Strategy Gaming Online - Reviews : AOE: Rise of Rome

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REVIEWS

Age of Empires:
Rise of Rome

DEVELOPER : Ensemble Studios
PUBLISHER : Microsoft

Requires Full Version of Age of Empires

Age of Empires was a great game, but I imagined how much better it might have been. Rise of Rome is an expansion pack, which takes Age of Empires to its maximum potential.

Rise of Rome introduces five new units: Armored Elephant (upgrade to war elephant with more attack, armor and piercing armor), Scythe Chariot (upgrade to chariot with more attack, armor and does damage to adjacent units), Camel Rider (Bronze Age unit used against horse units), the Fire Galley (flaming-throwing ship that takes addition hits from siege units), and the Slinger (cheap Tool Age unit used to defend against archers). I found the Camel Rider most useful because they have an attack bonus against horse units which means better protection against those chariot or cavalry rushes. Slingers are also helpful because they are cheap and can take down archers quickly.

ROR also delivers four new technologies: tower shield (gives your infantry extra protection from missile weapons), medicine (increases Priest's healing rate), logistic (barrack units count as half unit), and martyrdom (instant conversion by sacrificing the priest). Logistic can be a great advantage because it allows you to exceed the population limit.

Additionally there are four new civilizations: Carthage, Palmyra, Macedonia and Rome, each with its own strengths and weaknesses. The civilizations also feature new Roman-style buildings including their new wonder, the Colosseum.

As its name implies, Rise of Rome includes campaigns revolving around the rise and fall of Rome. There are twenty new scenarios, which are divided into four campaigns. Often you will control the forces of Rome, but in the last campaign (Enemies of Rome), you will play against the Roman Empire. Each scenario was well thought out and fun to play. As for multiplayer, ROR adds the ‘Gigantic Map’ that is a 250x250 map size. There are also three new map types: mountainous highlands, large island and peninsula. Each map type is unique and will offer a different multiplayer experience.

There are also several fixes to problems in the original game. Included are improved pathfinding, more sound signals, random civilization and population limit options. The most important fix is the addition of unit queues. With unit queues, you do not have to worry about producing more units and can focus more on strategy.

If you loved Age of Empires, Rise of Rome is definitely for you. This expansion should keep you busy long enough for the coming of Age of Empires 2.

Reviewed by Bob B.

Summary

Pros: 20 new scenarios, five new units and technologies, plus four new civilizations. Also fixes up the game including the addition of unit queues.

Cons: Still has the original AOE feel, so if you don't like AOE, you won't like Rise of Rome either.

Overall: 8.5