Age II: The Conquerors - The Spaniards Showcase

By Elliott Chin, GameSpotPosted Jun 28, 2000 9:07 pm PT

Our third installment of Age II: Conqueror's civilizations examines the Spanish.

The Spaniards Showcase

The third installment of our five-part look at the civilizations of the Age II expansion, The Conquerors, returns to the Old World to consider the mighty empire of Spain. In the 15th century, around the time covered in the Imperial Age of Age II, Spain vied with Britain to become one of the most influential and farthest-reaching empires of the world. Spain had a unique and tumultuous history, and it was at times a bastion of early western civilization and a victim of Middle Eastern conquest. During different time periods, it was a European power, a conquered Arabian state, a Muslim nation, or an empire serving the Christian God. Its opposing forces combined to create a unique power that is very much the epitome of Age II expansion's name: Conquerors.

The Spanish are among the most versatile civilizations in Age II: The Conquerors, and they have as much leeway in executing strategies as the more advanced Age II civs, like the Chinese and Saracens. They can be played offensively or defensively, as they have good defensive capabilities and excellent offensive units.

El Cid
Full size images in gallery.

The look of the Spanish is similar to that of the Britons and Franks. Spain uses the Western European art set for its buildings - after all, it is a Western European power. However, there is no disputing Spain's Moorish influences, and so the wonder for the Spaniards looks decidedly Muslim. The wonder might at first look a bit out of place, but Spain does in fact meld its disparate composites into a surprisingly natural whole. The European foundation and the Muslim influences all combine to create a look that is uniquely Spanish.

The Spaniards figure prominently into the new expansion pack. In fact, they are in two of the four new campaigns in The Conquerors. You can play as the Spaniards in the El Cid campaign or play against them in the Montezuma campaign.

Spanish Wonder
Full size images in gallery.

As for why the Spanish were chosen as one of the five new civilizations, designer Greg Street says, "The Spanish are probably the most obvious choice for a new civilization in the Conquerors expansion. They have a colorful history, instant familiarity, interacted with many other civilizations (in Europe, Asia and America), and they were considered a world power toward the end of the Age of Kings timeline. Furthermore, telling the story of Montezuma would have been pretty pointless without having a civilization to represent Hernan Cortez!"

Now, let us take a look at the Spanish Empire, a great nation that is perhaps the most advanced and far-reaching power of The Conquerors expansion set.

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1 Comments

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jakeboudville
Posted Sep 8, 2006 4:01 am PT

kinda impressive
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