Difficulty:

Just Right

Time Spent:

10 Hours or Less

The Bottom Line:

"Disappointing"

Age Of Empires III was the first of the series I have played and I think this is a simple classic RTS game.
The first few hours of playing the game are fine, but then it's just wash-rinse-repeat formula all the way to the second expansion. The game will involve gaining control of certain buildings on the map or destroying the enemy town center. After the first few missions, the challenge of the entire game dies down to upgrade-build-destroy kind of gameplay.
you can choose to start in the ancient age where you have just you and enough supplies to make a town square.
After you've formed the town square you can create villagers, build houses, then upgrade to the next age when you've collected enough supplies.
You can get villagers to cut wood, fish, build, gather food or collect treasure.
Every time you advance in an age you unlock options for villagers to build more buildings, these include markets, docks, churches, mills and stables.
Military includes stables, siege weapons, melee soldiers and ranged soldiers, depending on what civilization you are your soldiers look different- this also applies to buildings.
In this game you have a home city which you came upgrade and use to help you during a campaign.
The graphics are good but could be better. Music is alright, personally I don't enjoy it that much, depending on what race your playing as you get different music, for example when you play as Spanish you get some tango like dance music.
Cheats just ruin it, I don't recommend using them as it just defeats the reason of even playing the game. (eg.Monster truck) = Destroys anything unlimited health.
OVERALL your money would be better spent on the other RTS games.