AGE OF EMPIRES
Download demo

Creating the great empires

By JAMES ANTHONY

Ancient empires have always been a source of romantic dreams for people with even a smattering of history knowledge.

The glories of the ancient Greeks, birth of culture, exploration, the arts.

They do tend to forget the nasty bits such as plague, conquest, pillage, no computers and the teeniest possibility of actually living to 35.

But, what the heck, let's build an empire and we'll use Age of Empires to do it.

Despite being a Microsoft game - and in the past they haven't been the best (this is 1997) - it is a terrific title that allows you to build 12 mighty empires - including Phoenician, Babylonian, Minoan, Persian, Greek and Egyptian - with an engine and gameplay designed by Civilization's Bruce Shelley.

You start in the Stone Age, develop your communities and move through the Tool Age, Bronze Age and Iron Age, upgrading technology as you go.

Gather resources, build trade, wonders of the world, or wage war on your neighbors. The battles are frenetic as the real-time action kicks the adrenalin up a notch or two.

Graphically it is delightful and playability lets first timers get a good run at it.

Truly imperious!

Cheats are available.

ORIGINALITY 75%
SOUND/GRAPHICS 95%
PLAYABILITY 90%
ADDICTION 95%
ENJOYMENT 90%