Age of Empires IV: The Sultans Ascend Review Summary

Unique and fun civilizations: Players appreciate the introduction of new civilizations with unique mechanics and designs, making the gameplay experience fresh and enjoyable.

Positive reception of new factions: Specific new factions like the Byzantines and Japanese are highlighted as particularly enjoyable and well-designed.

Good value for the price: The DLC is considered to offer excellent value for its price, with many players finding it affordable and worth the cost.

Best DLC so far: Many players consider this DLC to be one of the best released, praising its content and the value it adds to the game.

Enjoyable multiplayer experience: Players find the multiplayer mode to be enjoyable and well-improved, adding significant value to the DLC.

Campaign quality is poor: The campaign is widely criticized for being poorly made and not enjoyable. Players find it frustrating and not up to the standards of previous campaigns.

Mission design and difficulty issues: Specific missions are criticized for poor design and balancing issues. The difficulty level is often seen as abysmal, with some missions being unnecessarily difficult or poorly balanced.

Lack of historical context and accuracy: The campaign lacks historical context and accuracy, with introductory videos only vaguely explaining the historical background. Players also note a lack of documentary-style videos and historical details.

Poor unit and campaign balance: Players frequently report issues with unit balance and overall campaign balance, indicating that some units may be overpowered or underpowered, leading to an unfair or frustrating gameplay experience.

Localization and translation issues: There are significant issues with localization, including mismatched subtitles, inconsistent text, and poor translation quality. These issues detract from the overall experience.

Campaign missions and design: The campaign features new missions with specific mechanics and restrictions, offering a mix of straightforward and complex scenarios. Players enjoy the variety and historical framing of these missions.

New civilizations and variants introduced: The game introduces new civilizations and variants of existing ones, adding diversity and unique gameplay mechanics. Players appreciate the variety and different play styles these new additions bring.

Unique civilization mechanics: Each civilization and its variants offer unique mechanics and play styles, making the gameplay experience diverse and engaging. Players enjoy the strategic depth and variety.

New units and resources: The game introduces new units and resources, adding freshness to the gameplay. Players enjoy the new tactical aspects and the variety of units available.

Multiplayer balance and enjoyment: Multiplayer modes have been improved with better balance and enjoyable gameplay. Players appreciate the new variations and the overall multiplayer experience.

Stuttering and performance issues: There are reports of stuttering and unpredictable performance, which affect the overall gaming experience.

Computer acting up: Players have reported issues with their computers not functioning properly while playing the game.

Internet lag problems: Some players have experienced lag issues related to their internet connection while playing the game.

Highly recommended for AoE4 fans: Many reviews indicate that this DLC is a must-have for fans of Age of Empires 4. It is frequently described as worth the purchase and a clear recommendation for those who enjoyed the base game.

Recommended for specific civilizations: Some reviews suggest that the DLC is particularly recommended for players interested in specific civilizations, although there are mentions of issues with Variant Civs.

Not ideal for single-player: A few reviews mention that the DLC might not be recommended for single-player experiences, indicating that it may be more suited for multiplayer or specific types of gameplay.

Desire for more content: Some players express a desire for additional content such as more campaigns and naval mines, suggesting areas for future improvements or additions.

Suggestion for cheat codes: There is a mention of a suggestion for cheat codes, which could imply that some players are looking for ways to enhance or modify their gameplay experience.

Community fair range: $10.00 - $15.00.

Game completion: 15.0h.

Story completion: 4.0h.

Session length: 0.5h.

The game is immediately fun for multiplayer enthusiasts due to the addition of new civilizations and varied gameplay, but single-player content suffers from a lack of balance and engagement.

Friction: Lack of balance in single-player missions; Overwhelming enemy forces in single-player; Divorce between single-player and multiplayer content.

Unlock drivers: New civilizations in multiplayer; Variety in multiplayer gameplay.

Franchise Supporter: Mixed, enjoys both single-player and multiplayer. Motivation: Enjoyment of the base game and desire for more content. Stance: buy.

Multiplayer Strategist: Competitive, enjoys multiplayer and strategic diversity. Motivation: Strategic diversity and competitive gameplay. Stance: buy.

Single-Player Critic: Single-player focused, enjoys campaigns and story-driven content. Motivation: Enjoyment of single-player campaigns and content. Stance: sale.

Monetization: The reviews for the Age of Empires IV DLC indicate a generally positive reception, particularly regarding the value for money and the reasonable pricing. However, there are some concerns about gameplay design and feeling forced to purchase the DLC for access to certain maps. Overall, the DLC is seen as a worthwhile purchase, especially when on sale.