Info about Age of Empires II: DE - Chronicles: Battle for Greece:

Official game description:
Welcome to Chronicles, a new narrative experience for Age of Empires II set in the world of ancient history. Chronicles builds on the core gameplay of Age of Empires II with innovative new mechanics and a complete visual reimagining inspired by classical antiquity.
In this inaugural chapter of a multipart saga, players will engage in a campaign that spans over a century of history. Experience the fury of Persia during the Ionian Revolt, make ready to defend Greece throughout the Greco-Persian Wars, witness the dawn of democracy in the golden age of Athens, and brace yourself for the devastating trials of the Peloponnesian War. Encounter legendary figures along your journey like the fierce warrior queen Artemisia, the cunning strategist Themistocles, and the valiant general Brasidas — each brought to life with stunning voice acting and vivid storytelling.
Created by a passionate team of Age of Empires veterans, including the developers behind the acclaimed Rome at War mod, Chronicles: Battle for Greece is a must-play for strategy enthusiasts, history buffs, and anyone who craves immersive, character-driven campaigns. The ancient world awaits.  
**Classical Antiquity Brought to Life**
• New graphical models including 55 new land units, 19 new naval units, and 85 new buildings
• Three ancient civilizations: Athenians, Spartans, and Achaemenids (only available in unranked play)
• Iconic ancient units, from war chariots to hoplites to triremes
• A fresh approach to storytelling with animated cutscenes, new music, and voice acting
**An Epic Campaign Journey**
• A 21-scenario campaign covering over a century of history
• The opening chapter of a sweeping saga that spans the ancient world
• Experience famous battles including Marathon, Thermopylae, and Salamis
• Meet renowned historical characters including Themistocles, Pericles, and Lysander
• Exciting gameplay variety and a host of unique scenario mechanics
**Innovative Gameplay**
• Overhaul of naval combat with six military ship types, including ramming and catapult ships
• New options for gathering and trading resources at sea
• Unique civilization mechanics, including customizable Town Centers and government policies
• Mutually-exclusive technologies present strategic dilemmas
• Customizable commanders boost nearby units

Release date: Nov 14, 2024

Categories: Real-time Strategy, Historical Strategy, Campaign, Naval Warfare, Civilization Building, Story-driven Gameplay, Turn-based Tactical, Multiplayer

Feature scans:
- MTX: score 10; verdict: Highly Satisfied; summary: The user reviews for this DLC are overwhelmingly positive, with users praising the content, value for money, and overall quality. Some users expressed disappointment with the price increase of the base game, but this did not significantly impact their satisfaction with the DLC. There is a strong desire for more DLCs and continued support for the game.

- Hardware Profile: No data
Feature extractions:
- Community Price:
  - Community fair range: $10.00 - $15.00
  - Reasoning: The reviews consistently mention that the game is worth its price, with specific mentions of $14.99 being a fair price for the expansion. The positive sentiment around the value provided by the campaign and the reasonable pricing of the DLC supports a price range that reflects good value for money.
- Playtime Metrics:
  - Game completion: 40.0h
  - Story completion: 30.0h
  - Session length: N/A
  - Endgame: N/A
  - Reasoning: The evidence provides direct and indirect statements about the playtime required to complete the game and its campaign. The first quote mentions a 'grand campaign' with 21 missions, estimating around 30 hours of campaign content. The second quote supports this by stating the user has played for 30 hours and is still not done with the campaign on hard difficulty. The third and fourth quotes indicate that it took 40 hours to finish the campaign on standard difficulty, suggesting a typical total playtime for game completion. There is no specific evidence provided for session length or endgame content, so those fields are marked as null.
- Time-to-fun:
  - Summary: The game is enjoyable immediately for campaign players due to its engaging and non-repetitive nature, but multiplayer fun is delayed due to limited options and scene development.
  - Stance: Fun immediately
  - Anchor: Starting the campaign
  - Time to anchor: 0h 5m
  - Friction: Limited multiplayer options; Underdeveloped multiplayer scene; Stressful and exacting gameplay
  - Unlock drivers: Engaging campaign; Fresh content and storytelling
  - Conditions: Playing solo campaign; Appreciation for long, non-repetitive gameplay; Interest in new content and storytelling
- Player Archetypes:
  - Story-First Explorer (buy)
    - Motivation: Engaging single-player content and storytelling.
    - Playstyle: Casual, exploratory, and focused on single-player campaigns.
    - Experience: mixed
    - Purchase stance: buy
    - Labels: campaign player; single-player fan
    - Reference games: Age of Empires II; Age of Mythology
  - Franchise Fan (buy)
    - Motivation: High-quality, immersive single-player experiences within the AoE franchise.
    - Playstyle: Immersive, story-driven, and appreciative of varied gameplay mechanics.
    - Experience: veteran
    - Purchase stance: buy
    - Labels: AoE fan; single-player enthusiast
    - Reference games: Age of Empires II; Age of Empires III
  - Critical Player (no buy)
    - Motivation: Seeking a polished and technically sound gaming experience.
    - Playstyle: Critical and discerning, with high expectations for game quality and mechanics.
    - Experience: mixed
    - Purchase stance: no buy
    - Labels: discerning gamer; quality seeker
    - Reference games: Age of Empires I; Age of Empires II


Below are summaries of things people say about the game per category.
Each point is assigned a weight that represents how often it is mentioned across all reviews.
What players like:
- Outstanding storytelling and narration (weight 0.47): The game features exceptional storytelling, narration, and voice acting that players found engaging and compelling. The characters are well-developed, and the historical details are strong.
- Varied and creative mission design (weight 0.38): Players appreciated the variety in missions, each offering different challenges and objectives. The mission structure is well-designed with diverse tasks and unique scenarios.
- Well-crafted and engaging campaign (weight 0.31): The campaign is well-designed with excellent pacing and narration. Players found it beautiful and engaging, with a focus on historical context.
- Best DLC for Age of Empires 2 (weight 0.29): Many players consider this DLC to be the best for Age of Empires 2, especially for those focused on the single-player experience. It is highly recommended and considered a must-buy.
- New civilizations with unique mechanics (weight 0.24): The introduction of new civilizations with fresh mechanics, unique characteristics, and particular gameplay styles was well-received. Players enjoyed the realistic design and new units.
- Epic and large-scale battles (weight 0.19): The game features epic land and sea battles, with a focus on large-scale naval engagements. Players found the battles to be a highlight of the game.
- Historical battles and warfare (weight 0.19): The game covers significant historical battles, particularly the Greco-Persian Wars. Players enjoyed the portrayal of military campaigns and historical figures.
- Good value for the price (weight 0.16): Players found the DLC to offer good value for the price, with a reasonable quality-price ratio. It is considered well worth the money.
- Gorgeous cinematics and animated sequences (weight 0.13): The game features gorgeous cinematics and animated sequences with multilingual subtitles. Players enjoyed the dynamic cutscenes.
- Unique naval battles and technologies (weight 0.13): The game introduces new boats with unique technologies and naval economic features. Players enjoyed the unique sea battles and naval technology.

Common complaints:
- Mission design and bugs (weight 0.27): Players report frustrating mission designs, including bugs and an overuse of time-pressured missions with multiple objectives.
- Campaign difficulty and balance (weight 0.22): The campaign is perceived as too hard and unbalanced, leading to a frustrating experience for many players.
- AI behavior issues (weight 0.2): There are numerous complaints about AI pathfinding and behavior, indicating significant problems with how AI units navigate and act.
- Construction bugs in campaigns (weight 0.19): Specific construction bugs have been noted in various campaign levels, particularly in the Greek and Persian campaigns.
- Translation errors (weight 0.15): There are several translation issues and errors in the game, affecting the overall experience.
- Inability to build wonders (weight 0.13): Players are unable to recreate certain wonders, such as those of Persepolis, due to bugs or design issues.
- Excessive use of timers (weight 0.11): The presence of timers in missions is widely criticized, with players finding them excessive and frustrating.
- Civilization availability issues (weight 0.11): New civilizations are not available in skirmish mode or rated multiplayer matches, and there are issues with mixing civilizations from different timelines.
- Frustrating gameplay experience (weight 0.08): Overall, the gameplay experience is reported as frustrating and not enjoyable by many players.
- Unclear mission objectives (weight 0.08): Some mission objectives are unclear, leading to confusion and frustration among players.
- Excessive scripting (weight 0.08): The game is criticized for being too scripted, which detracts from the player's ability to make meaningful decisions.
- Excessive enemy spawning (weight 0.08): Players report that there is excessive enemy spawning, making some parts of the game overly difficult.
- No ranked mode (weight 0.08): The absence of a ranked mode for online matches is a significant drawback for competitive players.
- Poor integration with AoE2 (weight 0.08): The game does not integrate well with Age of Empires 2 units, leading to a disjointed experience.

Gameplay feedback:
- New civilizations and unique units (weight 0.51): The introduction of new civilizations with unique units and mechanics is a significant highlight. Players enjoy the experimental design and particular gameplay associated with these new additions.
- Campaign design and complexity (weight 0.45): The campaign design is frequently mentioned, highlighting its complexity, length, and varied mission structures. Players appreciate the unique feel and narrative integration of the campaign.
- Naval gameplay improvements (weight 0.34): Naval gameplay has seen substantial improvements with new ship types, variety, and overhauls. Players appreciate the enhanced naval combat mechanics and economic features.
- Mission variety and objectives (weight 0.27): Missions are noted for their variety, uniqueness, and challenging objectives. Some missions have specific bugs and achievements that add to the gameplay experience.
- Choices and consequences in campaign (weight 0.22): The campaign features choices that carry over into future scenarios, adding a layer of depth and replayability. Players enjoy the consequences of their actions in previous missions.
- Historical battles and events (weight 0.22): Historical battles, both naval and land, are a key feature. Players enjoy the epic nature of these battles and their historical context.
- Unique mission mechanics (weight 0.22): The game offers unique mission mechanics and game dynamics. These specific mechanics and quirks add to the overall gameplay experience.
- Storytelling and narrative (weight 0.2): The game's storytelling and narrative elements are immersive and well-integrated. Players appreciate the character-driven story and narrative depth.
- Multiplayer and single-player content (weight 0.16): The game provides a mix of single-player and multiplayer content. Players enjoy the variety of scenarios and modes available.
- Replayability (weight 0.14): The game offers replay functionality and high replay value due to choices made in the campaign. Players appreciate the ability to replay scenarios with different outcomes.
- Balanced difficulty (weight 0.11): The game's difficulty is generally balanced, though some players note balance issues. The medium difficulty setting is appreciated by many.
- Unique settings and architecture (weight 0.08): The game features unique settings and characteristic buildings. These architectural elements add to the game's immersive experience.
- Gameplay duration (weight 0.07): The gameplay duration is noted to be around 2-5 hours. Players find this duration suitable for the content provided.

Performance notes:
- Game-breaking bugs reported (weight 0.15): Multiple players have reported encountering game-breaking bugs, particularly related to construction and wonder construction.
- Optimization and performance issues (weight 0.14): There are reports of optimization issues and occasional crashes, including level start errors and multiplayer crashes.
- HD and 4K support (weight 0.07): Players have mentioned the game's support for HD and 4K monitors, indicating a focus on visual quality.
- DLC error messages (weight 0.05): Some players have encountered error messages related to DLCs, which could affect gameplay and user experience.
- Average PC requirements (weight 0.04): The game has average PC requirements, making it accessible to a wide range of players without needing high-end hardware.

Recommendations:
- Recommended for AoE II fans (weight 0.25): This DLC is highly recommended for fans of Age of Empires II, especially those who enjoy single-player content and campaign modes. It is considered essential for AoE2 enthusiasts and those interested in classical antiquity.
- Must-buy DLC (weight 0.22): Many reviews describe this DLC as a must-buy and one of the best available. It is strongly recommended for its high quality and value.
- Anticipation for future DLCs (weight 0.19): Players are looking forward to future DLCs of similar style and quality. There is a strong desire for more content in the same vein.
- Recommended for casual players (weight 0.11): This DLC is suitable for casual players and those who enjoy single-player campaigns, making it a versatile choice.
- Recommended for history lovers (weight 0.08): This DLC is recommended for those who have a keen interest in history and the historical periods covered in the game.
- Worth the purchase (weight 0.08): Fans of the game find this DLC worth the price, making it a valuable addition to their collection.
- Provides a lot of content (weight 0.04): The DLC is noted for offering a substantial amount of content, making it a worthwhile purchase.
- Hope for classical antiquity civilizations (weight 0.04): Players express hope for more DLCs featuring classical antiquity civilizations, indicating a desire for more content in this style.

Other player notes:
No miscpoints

Emotions:
- Frustration (weight 0.23): Players are frustrated primarily due to a multitude of bugs and balance issues that disrupt gameplay, including mission restarts, construction bugs, and AI pathfinding problems. Additionally, the high difficulty of certain missions, unclear objectives, and the lack of unique content contribute to this frustration.
- Excitement (weight 0.2): Players are excited about the new content and features introduced in the DLC, such as large-scale naval battles, engaging battles, and historically grounded campaigns. The detailed and well-crafted missions, along with the potential for future content, also contribute to this excitement.
- Satisfaction (weight 0.16): Players are satisfied with the overall quality of the DLC, including the well-balanced difficulty, fair AI, and enjoyable single-player content. The historical content, challenging maps, and new gameplay elements also contribute to their satisfaction.
- Enjoyment (weight 0.09): Players enjoy the campaign and unique setting, along with the engaging storytelling and beautiful maps. The variety of units, narrative style, and pleasant naval battles also add to their enjoyment.
- Disappointment (weight 0.07): Players are disappointed due to the presence of bugs, a storyline that could be richer, and historical inaccuracies. The lack of variability and strategic depth in campaigns, along with poor voice acting and integration issues, also contribute to this disappointment.
- Enthusiasm (weight 0.04): Players are enthusiastic about the quality of the story and missions, as well as the unique format and numerous missions. The enjoyable scenarios, new civilizations, and overall quality of the DLC contribute to their enthusiasm.
- Appreciation (weight 0.02): Players appreciate the developer effort and the campaign's depth, which enhances their historical and political understanding. The detailed historical content and the development team's enthusiasm are also highly valued.
- Admiration (weight 0.02): Players admire the quality of the campaigns and music, along with the detailed and engaging portrayal of historical events and characters. The voice acting, music, and dynamic campaign are also highly admired.
- Curiosity (weight 0.01): Players are curious about the game design and the future direction of expansions. The historical content also piques their interest in the past.
- Confusion (weight 0.01): Players are confused due to difficulty finding content and questioning certain design choices, such as the use of Scottish accents and the mixing of civilizations from different timelines in skirmish mode.
- Hope (weight 0.01): Players hope for future development of the Chronicles theme and new civilizations. They also hope for more high-quality DLCs in the future, particularly in the ancient setting.
- Nostalgia (weight 0.01): Players feel nostalgic as they grew up playing previous versions of the game and enjoy the ancient civilization theme. The comparison to 'Return of Rome' and playing a game from 20 years ago also evoke this nostalgia.
- Anger (weight 0.01): Players are angry due to game crashes and the inability to access the campaign. The overall lack of strategy and quality in the game also contribute to their anger.
- Joy (weight 0.01): Players experience joy from the positive experience with the DLC and their favorite characters. The memorable music also adds to their joy.
- Excited (weight 0.01): Players are excited about the high quality and innovations brought by the DLC. The variety and overall quality of the DLC also contribute to their excitement.
- Satisfied (weight 0.01): Players are satisfied with the length and innovation of the campaign. The challenge and overall quality of the campaign also contribute to their satisfaction.
- Hopefulness (weight 0.01): Players are hopeful for more expansions using the AOE2 system and more Chinese-themed DLCs. They express a desire for continued development and new content.
- Recommendation (weight 0): Players recommend the DLC due to its high quality. The overall positive experience and value of the DLC contribute to their recommendation.
- Amazement (weight 0): Players are amazed by the story, narration, and voice acting, which they feel deserve an award. The high-quality content and engaging storytelling contribute to their amazement.
- Preference (weight 0): Players prefer the better cutscenes and dialogue in the DLC. The improved visuals and narrative style contribute to their preference.}