Although there are still a few weeks before the release of the fourth installment of one of the most popular real-time strategies, it is already certain that the developers from Relic Entertainment and World’s Edge will not have it easy at all. And now I’m not talking about any upcoming strategy from another publisher, but about the previous games of the series and especially the second part. The novelty is not only for the first time set in a similar period as one of the predecessors, but it is also played very similarly, even so similarly that when playing the multiplayer stress test I felt like I was playing a reboot of my most popular part. Many of you, after reading the introductory lines, might argue that developers go too far in certainty and lack a pinch of courage, but in my opinion, the opposite is true.
Trying to imitate and in some respects even improve something that many fans consider sacred could be called foolishness, and the creators thus faced the strongest competition against themselves – themselves. But does the fourth part have any chance to succeed or even surpass it compared to the second?
First, let’s focus on what was the content of the technical stress test. As outlined in the introduction, the current version lacked any single-player content (and that it should be really robust in the final version). The only exception was the so-called “mission zero”, ie a tutorial. The goal of this version was to test the stability of the servers before the game was launched on store shelves, so the developers provided us with many maps of different sizes (some were available in two seasons) and four nationalities, which were the Holy Roman Empire, the English, Abbassesses and Chinese. However, in addition to real players, it was also possible to choose artificial intelligence in four different difficulties as an opponent. The developers have previously promised that artificial intelligence equipped with machine learning will also look into the game, which can make it immortal over time, but it was not in the test version of the game and if it is not canceled, it will arrive sometime after the game is released.
We could try out the tutorial and the multiplayer component of the game.
The game tutorial was very clear and will reliably teach the basics of the game even to those who have never come into contact with the series. Like real missions or matches, the tutorial begins with finding food and resources, and ends with skirmishes with enemy units.
Only multiplayer fully revealed a huge resemblance to the second part, where the biggest difference was the new visual style of the game and the articulation of maps, which I fully realized only when I launched the final editions of the original games, which took place almost entirely on a flat map. . However, this is not a threat at four and impassable areas, valleys, steep slopes and more await you here. This seemingly small change fundamentally changes the whole game and the terrain can be used other than as a natural wall next to your empire, because it can be used for your own benefit and prepare a well-thought-out trap and raid on the opponent. Speaking of enemy skirmishes, I have to mention the pathfinding of enemies, which I would call above average, when I had no problems with the movement of units most of the time, but several times I witnessed incredible stunts or interweaving of models.
The role of buildings underwent a similarly important change, apart from the terrain, when perhaps the most significant is the impossibility of destroying the enemy’s stone walls by infantry units, and it is thus necessary to use siege engines. Archers can also be sent to the stone walls, similar to the Stronghold series. The urban buildings of the individual nations differ slightly and provide a slightly different experience, similar to the troops themselves.
The maximum distance of the camera was also modified, which was increased at the numerous requests of players. However, I still found it insufficient and I wish there was a possibility to delay it a little more. However, the camera’s reaction to the terrain looks very nice, as the camera smoothly zooms in and out according to the height of the terrain of the focused area.
The user interface is also very successful, which is very similar in layout to previous parts, so I was right in the picture. At the same time, everything was clear and gave a modern impression.
Familiar with a familiar and clear user interface.
Another difference I noticed was the slightly different pace of the game and the effort of the developers to remove the smiling mechanics from the original parts, when now the fire is actually causing damage to the building, gone are the days when villagers could safely use burning buildings. However, what did not manage to protect against ridicule is the graphics of the game.
For the fourth part, the developers decided to use a completely new visual style, from which the reason for which it was chosen is very clear – scalability.
Age of Empires IV was developed to run and play on almost anything, and when I write on almost everything, I don’t really exaggerate. According to the official hardware parameters, the title can also be played with five-year-old integrated Intel HD 520 graphics. Having low hardware requirements is of course a plus point, but in this case the game simply looks outdated, whether in terms of model quality, textures or animations. and there is even a lack of graphic elements present in previous works, such as reflections in the water (ships only cast a shadow). Despite the criticism, the game is the most beautiful of the whole series, but in no way does it look like a new title with an AAA price tag.
Visually, the game looks outdated.
The exact opposite of graphics is sound and music. The pleasant underdrawing soundtrack playing during the whole game was always suitable for the situation and the sound of the game is at a high level and far exceeds the previous parts.
The sound quality far exceeds the previous parts.
It is still very early to answer the introductory question of whether Age of Empires IV can go beyond the shadow of its predecessor, and will require the presence of a full game and all its modes. Even though I had a little less fun playing AoE 4 than I did in the second part, I still played a very good and fun strategy that far exceeded my expectations and dispelled many of the fears I had in playing.
Age of Empires IV is released for PC on October 28. You can pre-order the game through Microsoft Store whose Steam.
The game will be available in the service from day one Xbox Game Pass.
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