Age of Empires III: Definitive Edition - Knights of the Mediterranean Review Summary

Adds two civilizations, a Tycoon mode, and many maps, but lacks new campaigns, while Malta feels unpolished and base optimization remains poor.

DLC praised as excellent: Reviewers consider this DLC the best or one of the best for Age of Empires III, with high praise for its overall quality, scope, and value. It met and exceeded expectations.

Maltese are defensive civilization: Maltese excels at defense with the best fortifications, defensive towers, and outposts. Their guards and unique infantry gain buffs when near friendly buildings, and barracks can heal units.

Adds two new civilizations: The DLC introduces two new European civilizations, Italy and Malta, each with unique mechanics and home cities. This is a major selling point.

New maps and historical battles: Includes several new European maps and historical battles, such as the Turko-Russian and Napoleonic wars. The maps are well designed and add to the map roster.

Tycoon mode adds variety: A new economic-focused game mode called Tycoon is introduced, providing a relaxed, competitive economy race. It is seen as a fun and fresh addition.

DLC Lacks New Campaigns: Multiple reviewers note that the DLC does not include any new single-player campaigns, only historical battles and maps. This is a major disappointment for those expecting narrative content like previous expansions.

DLC Purchase Not Received: Several users report technical issues where the DLC appears in their library or store but does not download or unlock in-game. This prevents them from accessing any new content.

Malta Civilization Feels Unpolished: Reviewers criticize the Maltese civilization as feeling lazy or half-done, with recycled assets from the campaign and a lack of unique units. Key buildings and units are copy-pasted, reducing the sense of novelty.

Poor Single-Player Content: Many reviewers feel the DLC offers little for single-player fans, with no campaigns and only skirmish or multiplayer options. Historical maps are seen as insufficient replacements for proper battles.

Historical Battles and Maps Lacking: Feedback indicates a shortage of historical battles and that maps are not true historical battles but multiplayer maps with gimmicks. Some maps are locked to multiplayer or have asymmetrical advantages.

Two new civilizations added: The DLC introduces the Italian and Maltese civilizations, available for historical battles and skirmishes. These factions have distinct units and playstyles.

New Tycoon game mode: A new economic-focused mode called Tycoon allows players to build economies and compete for economic victory points. It emphasizes peaceful economic development and efficiency.

Numerous new maps added: The DLC adds 30 new European maps for skirmishes and 7 objective-based historical maps. These maps are designed for multiplayer and ranked play.

Maltese unique units and defense: Malta has defensive-focused units like sentinels and flamethrowers, and structures such as forts and fixed cannons. Their infantry gain buffs near allied buildings.

Historical maps with objectives: Historical maps are scenario-style multiplayer maps with unique victory conditions, such as capturing trade routes or destroying fortresses. They often assign attacker and defender roles.

Poor base game optimization: The base game suffers from poor optimization, as indicated by low frame rates on recommended hardware and frame drops on certain maps. This affects overall performance and playability.

Installation and launch issues: Players report that the game does not download properly or fails to launch, preventing access to the game. These issues block gameplay entirely.

Visual bug with special buildings: Special buildings are not rendered correctly and appear as black shadows, which detracts from the visual experience. This is a specific graphical glitch.

Good Value for Money: Reviewers agree the DLC is worth its price, with many stating it offers good value. Some emphasize it's especially worthwhile when discounted.

Mixed Opinions on Purchase: Some reviewers do not recommend buying this DLC, citing dissatisfaction or lack of interest. Others recommend it only under certain conditions, such as during a sale.

Enjoyment for Series Fans: Fans of the Age of Empires series highly recommend this DLC. They consider it a must-have for die-hard fans and those who love the game.

Recommended for All Players: Reviewers suggest the DLC to anyone who enjoys Age of Empires, including newcomers. It is seen as a great addition that revitalizes the game.

Comparison to African Royals: Several reviewers compare this DLC to African Royals, with some preferring African Royals. Others say this DLC is what players wanted African Royals to be.

Community fair range: $10.00 - $20.00.

Reviews describe the DLC as accessible and fun without a steep RTS learning curve, with maps and modes appealing to both singleplayer and multiplayer. No review provides a time-based account of when fun begins, and technical issues with DLC recognition create friction for some.

Friction: Purchased DLC not appearing in game; Multiplayer-oriented content for players uninterested in multiplayer; New Tycoon mode described as average.

Competitive Multiplayer Strategist: Focuses on ranked PvP, diplomacy mode, and optimizing civilization strengths for competitive play. Motivation: To compete in ranked multiplayer matches and master new civilizations for tactical advantage. Stance: buy.

Solo Campaign Purist: Plays exclusively single-player, focusing on campaigns, historical maps, and skirmishes against AI. Motivation: To enjoy single-player campaigns, historical battles, and solo skirmish content without competitive multiplayer. Stance: sale.

Roleplay & Thematic Skirmisher: Engages in role-playing skirmishes, builds defensive fortifications, and enjoys thematic units and maps. Motivation: To immerse in historical fantasy and roleplay scenarios with defensive forts and themed factions. Stance: buy.

Monetization: The available reviews discuss paid DLC expansions, mainly Knights of the Mediterranean and The African Royals. Feedback focuses on whether the DLC is worth its price, comparative value between expansions, and a paid game mode. There is no evidence of real-money gacha, loot boxes, pay-to-win, or in-game currency stores. Because the monetization discussed is traditional DLC, the score remains in the fair range.

DLC adds civilizations and maps: The expansion introduces two new civilizations (Italy and Malta) along with many European and historical maps. It also includes a new game mode and additional gameplay mechanics.

High value for Age of Empires III: The DLC is frequently described as the best or most sincere expansion for Age of Empires III, offering extensive content that surpasses previous DLCs. It is considered a must-buy for fans of the series.

Lack of campaigns criticized: Many reviewers note that the DLC does not include a dedicated campaign or historical battles, which is seen as a missed opportunity given the series' tradition. This absence is compared unfavorably to previous expansions like African Royals that included historical battles.

Requests for future civilizations: Reviewers express interest in seeing civilizations such as Korea, Persia, Austria, Brazil, and others added in future updates. These requests highlight a desire for more historical representation.

Positive comparison to other titles: Reviewers compare the DLC favorably to Age of Empires IV, stating it is much better, and to Age of Empires II expansions, which are seen as less substantial. The DLC is also praised for its thoughtful level design and story.