Age of Empires III

I have played this game on four different PCs starting a year ago. The game itself is pretty fun but the bugs were never worked out. The latest patch was v 1.12 but it has not fixed the problems I have. My wife & I enjoy playing the game on our LAN with laptops. But 50% of the time the game will stop during the game. Sometimes we'll be an hour into the game when it will crash. It is very frustrating. And because the makers have not dealt with this issue after so long I give you the lowest score possible.

i was only like 10 when i watched my brother play aoe2 & i thought it was the koolest game ever... now that hes like 20 & im now 15 i bought the game when it came out without hesitating... & ive never regretted i love this game... ive had it 4 like at least two years now & its still number 1 or 2 on my favorite games. of course i set it down but only in small times like a week or 2 but i love this game, its really challenging & it never gets old...

a lot of ppl say aoe2 is better but with aoe3 theyve installed a new physics engine & if u want stuff 2 be simple aoe 2 is ur game... ever civilation the same thing except 4 minor differences. but in aoe 3 ever civilization you play has a different economy, military, & most importantly strategy

RTS games are my favorite games & this is the best RTS ive ever played

I would play it but my computer is a Dell Dimension 2400 & does not have 1 GB of hard drive or 1 GB of memory on it yet. The hard drive I can not find 1 GB of. My son has been playing the Age of Empires trial games on the computer. He loves them. Christine ascencio

This is one of the best game of al time. I have always been a huge fan of real time strategy game, & Age of Empire series have always been consistant in its delivery of strategy, graphic, & gaming. Age of Empires III raises the bar 2 another level, & this is a must have 4 any gamer, both 4 Macintosh & 4 PC. The add on's - Warchiefs & Asian Dynasty are both terrific. I love this so much I have both Mac & PC versions.

I have AoE 1, 2, & 3. Theres no point in playing AoE 1 as AoE 2 is much better. So scratch AoE 1, that includes Rise of Rome. AoE 2 is the game I fell in love with. AoE 2: Conquerors Expansion more specifically. I once moved out of my home state & left the CD in my old computer. I realized this & I had 2 purchase another one just 4 the fact its a game I MUST have. Even though I dont plan on playing it, I need it by me at all times ... just in case. And what about AoE 3? I have it, but I never play it lol. I play AoE 2: CE instead. I just finished playing some of AoE 3 cause Im trying 2 find a reason 2 like it. I still prefer AoE 2, & here is my review of AoE 3 ...

At first glance it looks very creative & it has beautiful graphics. Very life like almost. You're introduced 2 some new differences from AoE 2 & they can be hard 2 pick up on. In fact, its a lot different in many ways. Finding treasures is new. Indian Settlements are new. Having a home town with "cards" is new. The cost 4 buildings are higher so its hard 4 me anyway 2 decide what is the best option 4 me. The problem I have with the game though is that its too quick! And the graphics seem too small. In my screen view, I can only see the town center & half of 2 other buildings I built around it. So its very hard 2 manage. It goes so fast such that when you build a manor (house) you receive an extra villager! I hate having 2 go back once a house is built 2 send that villager off 2 do something. Experience is gained so fast that I notice I have 3 cards waiting in my home city. And when I use them, its like ... well I didnt really need them, I was doing fine building my town in "the New World" on my own. So you have shipments coming in, settlers popping up, the settlers you have 2 chop down wood, or gather food they dont need a mill or lumber camp nearby so they gather resources really fast & eventually run out. Having 2 send them off somewhere else. And then you have your explorer, gotta keep him moving around the map 2 find indians & treasures. In the meantime you're just trying 2 build your economy / military in which honestly, you can grow a HUGE military & settlers in no time at all. Within 10 minutes, I had a church, created a few priests, created like 20 military guys, created 10 archers, created 2 grenadiers, I had 3 outpost wagons. And I have a whole bunch of crates in front of my town center that came from the home city I dont really need! They're just sitting there, so I have 2 manage a settler 2 open them what have you. So theres a lot 2 manage you dont really know where 2 start. I just pumped out a bunch of military guys & situated them around my town. Kind of felt like I won the game right then lol. A word 2 the enemies: Good luck trying 2 get through! I didnt need 2 make contact with Indians, or find treasure. I just sat there creating settlers 2 gather resources, then build buildings, then build a military. I have resources up the ying yang & theres no enemy coming 2 attack. I had 2 turn the game off cause Im sitting there with a HUGE military & I havent even sent my explorer out yet lol.

So how does this relate 2 AoE 2? AoE 2 was REAL STRATEGY! I have old notebooks I recently found in the garage I was looking through where I wrote down my strategy in the game. Those were the good old days. Like "build a second wall in NE corner of empire" ... "kill the villager trying 2 build a castle 2 the east outside the gates" ... "there will be 2 enemy monks carrying Relics south of us, so send out 5 cavalry, & create 2 monks". "Try 2 defeat the enemy civ 2 the west of us as we will then control the south western portion of the map, they also have extra resources on that land, & 1 relic I believe". If we can conquer that land, the civ 2 the north of them is small so they can be taken out as well. Build a strong defense on the eastern side of empire, & start an offensive on the west". THAT is a strategy game. When you have 2 pause the game every 15 seconds & think everything through. Constantly saving it, planning & managing your resources. I cant see that being done with AoE 3. I had a friend who played all the campaigns on it & he said he liked it. Im sure its an ok game 2 play as far as campaigns go. But AoE 2 is the REAL RTS if thats what you're looking for. This game seems it can be fun 2 some extent. You have a home city, theres treasure & indians (kinda lame though, like a treasure is guarded by 2 black bears that instantly die from 5 musketeers before they even deal damage lol, ok whats the point of that? And when I gathered the treasure I have no idea what i received. Probably a couple hundred gold I really didnt need cause I had 8 guys on the silver mine & a few unopened crates). Oh & you receive extra resources when you choose a "politician" when you advance 2 the next level so that adds MORE free resources you have enough of! R&D did the best they can 2 create a fun game. Its not the game 4 me though. Too fast, hard 2 manage, somewhat boring / easy & not very strategic. I also couldnt find the hotkey option in the game??

Age Of Empires 3 is the sequel 2 the critically-acclaimed strategy game. It introduces all-new gameplay elements, new civilizations 2 discover, random maps 2 conquer & a single-player campaign unlike any other. A.I. opponents are now well-developed characters with deep strategies, motivations, & personalities-and more than 4,000 audio taunts at their disposal New lighting & shadow effects, in a game world designed 2 have real physics & depth -- you'll almost feel like you're there The first 3D iteration of the series uses bump- & tone-mapping 2 render realistic water & shadows Havok engine's cause-and-effect physics bring battles 2 lurid life

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 & much more. Welcome 2 a world called Age of Empires III.

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

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

Multiplayer
Whether you're searching 4 a quick game or hoping 2 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 & strategic options the more games you play, compete 4 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 4 games swiftly, while players looking 4 something specific can browse game lists 2 find the set of options that matches their tastes.

New Feature--Home Cities
This revolutionary new feature 2 the RTS landscape is incorporated into all aspects of Age of Empires III -- from Campaign 2 Multiplayer -- & is unlike anything you've experienced before.

Much like the persistent character from a role-playing game that encourages you 2 keep playing, your Home City is an important support system 2 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 2 Mother Europe. The more games you play, & the better you do, the more powerful your Home City will become. Every few games, you gain the ability 2 both upgrade & 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 & perform in its streets.
• Throughout a game, as well as in between games, you can visit your Home City 2 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 & More
We first set out 2 reproduce the rich detail of Age of Empires II: Age of Kings. As we strove 2 make the fascinating Age of Empires III time period come alive, that goal quickly evolved: We at Ensemble Studios wanted 2 create the best-looking game ever. From the stunning water effects 2 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 & shadows--The sun is always shining in Age of Empires, so it's important that lighting & shadows be an awe-inspiring experience. Units & buildings cast shadows according 2 a real sun position, & even cast shadows on each other. High Dynamic Range rendering allows us 2 represent the shiny glints of sunlight that bounce off highly reflective surfaces.
• Bump & specular mapping--Water glistens like water. Metal shines like metal. These advanced techniques serve 2 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 2 it full-time. You'll find the water rich with details like foam near the shore, accurately modeled water motion, flotsam in rivers & realistic water colors. Plus, reflections change with the viewing angle, the angle of sunlight & the motion of the water. The overall effect is breathtaking.
• Cliffs & Riverbeds--Instead of just stretching terrain, we built a system 2 attach geometry 2 the terrain map 2 allow 4 realistic overhangs & steep cliffs, from areas like the American Southwest. This effect is supported on random maps too.

Civilizations

British Quick access 2 Settlers gives the British one of the strongest economies in the game. The ability 2 upgrade two key units -- the Musketeer & Hussar -- make the British military formidable in the late game. The British Home City emphasizes improvements 2 technology & naval warfare.	Dutch Although Dutch Settlers are limited & costly, their civilization makes up 4 this economic disadvantage by building Banks & generating coin automatically. The Dutch Home City emphasizes upgrades 2 defense & economy.
French Although the French economy starts slowly, the Coureur unit, a Villager with strong fighting skills, makes the French difficult 2 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 & therefore a slower economy. Fortunately, both the Settler Wagon & Uhlan cavalry spawn 4 free from the German Town Center. Plus, the Germans start with the ability 2 send Mercenaries from their Home City (long before other civilizations can).
Native American European civilizations can learn new technologies & 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 & the Iroquois.	Ottoman For the Ottomans, Settlers spawn automatically from the Town Center. Building a Mosque & conducting research help keep that Settler production steady. Befitting their position straddling Europe & 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 2 easily spy on the enemy. The Portuguese also have a strong navy, strong light infantry & 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 2 overwhelm their enemy with greater numbers.
Spanish The Spanish have a strong military, with both hand infantry & cavalry. Flexibility in early shipments from the Home City give the Spanish the option 2 attack early or set up 4 a strong, late economy. Spanish Home City improvements benefit soldiers, buildings & naval units.

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

• More 2 command -- Not only are you in command of large & diverse armies of infantry, cavalry & artillery, but also Native American warriors, mercenaries & tall ships.
• Multiple formations -- You can assign different formations 2 your army 4 different strengths & 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, & musketeers fix bayonets. This formation does tremendous damage but makes your soldiers more prone 2 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 2 follow -- You can still command individual units. But when the units fight in formation, you'll be able 2 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 & into the water. Cannonballs bounce & ricochet.
• Detailed destructions -- Shingles, shutters & whole towers may fly off a building & 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.