing an important strategical aspect of the game "the strategy of gathering resources", some points to mention about the aoe1 vs aoe2 contest is that I think this is actually aoe1 that is more "hardcore" than aoe2, first because adapting to the resources in a revealed map can be infinitely more difficult compared to aoe2 resources that are always scattered the same way so u also have to study an agressive or defenssive strategy depending on your resources (yes I know u can adapt to a forward berry or gold etc in aoe2 too but its nothing compared to aoe1 resources), and the fun fact is that this situation doesn't necessarily make the game more unbalanced but forces u to take a different strategy, the 2nd point is when u said aoe2 is played more defenssively, indeed and in my opinion when the agression is not worth the move, it ends up removing some steps and nuances in the strategies, another point is that making the game very defenssive with many castles to push often makes long games where stamina and physical skill matters more than reflection. And finally I don't like DE reworks and I obviously think the 1997 version with the 1.0a patch on is the best version so far.

[@charlesmiv3842]

I liked AoE when I was younger, being partial to fast paced, low attention span RTS games. But I feel like it just lacks substance now, compared to other options like Total War, Paradox titles, or even Civ titles. The competitive scene is thriving however, and arguably among the most robust in the strategy genre as a whole. Apparently a custom hotkey setup that you need to memorize is essential for any semi effective gameplay, which I think is unfun. As for single player campaign or story of any kind, the franchise is a joke in that regard. I know what you mean about the old school Runescape vibe though, I do enjoy that bit. All of that being said, AoE 3 was my favorite.

[@AndysTake]

Ah, nice to hear, Charles! Yeah there’s something about AOE that I just feel.. hasn’t reached it’s potential yet. Especially the hot key thing is just… way too min-maxy for my taste. What do you prefer in AOE3 over the other games? :)

[@kingstarscream3807]

Low attention? RTS? Wut? This is a problem I've been seeing: casual gamers thinking games like total war and civ are more sophisticated and complicated when in reality they require a much lower IQ than AOE.

[@charlesmiv3842]

@@kingstarscream3807 Not a “casual gamer”. And no, the opposite is usually true. There’s more down time/time to think and more things to manage in a turn based grand strategy type of game. Whereas AoE is more reliant on reflexes and remembering hotkeys. It’s basically just mindlessly pumping out troops in a massive blob and sending them to destroy things, with the addition of surface level economic management. Don’t get me wrong. Both types of games are fun in their own right for different types of players.

[@kingstarscream3807]

@@charlesmiv3842 The thing is, anybody can learn or decide on anything when given an unlimited amount of time in a turn-based game. Nothing in Empire Total War is so complex that it doesn't require more time than is allowed for the player to grasp it. Well-made RTS games on the other hand (particularly AOE3) give players the tools required to engage in the ultimate battle of wits. Thousands of variables require crack-decision making from an engaged mind. The mental clarity and sharpness felt after a good RTS victory is unmatched. Sometimes I get that feeling in Total War, but most of the time I just feel guilty that I've wasted hours of my life reading in-game spreadsheets. If you never felt intellectually stimulated playing AOE3, then I imagine you must've played against the poor DE AI or otherwise bad players. Chess is similarly boring when played with toddlers. I can't imagine mindlessly clicking and pumping out blobs winning any games against intermediate players.

[@charlesmiv3842]

​@@kingstarscream3807 The other thing I dislike about AoE compared to the other options is that the scale and feeling of conquest is much too small. AoE is the epitome of engaging in a battle, instead of a war. In Total War, Paradox, or Civ, it's *nation* building and managing. In AoE, It seems like you're just a temporary warlord of a fledging band of villagers and fighters. You don't have to navigate the nuances and intricacies of continental power relations, diplomacy, culture, religion, family lines, intrigue, rebellion, war weariness, or happiness. It's all focused on being "quick witted", which I think is actually just quick reflexes, hotkey pressing, and camera management. Those are difficult in their own right, but in a different category of difficult. It's apple and oranges. Personally though, if I wanted to play a fast paced game which relied on reflexes, I'd play an FPS like cod or battlefield.

[@torb-no]

There’s something to be said for respecting your legacy once you’ve established a game. IMO that makes it inappropriate to change sequals too much. Ensemble Studios did innovate a lot with Age of Mythology (yet building on AoE). Age of Empires 4 did pretty much exactly what a lot of AoE fans wanted (unlike AoE3). It respected it’s legacy. As for having more focus on the historical battles, Bruce Shelley, one of the people behind the original AoE series had a mantra of gameplay first. He’s very negative of putting too much emphasis on the historic battle itself, with him thinking that is why a lot og america board games in the 70s/80s had such narrow appeal. You should listen to the Designer Notes podcast episode 9 where they interview him.

[@amagrawal0090]

every new game was representing a new era. Sadly they just used AOE2 as reference, remade it with newer graphics and named it AOE 4. If i wanted to play AOE 2 there already is a DE version available

[@ErikNespala1-sy6dh]

One thing i Dont like on Age 1 def is low population limit

[@hydrodk]

You can see this guy is a aoe2 guy, cute

[@gerardotejada2531]

Company of Heroes 2 was more innovative than AOE4. And thats sad. Biger scale battles like the one on the trailer, Winter or season mechanics, etc. A wasted oportunity.

[@portman8909]

That would be interesting to have Northgard style winters that effect food gathering. Certain factions like Rus could maybe perform better in winter etc.

[@bnjmndrf1055]

I played aoe1 and 3 on release, I have been playing age 2DE and age 4 since release. But I play age 2 and 4 almost exclusively on multiplayer. I am doing ranked team game in age 2 (I have almost 200 1v1 game but having children I do not have enough time to keep up with the 1v1 rank level) and since I have friends in the same situation we play 2v2, or 3v3 or 4v4 every weeks. I play age 4 mainly on 1v1, since the game is newer Overall multiplayer level is lower (in age 2 some player have 20 years of competitive experience) For me age of empires is all about multiplayer, and Total war is all about solo.

[@chellybub]

Well said! I know that MP has always been the main gameplay for the AoE games. It's pretty cool you're still smashing it all these years later 😎

[@AndysTake]

Haha damn, that’s dedication! Indeed, AOE is way more fun in multilayer, while single player in TW is where it’s at - especially when TW just recently allowed 8 player mp campaigns, and not just 1v1… finally

[@jadhal6649]

And What about aoe mythology and Titans

[@tsartomato]

>>I Played EVERY Age of Empires Game in 2022 didn't play anything but 4 games not original versions not mobile games not DS game not ports and of course no mythology or star wars

[@nephrendir]

There is a MASSIVE ERROR in the definitive age of empires 1. The way the units attack are completely different than before, it is not as genuine or realistic

[@mohaglade4892]

AGE OF EMPIRES 3 BEST AGE FOR MULTIPLAYER AND COMPETITIVE MAPS

[@Crossil]

AoE 3 I only got to recently and, uh.... yeah I agree the game is cluttered. The complexity of it isn't an issue for its mainstay audience because they know it by heart, but if you're coming in with just AoE1 and 2 experience (and some other RTS like Dawn of War, Starcraft, Warcraft, etc.) you'll be caught off guard by the sheer amount of stuff that varies a lot. Not even connected to civ choice, surprisingly. - different maps featuring different minor civs, each featuring their own set of research and/or units. - different age up choices and nuances: great persons for Euros and Native Americans, states for modern American civs, alliances for Africans, Wonders for Asians, etc. - several revolutions for Euro civs and Mexicans, same revolution in several civs with differing effects - a lot of unit interactions that are relatively obfuscated. Moreso than in other games, in my experience - extensive research effects, due to the sheer number of units and unique cases present. - and then the home city cards, which feel like the most complex system in the game Probably other things I'm forgetting. Trying to wrap one's head around all of this is pretty difficult starting out. I literally have to read every tech because I can't remember it all.

[@WTF-zs8cvWT]

AOE2 DE and AOE3 DE are undefeated...

[@DuVtrell]

AoEIV lacks personality that made AoM and AoE3 so immersive and fun. Artillery in AoEIV is an embarrassment.

[@FloosWorld_AoE]

Regarding civ design in AoE 2: the DLC civs definitely shake this "samesy" feel up. The Burgundians e.g. have a unique technology called "Flemish Revolution" which works like the revolution in AoE 3. The Gurjaras e.g. can garrison sheep into their mills for a passive food income and have a unit that's able to absorb arrow fire.

[@tahahadada1936]

My personal best is aoe 3 ,I played every release . Aoe 4 was a hugh disappointment. I never heard of Total war until the year 2020 ,I played aoe since 1998 . I never understood why people complain about Total war because I have alll TW releases ,but when i played aoe4 i understood what they did to my little boy

[@universeltuto7620]

my respect, you need a certain degree of intelligence to appreciate this perfect game or kind of game you played aoe the age of kings 1.0 too ''my favorite'' ?

[@lockjaw2007]

aoe3 is the perfect rts game

[@d_no_allyn_86]

You don't find aoe2 as charming? 😒🤔 I mean yeah maybe aoe 1 has that more childlike feel but aoe 2 is a better looking game and is widely regarded as the best game ever. Out of the series. And yes a lot of that is what you said, the campaigns. They were incredible as a kid and it's like you actually learned a history lesson. I was never great at it and didn't try it much but the online was a pretty big thing too. I get that you can like what you like but you're definitely the odd man out. I think if you played the William Wallace demo as a kid, your life would have been changed lol. It felt so cool as a kid. I feel sad you never got to feel that feeling.

[@JuanPRossel]

my best is Age of empires 3 ⭐👍💯❤️❤️❤️

[@alphaxgaming6879]

When i saw the trailer of aoe4 i thought that it would be the game of the year since aoe3 was so damn good and was release 15 years ago, the regression was my deception

[@DragracerSA]

AOE4 was fantastic

[@gabriel0961]

The only one I play is age 3. Tried to play age 2 but its too different haha. And the sound of battle of age 3 , unit varity according to city and its visuals is what make me like it soo much.

[@BeatRoot14]

I do wish they made a new age of empires with a focus on ancient history like the original with game mechanics of aoe2. Aoe2 is timeless. Choose it everytime over the new titles

[@fcr8409]

you didnt play every aoe. You missed aoeo and aom.

[@ianbrown7066]

Age of Empires 2 is so incredibly balanced compared to the others. The more you play 2 the more you realize it wasn't just a reskin of 1, but fixed so many issues. There is a reason that the game is still growing as the other ones shrink in popularity.

[@sowishful]

Aoe3 is the best. If you like competitive rts games, aoe3 is the best. Aoe2 is a sandbox rts and aoe4 is borderline

[@MrSiamang]

I respect your opinion, but aoe2 and aoe4 are just better imo

[@sowishful]

@@MrSiamang how is it better? I’m talking about in a competitive stand point. If you want to play the most competitive aoe game, you should probably play aoe3… aoe2 is filled with generic civs that all play the same unfortunately… tell me why aoe2 and 4 is better

[@milansvancara]

Unpopular opinion: I liked Empire Earth and Age of Mythology much more:P

[@balintmolnar5153]

where is age of mythology???????????? not whole conclusion, mssing the most imőportant part.... I repect your effort but cause of missing i honor this no like yet, cause of my soul crying of that missing

[@kingnacho7200]

Why did you skip AOE2DE

[@da1writer1985]

kzbin.info/www/bejne/mnOUlJ9trtWphLcm45s

[@notthatkindofsam]

Wait, people stopped playing AoE? 😂

[@Denlaar]

This video is made by the filthiest of casuals... Comments about AoE2 are just flat out bad opinions

[@ryushogun9890]

The remastered, HD remake ones.. are all like fifa games. 🤢