Age of Empires 3

[davywavy]

In a fit of temporary insanity brought on by trace chemicals in takeaway food I recently bought Age of Empires 3. AOE 1 and 2 were both great games; 1 was groundbreaking but limited, and 2 was just plain great.
One of the greatest pleasures in both games were the historical campaigns; in 1 I could follow Alexander's campaigns or help Rome rise. In 2, I could crusade against the heathens as Barbarossa or fight off the infidels as Saladin. Both games stuck their campaigns firmly within history and this grounding added a considerable amount to the enjoyment of the game.

Playing the AOE 3 historical campaigns, I'm astonished to learn that not only did the Crusaders fight the Ottoman Turks for control of the Fountain of Youth in Florida, but that the American Revolution was triggered by the British launching unprovoked attacks on their own colonies at the behest of the Illuminati.
I can't wait for the next campaign, in which I assume Pocahontas must retrieve the Holy Grail stolen by Queen Victoria.

Ah, history. It's nothing like it.

Comments

Hail Caesar!

[colin-boyle.livejournal.com]

If you want a reasonably accurate historical experience, get "Rome: Total War" (although to be fair I was a bit surprised to find the Brits had conquered everywhere south to Narbonnesis (i.e. southern France)). Real events are posted every now and again and some change the game (like plagues, the re-organisation of the roman military by Marius etc.)

The battles and sieges are excellent and having a family tree with generals who get better and quirkier over time until they (hopefully!) die of old age is excellent.

Having conquered Gaul, Spain, Britain and Macedon over Xmas, I'm about to march on Rome.

Re: Hail Caesar!

[davywavy.livejournal.com]

I've just played through Shogun and Mediaeval, and I'm rather Total Warred out at the moment - I may give it a try in six months. Unless they've made some radical changes to the AI, I know how the game engine thinks and it got kinda boring towards the end.

Re: Hail Caesar!

[colin-boyle.livejournal.com]

I haven't played the previous 2, but I can imagine what you mean. If you do ever get it, you can take me on instead of the PC. I am, at least, more random than an AI.

Re: Hail Caesar!

[davywavy.livejournal.com]

Too many battles won with the simple tactic of 'Pile all my troops on the enemy general, kill him, watch enemy army run away'. Of course, I'm leery of playing actual people - my experiences of playing pretty much anything online have been experiences of getting roundly pasted in next to no time.

Re: Hail Caesar!

[lexx-uk.livejournal.com]

That don't work so well with Rome on a reasonable dificulty level Multiple generals can take the field and compitent captains can take over. plus only those who can see him have a small chance of breaking.

Marching on Rome on high levels is a near-impossable embuggerance of a task.

I rave, much improved on the first two.