I couldn't find my AOE2 CD. So I'm just going to do a review on AOE3.
(sorry if this seems different, but this is my first review on anything.)
I first started playing a "skirmish" game (which is like a "quick battle"). I selected the "sandbox" level out of the various levels of difficulty. Which included, "Sandbox, Easy, Normal, Hard, Expert." I chose Sandbox, because I didn't want to take any chances on if they up the AI.
I get into the game and the graphics blow me away. I can see leaves falling, birds flying (you can almost tell what type of bird it is), and the water actually looks real, you can see waves, and everything. It amazing. I was reading online that unless you have a decent video card you won't be able to see many of these to there full potential.
I started playing the game, and as I was playing the game on the left hand side of the screen I kept getting "threating" messages from my computer opponent, as well as, some "wanders" that kept coming into my area. Building up is about the same, you got your standard buildings, Town Center, Houses, Mill, Outpost (which is similar to the "Bombard Tower" in AOE2"), Church, Market, Dock, and Trading Post. The trading post is used in maps to trade with virtually anyone (and no one, lol). What you would do is simply building a Trading Post next to a "trading path" and you will get free income. (Trust me this comes in really handy)
Once you built the buildings and you want to start building an army. Head to the Barracks, and you can build from and assortmant of people. You can also build the same ships from AOE2, however when you built the "fishing ship" you have to tell it to keep getting more fish (i think it may be a bug), but once it clears out one area you have to tell it to go to another.
Onto the actual game play. Once I got my army of "Muskeeteers," (I had about 20 of them)I sent them over to the other side of the map. Bleep that was a mistake, here the computer had at least 35 (I counted 35) Muskeeteers alone, plus Calvary. I was expecting to use the "formation" button to have them attack in a certain formation, however I was unable to find that feature. (I was told this would be a feature in this, I've even seen screenshots of troops in formations, maybe I'm just not looking hard enough). I quikcly retreat with the few men I have. Thank God, I'm on Sandbox level, because they didn't follow me. I then when back to my city and built about 50 more "musketeers" and headed by over thinking I could take them on now. I was greavely mistaken again. The Sandbox difficulty must be set to just build because thats all they ever do, is build a military and expand. They had even more Calvary and Musketeers than before. Once I saw this large army I said "Aw screw it, theres now way I can beat this army." So I just kept attacking. But they never did follow me, they just remained right there. So once I got there military gone, I quickly sent in my back-up and started attaking the buildings. But when I did, it was the most amazing sight I've ever seen. I could actually see the debris following off, and landing on the ground. IN DETAIL! When I started attackaing the Mill the "WindMill" blades starting falling off one by one, and eventually each blade came down. It was incredible. Even when you scroll the wheel part of the mouse you can zoom in and see the people's faces.
Personally if I were on dial-up and I went to a friends and played this. I would defintely wait the 20-something hours to download it. Its defintely worth it. However if you'd rather wait until October 18, you can buy it then for $50.
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