The summary of ‘I Played EVERY Age of Empires Game in 2022’

The video provides a comprehensive overview of the Age of Empires series, focusing on the evolution from the original game to its latest installment, Age of Empires 4. It discusses the historical settings, visual enhancements, gameplay mechanics, and innovations introduced in each game. The unique strengths of various factions, resource management, and strategic depth are emphasized, with notable improvements in each sequel. The speaker praises the longevity of the series, active community, and ongoing expansions but also points out the need for more complexity and innovation to maintain relevance in the strategy genre. The comparison to other strategy games like Civilization 6 and Total War is drawn to demonstrate areas for improvement.

00:00:00

In this segment of the video, the speaker discusses the history and significance of real-time strategy games with a focus on Age of Empires. It highlights the improvements in the definitive editions, primarily in visuals without altering gameplay. Age of Empires is described as an RTS game set in different historical periods, with an emphasis on taking civilizations through various ages. The game starts in the Bronze Age, featuring civilizations like the Egyptians, Sumerians, Carthaginians, and Romans. The visual style of the game is praised for its simplicity and charm, resonating with the ancient world theme. The gameplay involves advancing your civilization from primitive beginnings to imperial stages by gathering resources like food, stone, gold, and wood.

00:03:00

In this segment of the video, the speaker discusses the challenge of identifying buildings from different eras in the game due to resource constraints and the UI being difficult to navigate. They mention that ages won’t unlock everything and certain buildings unlock new ones crucial for progression. The speaker highlights the competitive nature of the game and the various cultures like Greeks, Romans, and Egyptians, each with unique bonuses and units. Despite faction differences, play styles are similar. The importance of exploring the map is emphasized, starting with a small revealed portion. The issue of micromanaging individual units is discussed, contrasting the absence of soldier regiments. Lastly, they praise the game’s music for its retro and ancient feel. The evolution of the Age of Empires series is briefly mentioned, including the release of Age of Empires 2 in 1999 and Age of Empires 2 Definitive Edition in 2019.

00:06:00

In this segment of the video, the speaker discusses the differences between the first Age of Empires game and Age of Empires 2. They mention that Age of Empires 1 looks more like a remaster, while Age of Empires 2 introduces changes for the better, such as starting each civilization with a scout and auto explore feature. The time period has shifted to focus on the medieval period in AOE2, offering a diverse range of factions with unique strengths and weaknesses. The speaker highlights that understanding and utilizing each faction’s strengths is key to success, as incremental changes exist between them. The importance of defenses, unit formations, and faction-specific abilities is emphasized in AOE2’s gameplay. Overall, the speaker appreciates the complexity and challenge the game offers, especially with the strategic aspects and the intelligence of the AI opponents.

00:09:00

In this segment of the video, the speaker discusses Age of Empires 2 and its intense gameplay where players must not only build their own civilization but also ruin others before falling victim themselves. The game features essential resources like food, wood, stone, and gold. The speaker mentions that while AOE 2 offers quality improvements, it feels like a reskin of the first game, and they prefer the original vibe. AOE 2 excels in its campaign department with a vast array of campaigns, each with a unique overview map and presentation. The speaker praises the active online community and the continual expansion packs offered for the game, making it engaging and vibrant even years after its release.

00:12:00

In this segment of the video, the focus is on Age of Empires 3 and its innovative changes compared to the first two games. The visual overhaul of AoE 3 is impressive, making it look ahead of its time and even better than AoE 4. One major change is the resource collection system – villagers do not need specific gathering points, leading to a more arcade-like experience. The game introduces a home city and card system, allowing players to customize and gain bonuses. The UI receives mixed opinions for being cluttered yet modern. The segment also discusses the introduction of soldiers from the second age and the detailed resource gathering statistics provided in the game.

00:15:00

In this segment of the video, the speaker discusses various aspects of Age of Empires 3 and Age of Empires 4. They mention that Age of Empires 3 introduces a card unlocking system, special units hunting for treasure, and a different building system which feels less grounded compared to previous games. Despite some missteps, Age of Empires 3 is praised for its innovation, visuals, and online presence. Age of Empires 4, released in 2021, is described as playing it safe visually, lacking the same innovative leap as its predecessor. The speaker appreciates the clean and minimalistic UI in Age of Empires 4 and notes that it feels like a spiritual remake of Age of Empires 2.

00:18:00

In this segment of the video, the focus is on the lack of innovation in Age of Empires 4, with very few new mechanics or gameplay styles. However, a positive aspect highlighted is the greater differentiation between factions, such as the unique focus of the Chinese faction on massive populations and defense. The transcript also mentions the game being fun to play with easy matchmaking, making it more casual and accessible. Criticisms include disappointment with the campaign and the game’s lack of expansion updates despite being the flagship game. The comparison to Civilization 6 is drawn, highlighting similar trajectories in terms of innovation.

00:21:00

In this segment of the video, the speaker reflects on the Age of Empires series, mentioning that although they find the concept fun and engaging, they believe the series needs more complexity and innovation. They express a desire for battles to have more meaning and context, similar to Total War games, in order to give Age of Empires a fresh boost and keep it at the forefront of the strategy genre. The speaker invites viewers to share their thoughts on the series and concludes by thanking the audience for watching.