Features

• Combat. Players can use garrisoning, military formations, and advantages in direction facing add interesting tactical choices. Units are also smarter, with new artificial intelligence (AI) options like Guard, Patrol and Follow as well as multiple aggression levels. Also boats will be able to ram or board enemy ships to capture them.

• Alternatives to combat. Players can improve the economy of their civilization through trade and diplomacy options. In addition to gathering resources, they can trade at their own market or use trading routes with their allies. A market-based economy gives new options for players to buy, sell, and speculate on resources.

• Diverse cultures. Gamers command one of 13 mighty civilizations. These include the Frankish, Japanese, Byzantine, Viking, Mongol and Celtic civilizations. Each civilization has unique attributes, buildings and technologies as well as a unique combat unit based on its historical counterpart.

• Ease of use. Production queues, improved navigation points and customizable hot-key systems have been added. In addition, more audio cues make empire management easier. Map shortcuts like gathering points make it easier for players to organize their forces and plan their battles.

• Achieve victory in many ways. In contrast to the linear game play found in other real-time games, Age of Empires II lets gamers choose one of several ways to achieve world domination and ultimate victory:
  • Domination of enemy civilizations
  • Economic victory through accumulation of wealth
  • Building and defending wonders of the world

• Choose a technology path. Age of Empires II lets gamers choose from numerous technological paths to help lead their civilization to greatness. From an economic path of farming and craftsmanship to a military route of siege and naval warfare, the game comes with a technology tree that has more than 100 nodes, larger than one player could possibly complete in just one game.

• Experience intense single and multiplayer game play. Enhanced historical campaigns, a random map generator and a scenario and campaign editor offer players extensive replay value.
  • Story based campaigns focus on historical figures and their struggles like Joan of Arc, William Wallace, Genghis Khan, etc bring the player much deeper into the game as they strive with the hero to victory.
  • A new expert system driven computer player with artificial intelligence providing a solitaire opponent who seems human.
  • Maps are larger which adds to the sense of exploration and allows more options for extended play particularly in multiplayer.
  • The very popular Random map generator brings unlimited replay value for both multiplayer and single player.
  • In addition to the traditional Deathmatch option, there is a new gameplay mode: Regicide, where players have to protect their Queen or King while they try to assassinate the enemy one.
  • A Campaign editor extends also the game play by allowing users to create and exchange scenarios or link them into campaigns.

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