Age of Empires II: Definitive Edition - Return of Rome Review Summary

New civilizations and campaigns: The addition of new civilizations and campaigns is highlighted, including specific mentions of new campaigns like Sargon of Akkad, Pyrrhus of Epirus, and Trajan.

AoE2 features integrated into AoE1: The game includes numerous improvements and features from Age of Empires 2 added to Age of Empires 1, such as quality-of-life changes, improved gameplay mechanics, and additional civilizations.

Enhanced gameplay experience: Players report a more fluid and faster gameplay experience, with improvements in game engine, graphics, and overall gameplay mechanics.

Positive reception of DLC: The DLC content is well-received, with players expressing enjoyment and appreciation for the new content added to the game.

Improved campaign quality: The campaigns are described as fun, well done, and enjoyable, with improved handling and quality compared to the original Age of Empires.

Boring and missing campaigns: The campaigns in the game have been criticized for being boring, poorly balanced, and missing several original campaigns from Age of Empires 1.

Not recommended for AoE2 fans: The DLC is not recommended for exclusive fans of Age of Empires 2, as it feels more like a port of Age of Empires 1 and may not be enjoyable for those not interested in the first game.

AI behavior issues: The AI in the game has been widely criticized for its poor behavior, including giving up too easily, being overly aggressive, and performing poorly in resource gathering.

Lack of new content for AoE2: Many players have expressed disappointment over the lack of new campaigns, civilizations, and significant content tailored for Age of Empires 2 players.

Lack of integration with AoE2: Players have noted a lack of meaningful integration between Age of Empires 1 and Age of Empires 2, making the experience feel disjointed.

Campaign content and structure: The game includes various campaigns from Age of Empires 1 but lacks some original campaign content. New campaigns like Trajan, Pyrrhus, and Sargon have been added.

AOE2 mechanics and improvements: The game incorporates updated mechanics and quality-of-life features from Age of Empires 2, including its engine and various improvements.

New gameplay features: New features such as gates in walls and improved unit pathfinding have been introduced, enhancing gameplay mechanics.

Market and resource management: The market functions and resource exchange mechanisms have been noted, including population management and resource trading.

Civilizations and historical focus: The game features civilizations from Age of Empires 1 and focuses on ancient history, integrating different historical eras and civilizations.

Graphics and performance issues: Players have reported various issues related to graphics quality, particularly with AMD graphics options. There are also mentions of performance issues and suggestions to lower resolution for better performance.

Framerate problems and improvements: Some players have experienced framerate issues, while others have noted improvements in framerates compared to the 2017 Age of Empires: Definitive Edition. The graphical engine is described as very fast.

Technical bugs and crashes: Players have reported various bugs and game crashes, indicating technical instability.

Pathfinding and pathing improvements: There are mentions of pathfinding issues, but some players have noted better pathing compared to Age of Empires: Definitive Edition.

Key shortcuts not functional: Some players have reported that key shortcuts are not working as expected.

Recommended for AoE1 fans: This game is highly recommended for fans of the original Age of Empires 1, especially those who want a modernized experience with improved operability and additional content.

Not recommended unless diehard fan: The game is only recommended for diehard fans of the original AoE1. Casual players or those who already own AoE: DE might not find enough new content to justify the purchase.

Worth it for new content: The game is considered worth purchasing for its new game modes and additional content, especially for those who enjoy the Age of Empires saga.

Buy on sale: Many reviews suggest purchasing the game only when it is on sale, indicating that the value proposition is stronger at a discounted price.

Highly recommended for single-player: The game is highly recommended for its single-player content, including skirmishes and custom campaigns.

Community fair range: $5.00 - $15.00.

Story completion: 10.0h.

The game has significant friction points such as lack of tutorials and tedious gameplay, but nostalgia and specific campaigns can provide enjoyment under certain conditions.

Reported time to anchor: 1h.

Friction: No tutorials; Tedious gameplay past Bronze Age; Inactive multiplayer scene.

Unlock drivers: Nostalgic campaigns; Fun tutorials.

History Enthusiast Strategist: Enjoys single-player campaigns and strategic gameplay. Motivation: Interest in historical campaigns and strategic depth. Stance: buy.

Cautious Newcomer: Prefers playing against AI or friends, enjoys new civilizations. Motivation: Interest in new civilizations and cautious spending. Stance: sale.

Nostalgic Veteran: Enjoys revisiting classic gameplay with updated features. Motivation: Nostalgia and long-term engagement with the series. Stance: buy.

Monetization: The user reviews highlight several key issues with the DLC, including concerns about its perceived value, advertising tactics, content value, redundancy, and pricing. Many users feel that the DLC is overpriced and does not offer enough new content to justify the cost. There is also a sense of unfairness, particularly among those who have already purchased the Age1 Definitive Edition. Additionally, some users feel misled by the advertising, which they believe leverages the success of a related game to force purchases.