But even if you choose to build your empire through economic might, you’ll have to defend your borders, build up your resources and upgrade your technology as you advance from the Dark Age to the Imperial Age. In most game modes, you’ll need to build up an army to wage war against enemy soldiers and besiege their towns. In this medieval RTS, you’ll take control of a small group of villagers, eventually turning your small settlement into a thriving city. If you’ve played the first three games in the series, then you know exactly what you’re in for with Age of Empires IV. Read on for our full Age of Empires IV review. Still, series fans and newcomers alike should find a lot to enjoy in AoE IV’s meticulously crafted civilizations, varied game modes and inventive campaign -one of the best I’ve ever encountered in an RTS. At its worst, it can feel like a “greatest hits” album. At its best, AoE IV is polished, refined and a ton of fun to play. It has the same setting as Age of Empires II, as well as many of the same civilizations, units, strategies and campaign arcs.
(Age of Empires Online was also an interesting and worthwhile experiment, but I digress.) Compared to its predecessors, there’s no denying that AoE IV plays it pretty safe. The first game was bold the third was innovative the second is still one of the greatest RTS games of all time.
On the other hand, Age of Empires IV has a lot to live up to.
