Review on AOE 3 vs. AOE 2 - How AOE 3 does not compare
But this review is not really about comparing that game to this. I believe that AOE 3 needs to compare itself to #2.
I hadn't played AOE 2 IN YEARS and so I installed both 2 and 3 on my computer and played them both simultaneously on skirmish mode specifically.
GRAPHICS COMPARISON
AOE 2: When I play AOE 2 I was astonished on how well the graphics were even back when it came out even til now. It doesn't hurt the eyes at all. It's compatible to possibly any computer out there and it has instantly fast loading times no lag. The animations are still great, maybe some clanky movement here and there on some models but overall its a SOLID graphical game.
AOE 3: First off, the game looks pretty good and after the first couple patches there wasn't too much lag. The animations are wonderful and its easy on the eyes even with a completely different engine. But does graphics make a great game? No.
AUDIO COMPARISON:
AOE 2: OMG. the Music is so good in this game. the sounds are still good after the years. The music gets stuck in your head but its a good thing. & its mostly all digital which is crazy.
AOE 3: Not so good. Music is orchestrated but is very dull and boring. Nothing to hum a tune or get stuck in your head. The sounds are nothing special either.
GAMEPLAY COMPARISON (Most important of any game):
AOE 2: BEST of the series. The balance is amazing. The tech trees are pretty much perfect. So many things for strategy and try out. The fighting mechanics are awesome. You don't feel overwhelmed unless you are bombarded by a massive army or trebuchets haha. You always feel like you are building an empire and crushing other ones. The Game modes in skirmish are awesome. Like King of the hill, or wonders, or deathmatch. Just PERFECT everything... well I might be lying when your villagers sometimes stop doing what they are doing because there is something in their way... but oh well.
AOE 3: Wow... I did not realize how dubbed down this game is. First one that pisses me off is the fact that your villagers can gather resources without taking it back to a camp site or town center. Makes NO sense. What, do they just put it in their pockets and it magically goes into your empires possession? Another annoyance is how much tech is gone. There is barely any tech that changes many things of the game like AOE 2 does.
Alright, and heres another annoyance, the tech cards. This just destroys the strategy of the game altogether. If you were to play online with other people higher than you then they get better cards and they destroy you. Sounds more like cheating than an addition to the games mechanics. Why not give everyone the same tech like AOE 2 does? Instead of having to drive your way to level 50 or whatever the cap is to get the best cards to play. Many people still play AOE 2 not because to level up to get better equipment but to just PLAY the game as a whole.
Another thing, the "hero" that you start out with. Worthless. Waste of time. No need of that character. why cant you just have scout on a horse...
Another, you can only have one castle. Well this isn't entirely true until you get the RESET card to get another castle. but still.. do you think that back in the day they just wanted to build one castle.. no they wanted to make as many as possible.
Another, why take out stone? it was a resource that worked in AOE 2 and it made way more sense.
UGH. you get my point. I can go on and on and on.
But this is a review on the comparison of both games, which is a 5.0 at best.
BUT if you have never played AOE 2 and you just played this game you would probably give it an 8.0 since you are ignorant of the fact that AOE 2 is just soooo much better.
Anyways, dont waste your time leveling up on AOE3 and go download or buy age of empires 2 with the expansion. You will play for hours and hours and you will always be satisfied.