Age of Empires II Definitive Edition

[viper37]

I got it for less than 20$, and it was worth it.  Microsoft says it contains up to 200hrs of solo gameplay, and I'm inclined to believe it, so far.

It is much, much, much better than the botched HD edition of 2013.  Some of the game mechanics have been improved, fans of MP will find their fill (although, I hear there are still some bugs, and some problems due to patch mismatch between MS Store and Steam), fans of history will find their... hmm, their... well, we'll find something 

The basic story hasn't changed, but they've added many new campaigns, in Africa and Asia.Here's a review from Rock, Paper, Shotgun, for many more details.  I'm just getting started, replayed the Scottish tutorial, and begun the Portuguese campaign in Africa and India.  The AI has been reworked, it's a little more challenging than it used to be.  No cheating AI, apparently.

Graphically, the game is very nice looking now, but you got to add the graphic DLC from Steam, than add it to your DLC list manually (why didn't they include it in the base game, I wonder...).  However, if you zoom too close, you'll begin to see the rough edges of the models they used before, I guess there's only so much you can do with such an old game.

Syt, I see you have the game, have you had a chance to play it a little?  What do you think of it?

Me, I can't wait for AOE III Definitive Edition

[Grey Fox]

I have it, part of GamePass.

I didn't know it had more campaigns. I'm interested in that.

I look forward to AoE4.

[viper37]

I look forward to AoE4.

Me too

The "new" campaigns were, I believe, part of the "Forgotten" expansion a few years ago.  All reworked for 4k resolution.

[Syt]

Haven't played it yet, viper. TBF, I at most play against the AI (actually I had forgotten I bought it ). 

[Syt]

Actually, I just saw that I haven't bought it. I just have the "normal" HD edition and its expansions, not the Definitive Edition (it pops up for me in the current Steam sale).

[viper37]

Actually, I just saw that I haven't bought it. I just have the "normal" HD edition and its expansions, not the Definitive Edition (it pops up for me in the current Steam sale).

Duh!
I thought it said you were playing it, but Steam is only telling me you have it on your wishlist.

Imho, if you liked the HD, you should buy the DE, it is much better, and it is a true remake of the game.

[Josephus]

I haven't played this game since the original expansion....what was it, Conquerors or something? I remember my PC at the time started giving me issues with huge skirmishes, then I moved on. probably discovered EU at that time.

But I'm thinking about going back. Is it still fun?

[viper37]

But I'm thinking about going back. Is it still fun?

Yes, it is

[Josephus]

Got it. Now have to relearn it.

Isn't there an order you can give to your scout to have him scout indefinitely without mircro managing him? Or was that one of the other similar type of games?

[chipwich]

Imho, if you liked the HD, you should buy the DE, it is much better, and it is a true remake of the game.

Im in the same boat as SYT and I don't understand what the big deal is about the definitive upgrade and how the HD edition was "botched"

[viper37]

the graphics were ugly, and they kept all the bugs in place.

The DE has upgraded mechanics & graphics that are really nice.

[crazy canuck]

Tell me more about the upgraded mechanics 

[viper37]

Tell me more about the upgraded mechanics 

The biggest ones are the farm auto-seed mechanism and a similar one for fishing boats.  You click on the opion on the mill/dockyard and your unit will replant/re-throw a net instead of you actually having to monitor it and doing it manually everytime.

AI has been improved by a lot, no cheating AI.

There are improvements in the multiplayer backend, but I haven't played MP and don't think I will either.

For all the details head here:
https://ageofempires.fandom.com/wiki/Age_of_Empires_II:_Definitive_Edition

[crazy canuck]

That is a nice QoL fix.  Will give it a go, thanks.

[Josephus]

Having fun, except I remember now that I actually suck at this.

I'm OK on maps where water separates me from the AI.  but in a land map, I find the AI always manages to attack me from multiple areas, and I can never recover enough to get back at it.