Summary

Release Year: 1999
Genres: Real Time Strategy (RTS), Strategy
Platforms: Dreamcast, Mac, PC (Microsoft Windows), PlayStation 2
Developers: Ensemble Studios
Publishers: Konami, Microsoft

Age of Empires II: The Age of Kings (1999)

Age of Empires II: The Age of Kings is a real-time strategy game developed by Ensemble Studios and published by Microsoft. It was released for Windows in 1999 and is the second installment in the Age of Empires series. The game is set in the Middle Ages and allows players to control one of 13 civilizations, each with its own unique units, technologies, and bonuses.

Players can choose to play through a variety of campaigns, each of which tells a different story. The campaigns feature historical battles and events, such as the Battle of Agincourt and the Siege of Constantinople. Players can also choose to play against other players in multiplayer mode.

Age of Empires II: The Age of Kings was a critical and commercial success, selling over 20 million copies worldwide. It is considered to be one of the greatest real-time strategy games ever made. The game has been praised for its deep gameplay, beautiful graphics, and historical accuracy.

Gameplay

Age of Empires II: The Age of Kings is a real-time strategy game in which players control a civilization and must build an empire, gather resources, and train an army to defeat their enemies. The game features a variety of different units, including infantry, cavalry, archers, and siege weapons. Players can also build a variety of different buildings, including houses, farms, mines, and castles.

The game is played on a map that is divided into squares. Each square can be occupied by a unit or a building. Players can move their units around the map by clicking on them and then clicking on the square they want them to move to. Units can also be ordered to attack enemy units or buildings by clicking on the enemy unit or building and then clicking on the attack button.

Players can gather resources by building farms, mines, and lumber camps. Resources are used to train units and build buildings. Players can also trade resources with other players or with the computer-controlled AI.

The game features a variety of different civilizations, each with its own unique units, technologies, and bonuses. For example, the Britons have access to the powerful Longbowman unit, while the Franks have access to the powerful Knight unit. Players can choose to play as any of the 13 civilizations in the game.

Campaigns

Age of Empires II: The Age of Kings features a variety of different campaigns, each of which tells a different story. The campaigns feature historical battles and events, such as the Battle of Agincourt and the Siege of Constantinople. Players can choose to play through any of the campaigns in the game.

The campaigns are divided into a series of missions. Each mission has a different objective, such as defeating an enemy army or capturing a certain number of buildings. Players must complete all of the missions in a campaign in order to progress to the next campaign.

Multiplayer

Age of Empires II: The Age of Kings features a variety of different multiplayer modes. Players can choose to play against each other over a LAN or the internet. Players can also choose to play against the computer-controlled AI.

The multiplayer modes in Age of Empires II: The Age of Kings are very competitive. Players must use all of their skills and knowledge of the game in order to win. The multiplayer modes are also very replayable, as there are a variety of different maps and civilizations to choose from.

Graphics

Age of Empires II: The Age of Kings features beautiful graphics for its time. The game’s units and buildings are all very detailed and well-animated. The game’s maps are also very large and varied, featuring a variety of different terrain types.

The graphics in Age of Empires II: The Age of Kings have been updated over the years with the release of several expansion packs and remasters. The latest version of the game, Age of Empires II: Definitive Edition, features stunning 4K graphics.

Historical accuracy

Age of Empires II: The Age of Kings is a historically accurate game. The game’s units, buildings, and maps are all based on real historical research. The game’s campaigns also tell the stories of real historical events.

The historical accuracy of Age of Empires II: The Age of Kings has been praised by historians and educators. The game has been used in schools to teach students about the Middle Ages.

Legacy

Age of Empires II: The Age of Kings is a classic real-time strategy game that still holds up today. The game’s deep gameplay, beautiful graphics, and historical accuracy make it a must-play for any fan of the genre.

The game has been ported to a variety of different platforms, including the Mac, Linux, and Xbox. The game has also been released on mobile devices.

Age of Empires II: The Age of Kings has spawned several expansion packs and remasters. The latest version of the game, Age of Empires II: Definitive Edition, was released in 2019.

Age of Empires II: The Age of Kings is still a popular game today. The game has a large and active community of players who enjoy playing the game online and creating new mods and maps.

Conclusion

Age of Empires II: The Age of Kings is a masterpiece of real-time strategy gaming. The game’s deep gameplay, beautiful graphics, and historical accuracy make it a must-play for any fan of the genre. The game has stood the test of time and remains one of the most popular real-time strategy games ever made.