Age of Empires 3 Definitive Edition

Age of Empires 3: Definitive Edition is just one of a long line in a popular series. In this game you must develop a civilization from a small town into a vast nation and use it to try and take over the world. Each one in this series has something iconic about it to remember, but until recently the original game was like a middle child with nothing standing out to make it different.

The Definitive Edition changes all that. The developers put a lot of work into improving and restoring this game, so the game is infinitely more playable. Here’s a look at the changes, and what they mean for game play.

Two new civilizations added

Civilization is known for the generous number of civilizations you can choose from to develop. The definitive edition adds two more to choose from. Sweden, which gives you trading boats and cheap mercenaries. The Incan civilization is also new and gives you priestesses that can sway enemies to your side and the ability to garrison military in almost any building. These two new civilizations bring a nice new twist to the 16 already available, and add to the fun of the game.

Improved graphics and sound

A big part of this updated edition is remastered sound and graphics. The graphics have always been sub-par in this game, and although these still aren’t quite as amazing as the graphics in other versions such as Age of Empires 4, it’s still noticeably better.

The sound is where the game has really made a noticeable improvement however, with the music being reworked to bring out the bass notes in it. The result is impressive music you can enjoy listening to for hours as you play, rather than just a forgettable aspect of the game.

Simplified Gameplay

Another thoughtful change brought to this version of the game is the simplification of gameplay. There are now only 3 resources you have to lookout for instead of 4, which makes it easier to keep track of a busy empire. A large clear button moves you to idle villagers in need of work, and there is a reduced need to micromanage your civilization. Although things have been made simpler, it actually makes the game more enjoyable. When you’re not rushing around trying to build yet another grain silo or scanning for idle workers, you have more time to think about the larger strategy of the game. The result is a much more streamlined gaming experience.

Pros:

• Streamlined Gaming Experience
• Improved sound and graphics

Cons:

• Graphics still not as good as other Age of Empires games