Build a culture that can outlast the forces of time and your many enemies
Build a culture that can outlast the forces of time and your many enemies
Pros
- Long and complex campaigns
- Multiple editors to choose from
- Huge amounts of data to go through
Cons
- Very bland graphics
- No live battles
- Steep learning curve
Age of Civilizations 2 is a unique grand strategy game that requires you to master diplomacy, global economics, combat, and many other factors.
There are countless grand strategy games on the market, and that can make it difficult for fans of the genre to decide which title they want to dive into. While many of the leading manufacturers have produced some world-class strategy games, you might not want to overlook Age of Civilizations 2. This indie game was created and released by Łukasz Jakowski, and it has a few unique features that can’t be found anywhere else. While the graphics are relatively bland, the complexity of the gameplay makes up for all of its shortcomings.
If you are a fan of the genre, then this game is going to feel very familiar to you. You will start your first campaign by choosing the civilization that you would like to control. There are many different civilizations to choose from, and each one has its own perks and penalties. Those who would like a more relaxed campaign might want to go with a larger empire that already has quite a bit of land and wealth. Once you are more familiar with the game, you can challenge yourself by choosing a smaller tribe that has fewer resources.
Over the course of the campaign, you are going to progress through thousands of years. Your primary goal is to preserve the state that you have chosen, and that can be accomplished with many different tactics and strategies. During each turn, you will be able to carry out a wide variety of tasks. That includes directing how all of your resources are going to be used. In some situations, you might want to invest heavily in your economy so that you will have precious resources for many decades to come. Other players focus on their military units so that they can constantly wage war on their neighbors.
As the game progresses, you must also ensure that your state continues to research new technologies. This game is going to move through many decades, and you are going to be destroyed if you don’t have any technological advancements. Those advancements will increase the efficiency of your markets, fields, and weapons. Striking a balance between all of the different components of your kingdom will be vital to your success.
One of the biggest drawbacks of this game is the layout of the screen. The overhead map is extremely bland, and you won’t have very much to look at as your kingdom expands. There are also no grand battles to watch, and fans of fast-paced strategy games might find Age of Civilizations 2 to be a bit bland. The battles are essentially nothing more than spreadsheets that are going to show you various stats. When the battle is over, you must then use your diplomatic skills to establish truces or turn your enemies into vassal states.
Age of Civilizations 2 has quite a bit of complexity to it, but the bland graphics and minimal action are sure to turn some players off. If you enjoy grand strategy games but aren’t interested in fast-paced battles, then this might be the perfect game for you.
Pros
- Long and complex campaigns
- Multiple editors to choose from
- Huge amounts of data to go through
Cons
- Very bland graphics
- No live battles
- Steep learning curve
