Age of Empires III: Original and Definitive Edition Intro Comparison

A comparison between the introductory cinematics of the original and definitive editions of Age of Empires III.

[mythrilpro]

I felt like I was the only one that thought the older version was way more artistically cinematically and better in my opinion. Glad I’m not the only one.

[ConscriptDavid]

The original is moody and surprisingly more dynamic. The British Office plants his flag as the camera pans up, the Train noticeably accelerates as the camera zooms on it's wheels, the Native skirmisher runs trough a shadowy forest, not trough a well lit clearing, etc.

[oom-]

The original one was way darker. I don't know why but it looks better to me.

[allesarfint]

The old one is just so much better, much more cinematic and alive. I don't know what were they thinking when decided to downgrade the effects on the new one, it feels so bland and cartoonish. If both of them have the same video quality I would have said the new one is the old one because of how weak it feels, like a beta intro.

[jonnyt]

I do like how at 1:01 they featured the oriental ships in the DE trailer. Represents the Asian dynasties well

[isimsizninja]

1:11 the soldiers are so funny falling in definitive edition but original intro is realistic.

[mahditeymuri]

why the devs always think the brighter the pic, better result would be? the remaster looks more cartoonish intro's.

[heiljandal]

Honestly, the change wasn't that big, at least when compared to AoE II and AoE II DE, which is kinda sad, but I mean AoE III already looked good, apart from the overdone bloom, but that's neither here or there

[skyboosm]

Plot twist : The DE one is on the left

[husseintoufaily]

When AOE 2 DE was just released, many people said that the og has better graphics, same in AOE 3 DE. I guess we are not fans if we don't bitch about everything.

[ESSJohny]

I like the old one better, it is no so cartoonish

[kesiazezebajki]

BTW, if you are going to compare two videos do like one atop of the other or two whole videos close to one another. How can I compare the old conquistator to Delgado if I can't see the guy in the first part?

[feestfilmer]

i am some one who does not talk with nostalgia, since i never played the game.
They did not change things beyond recognision and show the same content as seen in the old intro.
The only big thing that changed is the graphics wich look really good imo.

[OneOnOne]

I think the main things that makes the older one better are the camera work and the use of contrast.

The camera work in the original is just significantly better. It's more dynamic and it has more creative angles. The best example of both being 0:33. The initial camera angle is on the foot alone (more creative) and then it actually moves upwards significantly to reveal the scene (more dynamic).

And while presumably a lot of it was about hiding flaws behind darkness, the use of contrast in the original is also better. The best example being 0:24. Where in the original there is such a strong contrast between the dark of the ground and the soldiers and the light of the sunset. The new one, while more detailed and not needing to hide its flaws, just has a scene which just has way more of the same level of lighting and less extreme colour gradations.

[MrPathorn]

Can you do Side by side instead of Cutting it in half please???

[ritwikreddy]

The biggest change in my opinion is body physics. Old ones moved like puppets. I prefered drawings of aoe2 over aoe3 because of the puppet feel at that time, they looked cartoony. They improved them a lot in the new one.

[radioman]

The old one is much better. The train scene especially is so much better in the original. Shame. The entire game doesn't look much better, improved resolutions and textured alone don't make a game atmospheric

[julianxamo]

They should have re-made the original Age of kings one

[ZethHolyblade]

Original feels a lot like a movie. Dark and mysterious will always be better

[General-F]

I like both, they have their own personally. Like the update models and cutscenes as well the power and well put together cutscenes. To be honest they don't have the much time with cutscenes. They were more focus on the game play. Also everyone will have problems with AoE III DE. I will say the thing I like was Sweden being added after hearing about them I was just happy. You can complain about the intro all you want I think is fine.