Age of Empires II : HD

[chenw]

In case anyone feeling nolstagic about one of the greatest historical RTS in history (no pun intended), Age of Empires II HD is available for pre-purchase on Steam for $17.99, available on the 10th of April.

 

Unfortunately, the only thing I can actually discern this from the original is the much bigger screen size, apart from that, the screenshots do not show much improvement to the original graphics (water seems to be improved, but that's about it).

[Nabbagad]

I've been playing AoE 2 with some friends just recently the last few months, so this was pretty good news!

 

Looking forward to using the whole screen :D

 

And being on Steam is the best thing about it!

[decebal]

Funny how it's the only "Age of" game I haven't played :P .

 

Still doesn't beat Age of Mythology though. Loved the variety in that game.

[Randox]

I've played Ago of Empires Rome expansion, which was great, but I really like AoK and the expansion for it partially just for the better gameplay (though I love the paladin and trebuchet). I saw this on steam, but I can't say I was very taken with it seeing as water aside it looks identical to the old game as far as I can tell. When I saw that, I was hoping for some like, redone models to bring them a bit more into the modern age, and if we were really lucky a 3D engine more inline with a game like Empire Earth that would allow us to rotate the camera a bit.

 

I actually have Age of Mythology, but I have never been that taken with it (same for Age of Empires 3).

[Grainy]

I think this is great. I've played AOE2 for years - it's good I can finally play it without messing about disabling explorer[Caution: Executable File].

[Giordano]

It's nice to have a higher resolutioned AoE2, but I'm not sure if its worth $17. I already paid (rather, my father paid) my copy years ago.

[Ruinous Edge]

Sounds a good deal for new players, but i've already paid for and own AoE+Rise of Rome, AoE2+expansion(forgot name) and AoE3+Asian Dynasties & Warchiefs. Amazing game series, one of the true timeless classics.

[RpgGamer]

Dear lord, I spent soooo many hours playing AoE2 back in the day. Coming up with random instances of precreated troops just to see them mutilate each other. God that was fun. Hopefully the HD is actually a worthy feature and not just some gimmick, cause I'm quite sure I could toss my copy in my old desktop and still run it from that with a little effort.

[Dax]

I'll probably play it for a bit. Obsess over it for a week like I do every time I play AoE II and then abandon it. Only to get it months later and repeat the cycle.

[chenw]

It will support steam workshop, so you may have things like Customised civilisations, units, scenarios, or possibly game modes.

[Giordano]

It will support steam workshop, so you may have things like Customised civilisations, units, scenarios, or possibly game modes.

Hm, that does indeed make it worth it. I never actually tried mods on AoE2.

[Randox]

Something I had not considered either. I didn't start to really give notice till mods until after the AoE series. In fact, I discovered modding with the very next RTS I played which was start trek armada (the Star Trek vs Star Wars mod is flipping fantastic). For some reason I guess I have it in my head that modding didn't exist until I discovered it, which is of course total nonsense. This will probably become something I watch from the sidelines, and if I see something really good I'll join up. The series was certainly good enough that I don't begrudge giving them more money as post thanks for making my childhood that much more awesome, but I do want to be getting something back out of the deal beyond what I am seeing right now if I am going to give them this much money.

[Earthman]

They're not adding anything new that can't already be done. There is a patch that makes AoE widescreen or pretty much any resolution. You can easily play online with stuff like Voobly or Gameranger.

 

The only good thing from this is that you can talk to your friends on Steam while in-game and it's easier to play online, since you can do it directly from the game.

 

I'm personally not buying it, unless there will be a discount on it someday. 17$ is just too much for not adding anything new.

[Giordano]

Rethinking it, mods/workshop doesn't justify $18. Who gets the money? Ensemble Studios? They're gone. Gaben? Microsoft? They got enough.

[RpgGamer]

Rethinking it, mods/workshop doesn't justify $18. Who gets the money? Ensemble Studios? They're gone. Gaben? Microsoft? They got enough.

 

Former Ensemble Studios is mostly now Zynga. Mind = blown.

[chenw]

I'll probably eventually buy it, but only when it's on a sale. I am pretty much buying steam's convenience of not needing to lob the CD's with me everytime I want to play it. I have bought a few games a second time because of that convenience.

[Estonian dude]

AoE II is quite simply awesome. The expansion was The Conquerors btw.

But I seriously hope it gets something better added, a truly HD version would be great. But truth be told, even the original has aged fairly well, better than any other game from that time as long as I can remember, looking great even now. And the original can now be played on practically any existing machine...