Games

Age of Empires II: The Age of Kings

Ensemble Studios

1999•Strategy•ESRB T

Taste attributes: warhistoricalslowtried & testedunsavouryheavyrealisticintricatelinearbig & variedemotive & stirringall consuming questhuman spirit/resilience/survivalrescue/escape/jeopardysolving the riddle/not as it seemsunderdog triumphs

See which match your taste

Boxlist takeA grounded, serious strategy game: emotional and layered. Best if you like real life over fantasy.

Pace: slow · Originality: tried and tested · Tone: dark · Weight: very heavy · Realism: true to life · Story: intricate · Structure: linear · Look: balanced · Scale: big and varied · Emotional punch: very stirringHow we score

IGDB rating

83 / 100

1,033 ratings

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Based on your film and TV taste: games are matched on the same ten characteristics, with your own match bands.

About This Game

Take control of a powerful civilization. Lead them through 1000 years of the Middle Ages to riches and greatness. Will you Intimidate the world into following you by using military force? Rule the world with honor and nobility by using commerce and diplomacy? Or Underhandedly seize power through conspiracy, deception and regicide? There are many paths to power, there can only be one ruler!

Summary: IGDB

Story

Age of Empires II is a real-time strategy game that focuses on building towns, gathering resources, and creating armies to defeat opponents. Players conquer rival towns and empires as they advance one of 13 civilizations through four "Ages": the Dark Age, the Feudal Age, the Castle Age (being the High Middle Ages), and the Imperial Age, reminiscent of the Renaissance—a 1000-year timeframe. Advancing to a new Age unlocks new units, structures, and technologies, but players must first build certain buildings from their current age and then pay a sum of resources (typically food and gold).

Characteristics

Where this game sits on each taste spectrum

SlowPACEFast

FamiliarORIGINALITYOriginal

DarkTONEWholesome

LightWEIGHTINESSHeavy

FantasyREALISMRealistic

SimpleINTRICACYIntricate

Non-LinearLINEARITYLinear

UnderstatedSTYLEStylised

IntimateSCALEEpic

RestrainedEMOTIONIntense

Genres and themes

WarHistoricalAll consuming questHuman spirit/resilience/survivalRescue/escape/jeopardySolving the riddle/not as it seemsUnderdog triumphs

Keywords

MedievalReal time tacticsWarBow and arrowCatapultCamelSiege warfare

Details

Developer: Ensemble Studios
Publishers: Konami, Microsoft
Released: 30 September 1999
Series: Age of Empires
Platforms: PC (Microsoft Windows), Mac, Dreamcast, PlayStation 2
Modes: Single player, Multiplayer
Perspective: Bird view / Isometric
Age rating: ESRB T
Taste scores: How we score
Source: IGDB

How game matches work

Games are scored on the same ten characteristics as films and matched with the same formula and your own match bands, from your film and TV taste. Game scores are estimates, made by fixed rules from IGDB genres, themes, keywords and descriptions.