Advantages: Great gameplay
Disadvantages: computer players retiring early

...Age of empires II is another one of those real time strategy games, like command and conquer. Age of empires is however, one of the best. The graphics are a lot better than the dated command and conquer series. In age of empires you control a tribe of warriors through a thousand years of history, starting in the dark age through to the Imperial age. Great in one player but the fun really begins when you play on the Internet with other people. Age of empires also comes with five different scenario's, where you can play as William Wallace, Joan of Ark and many others. Age of empires II will please fans of strategy games and action games as it has plenty of both. All in all a solid game.... Read review

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Advantages: good gameplay
Disadvantages: the cost

...Age Of Empires 2 was a wise move by Microsoft because it goes back to the past of the world. Many companies have looked into the future because they think that many gamers will be amazed with futuristic models. However Microsoft has gone back to the past ; and I think that it was clever because it is more accurate (we have found evidence on how they do things) rather than a wild guess for the future. Also, many adults have been hooked up on Age Of Empires 2 because they like the history of the country and would like to see how Microsoft managed to achieve this clever nifty piece of software. Even people who study Roman History will like this because it has the siege weapons and everthing that they used. Age Of Empires 1 was a great success, and because Age Of Empires 2 was an even better success, don't be surprised if they release... Read review

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Advantages: good gameplay
Disadvantages: lacks graphics

...Age of Empires is a very good classic stratergy game, the game play is superb and the multiplayer games are very fun to play... You get a whole range of different civilizations to choose from... The game is inproved a lot by the ability to advance is ages... like iron age, tool age and gold age... The graphics aren't that good, neither are the sound effects and music but thats ok because you expect that from an old classic game. I do like it when you use the cheats, is very funny, photon man... hhahhahaha. If you like medievil stratergy games, then you would definetly like Sge of Empires.... Read review

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Advantages: Great gamplay
Disadvantages: nothin

...Age Of Empires 2 the ages of kings is a sequel to the old age of empires it has really changed since the first 1 better graphics new people and even know women villages to use instead of just men.there are loads of different sides to choose from like the romans,Chinise,turks and the viking and there is a map editor which allows u to create your own maps in the game and play on them. there are cheats in the game these cheats are as followed People Build Very Quickl :aegis More Gold: Robin Hoodand a good cheat in the map editor is 2 give your self the maxium amount of gold and start u off in the imperial age.... Read review

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...Microsoft Age of Empires II: The Age of Kings is the sequel to the award-winning, best-selling real-time strategy game Age of Empires. Age of Empires II: The Age of Kings spans a thousand years, from the fall of Rome through the Middle Ages in which players lead one of 13 civilizations into greatness. You can command the Franks, Japanese, Byzantines, Vikings, Mongols and Celts civilizations, each having its own unique attributes, buildings and technologies as well as a unique combat unit based on its historical counterpart. This game keeps the epic scope of Age of Empires' game play while evolving the combat and economic features. Players can now use garrisoning and military formations that add interesting tactical combat choices. Players can also improve the economy of their civilization through trade and diplomacy creating new options... Read review

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...Microsoft Age of Empires II: The Age of Kings is the sequel to the award-winning, best-selling real-time strategy game Age of Empires. Age of Empires II: The Age of Kings spans a thousand years, from the fall of Rome through the Middle Ages in which players lead one of 13 civilizations into greatness. You can command the Franks, Japanese, Byzantines, Vikings, Mongols and Celts civilizations, each having its own unique attributes, buildings and technologies as well as a unique combat unit based on its historical counterpart. This game keeps the epic scope of Age of Empires' game play while evolving the combat and economic features. Players can now use garrisoning and military formations that add interesting tactical combat choices. Players can also improve the economy of their civilization through trade and diplomacy creating new options... Read review

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...Age of Kings is one of the best-selling real-time strategy games of 1999 and the sequel to the highly popular Age of Empires. Create and manage a mighty empire spanning throughout the Middle Ages. Command one of thirteen civilizations, each with their own spoken language, specialized technology tree, and unique unit. Interact with your allies and crush your enemies, or build and defend a wonder of the world. Many gameplay additions have been made since the original Age of Empires. Combat options now include garrisoning inside buildings and unit formations, as well as guard, patrol, and follow stances. The economy has been enhanced with new features, such as point gathering and idle villager alert buttons, which make base management much easier. A fluctuating market economy allows players to buy or sell resources. Gameplay modes... Read review

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Advantages: Great book on the 19th century
Disadvantages: It is sheer history you will find here

...Professor Hobsbawn has written an outstanding trilogy on history: "The age of extremes", "The age of empire" and "The age of capital". This trilogy will help you understand the fundamentals of the evolution that has resulted in the world we are living in. How the industrial revolution created a surplus of both product and capital that made it necessary for Western countries to search for new markets in Africa and Asia, where they could place their products and at the same time obtain raw material. This is how the Age of the Empire and the Capital started. And it all gave way to an international dynamics of tension and aggression between States that exploded with the First World War. From then on you should read the Age of Extremes where history is analyzed to the end of the 20th century. All the three books are written... Read review

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Advantages: keeps great gameplay of age of empires while including godly powers
Disadvantages: multiplayer can often be slow

...Microsoft does not try to hide the fact that age of mythology is based solely on ages of empires 2, it says it on the case, in the manual it compares one of the races (i think its egyptians) to the gameplay in age of empires and the game is very similar in many aspects. However in other ways it's a completly different game, with hero's beign able to rise from the dead this helps a lot, the ablility to choose your god which in turn changes what units you can build and what godly power you recieve and the campaigns have made this game so much more than an age of empires spoof. The campaign was very enjoyable and if i had to find a fault it would lie with multiplayer. There is a lot of what gamers call "lag" which is basically the game bieng slow and jumpy and matches can take a while to set up but this is common to most online strategy... Read review

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Advantages: Easy to use setup program and menus
Disadvantages: Takes some time clicking around until a game begins

...Age of Empires II is THE best strategy game on the market today. The first game by Microsoft: Age of Empires was a highly original type of strategy/skill game, which had a brilliant idea of taking many civilizations from ancient history and pitting them against each-other in race for survival and supremacy. The game's sequel: Age of Kings (AEO2), brings the same idea a little closer to present day. It picks up in the Middle-ages, when empires were ruled by kings, and crusades took place in the East. Many changes have been made to the original game, which include a more advanced menu structure, more capable multiplayer & internet facilities, and an easier to use gameplay system; which can cope with all levels of players. The difficulty has a wide range of settings, and advanced commands can be turned off for beginners. The units in... Read review

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