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All Age of Empires II fans know by now that Age II has gone gold and should arrive on store shelves by mid-October. However, we still have two civilizations to preview, and those two are among the most exciting of the 13 sides available to you. This week, we take a look at the Vikings, who were famous throughout history for their fearsome raids up and down the coast of Northern Europe.

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They were awesome warriors and inspired fear in many of their opponents. Their stature in history is almost legendary, and designer Sandy Petersen says, "Who are the first people anyone thinks of when they hear the phrase 'The Dark Ages?' That's right! It's the Vikings who made the Dark Ages dark!"

It is true that they were more than just coastal raiders, but in Age of Empires II, that aspect of their culture is played to the hilt. In Age II, the Vikings are one of the best, if not the best, infantry civilizations in the game, with powerful footmen that can decimate the enemy.

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In this civilization showcase, we'll take a look at the Vikings' bonuses and their strengths and weaknesses. In addition, we'll discuss their two unique units. Among all the civilizations of Age of Kings, the Vikings are the only one to have two unique units.

As always, we'll try to give a brief historical account of the Vikings, but we don't pretend to offer a comprehensive look at their history. If you'd like to skip ahead to the gameplay, you can. Otherwise, read on.

Next: History