Age of Empires 2 Definitive Edition

As the modernisation of arguably the greatest real-time strategy (RTS) game of all time, Age of Empires 2 Definitive Edition is a masterpiece. The best way to describe this title is that if you played AOE2 when it was first released, this is how it looked in your mind. This takes the classic game and all of its expansion content, packages it together with new and improved content, and makes everything look and play nicer.

The fresher graphics do nothing but improve the product, while the core gamplay is not touched at all. If you are looking for an easy way to play the games of your childhood like Age of Empires and Command & Conquer, then the Age of Empires 2 Definitive Edition release is one that you should pick up immediately.

Top class recreation of an RTS legend

Make no mistake, but Age of Empires 2 was the definitive RTS of an era. It took so many great ideas from the original and improved on them. Ideas used in AOE2 are still being used as a framework for games today. Really, you would need to go pretty far if you wanted to find an RTS that could hope to live up to AOE2 at the time. Age of Empires 2 Definitive Edition, then, takes all of that and improves on every aspect.

Really, the only game that Age of Empires 2 Definitive Edition can be compared to is the original. And, outside of nostalgia, it beats the original AOE2 in every way. By keeping the same visual style as the original, just improved beyond all recognition, AOE2 DE manages to do everything fans wanted. It remains faithful to the systems, strategies, and styles that worked so well in the late 1990s and early 2000s. It retains the charm and the energy that made this RTS such an all-time classic. It simply looks and feels better to play for everyone who is keen to try it out.

If you missed AOE2 because you were too young to play it at release, then now is the time to make up for it. This is a rare remaster: a masterpiece recreation that only improves on the original.

Big visual changes with minor improvements is a vote winner (10/10)

If you are someone who loves RTS games then you will positively adore Age of Empires 2 Definitive Edition. It is a top class take on the genre, and manages to feel like a release that only just came out thanks to the awesome visuals. On top of that, though, the improvements that have been made across the scene are outstanding.

Pros

• A fantastic recreation that remains faithful to the original
• Top class development that captures the heart of AOE2
• Interesting content both new and old for fans to love and enjoy

Cons

• Fans used to more modern RTS games might find this overly challenging