Age of Empires 2: Definitive Edition - Return of Rome

Age of Empires II: Definitive Edition - Return of Rome takes me back to my childhood of playing the original strategy classic. This new expansion pack allows you to challenge friends in epic historical battles with 17 ancient civilizations from the original game, plus one new exclusive civilization - the Lac Viet. As someone who grew up with the franchise, I was eager to dive back into this classic RTS and see how it holds up today.

The Return of Rome expansion is a self-contained experience within Age of Empires II: Definitive Edition. It stays true to the original Age of Empires gameplay while adding some quality-of-life improvements from the Definitive Edition. I was immediately hit with nostalgia as I started my first game, hearing those iconic "Wololo" sounds and seeing my villagers gathering resources. It was like no time had passed at all.

Rekindling That 90s Magic

What I loved most about revisiting Age of Empires through this expansion was how it brought back fond memories of LAN parties and late nights battling friends. The gameplay still holds up incredibly well, with the perfect balance of empire-building, resource management, and large-scale battles. I found myself quickly sucked back into the loop of training units, researching technologies, and building up my base.

Even after all these years, it was still immensely satisfying to amass an army and steamroll opposing civilizations. Coordinating different unit types and using the terrain to my advantage made each match feel fresh and strategic. The classic rock-paper-scissors counter system ensured no single unit type would dominate, keeping battles intense and unpredictable.

New Toys for Old Generals

While remaining faithful to the original, Return of Rome does make some subtle but meaningful enhancements. The inclusion of gates, formations, and trading carts adds more strategic options without compromising the core gameplay. I also appreciated the AI improvements which provided more challenges for solo players.

The one brand new civilization, the Lac Viet of ancient Vietnam, was a treat to try out. It was exciting to see an underrepresented civilization brought to life, especially one with such an iconic architectural design contrasting against the predominantly European roster seen in Age of Empires II.

The newly added Roman civilization for standard Age of Empires II was also a welcome surprise, especially for fans of the original Age of Empires, and those not-so-pleased with the Definitive Edition. As expected, their iconic Legionary and Centurion units are extremely powerful, enabling the Romans to steamroll opponents when used correctly.

The Test of Time

After revisiting Age of Empires through Return of Rome, I'm happy to say this classic RTS has stood the test of time remarkably well. The addictive gameplay loop, epic historical battles, and myriad strategic options remain just as engaging today as they were in the 90s. While the visuals are understandably dated – even now with revamped models – the charm and nostalgia more than make up for it.

If you grew up playing Age of Empires like me, Return of Rome is a must-play. It's a lovingly-crafted expansion that will delight fans and breathe fresh life into the franchise. Even for newcomers to the series, this is the perfect entry point to experience a seminal RTS. Age may wear down all empires eventually, but Age of Empires' magic remains immortal.

Pros:

• Immersive historical battles
• Addictive classic gameplay
• Fun new civilizations

Cons:

• Steep learning curve
• Occasional pathfinding issues

Age of Empires II: Definitive Edition - Return of Rome is a real-time strategy game that will transport you to ancient times, when ancient civilizations were at the dawn of their glory and power. Choose your favorite nation and together with it conquer new territories, expanding the borders of your empire. In the add-on Age of Empires II: Definitive Edition - Return of Rome you will be able to play a story campaign about the great era of Rome.

The pluses of the game are:

• Over 17 ancient nations, each with unique units
• Campaign about the return of the mighty Roman Empire