Age of Empires 2: Definitive Edition Review - The Classic Stuns Yet Again

20 years ago, Age of Empires 2: Age of Kings released to worldwide acclaim. Today, a new remastered edition hits the shelves, promising modernized graphics, new content, and quality of life improvements. In today's video, we examine some of those features in depth to determine if Definitive Edition lives up to the hype.

Want to buy Age of Empires 2: Definitive Edition for yourself? Check the Steam link below:

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No copyright infringement intended. Age of Empires 2: Definitive Edition copyright is owned by their respective owners which includes but is not limited to Xbox Game Studios. I did not make the game (or assets) and do not claim to. I do claim recording the gameplay and associated commentary.

Music credit:
"Shake Down"
by Gavin Luke

[boreasreal]

I've been playing this game for 20 years. God time sure flies

[Mr_diggaer]

"It knows how to use the High Ground."
Obi Wan Kenobi likes this.

[epurianudarie]

This game will become a family tradition. My father passed his ways to me (he prefers Britons) and I will pass my and his ways to my child/children (I prefer Goths).
I am so glad there are still people that know and love this game...

[kiwidragon]

My Dad has been playing this game since he was 40. Hes 60, and he still plays it often. I have to get him this for Christmas!

[axehilt]

_Crazy_ to me that AOE2 still sees development. Conqueror's was one of the earliest games I worked on, so the series has seen development longer than my entire ~20 year industry career! At Microsoft I was part of the "RECON" team that was basically a centralized playtesting team providing feedback on many games that went through MS Games at the time. As an AOE2 fan at the time, I was always hyped when we got a chance to play Conqueror's. We mostly tracked down multiplayer bugs (out of syncs), and also did a lot of campaign tuning (played that damn El Cid campaign on Hard so many times...) It surprised me that a friend from that team actually ended up working on AOE2: HD Edition in ~2013 (he was at Hidden Path Entertainment at the time).

[SGTvolcan]

"You can finally zoom in!"


Now i can learn the ancient techniques of setting a castle on fire with a single punch from my Villagers!

[StivKobra]

A game that is relevant for 20 years. Now THAT is a success.
Thank you for this review, Pravus. Definitely getting the Definitive Edition.

[ejr]

This game is just the perfect example of timeless. It’s like Mario, you can introduce it to a new generation and it never gets old or outdated

[Niaaal]

First sleepless nights gaming were with AOE. Love, forever.

[algoraxmago]

The ai unexpectedly tower rushed me: i feel shame for that...

[TheHazyshade]

Miss playing this with my dad, we had our own strategies defined we played so much. Some of our games we talked about years later we could remember everything :)

[fieldmarshalbaltimore]

These aren't changes that are needed, but sorely craved

[rodneyr]

Im so gutted this didnt happen to the Red Alert series. It still has a huge player base and i would definitly buy a 4k remake :D

[BlackMethos]

God, I remember playing the original AoE 2 with friends back when I was at University in 2004.
Fun times when a 3-player FFA turned inevitably into a 2v1 hehe.

Also: Definitve Edition certainly looked and felt very good when I had the opportunity to play a demo at Gamescom this year (has it's advantages working on a stand there with plenty of gaming PCs ^^)

[ruwanlakshitha]

They should make a definitive edition of the Rise of Nations as well

[abox]

This was a good review my man. I would be interested if you intend to make more reviews on games that interest you.

[dumbcat]

i had no idea AOE II was still a thing. i played the snot out of it years ago and thought i was crazy for liking it so much. kinda feel vindicated now :)

[JasoTheRedF]

AI be like: This is what i like to call a pro gamer move.

[daviiiid.r]

Excellent review! I started with the series after my dad showed me HD edition over 6 years ago. Ive recently gotten back into the game, and am considering buying the definitive edition. Thanks for the helpful review!

[mnotanot]

Wow I literally was talking to a friend of mine about this game a few minutes ago
Thank you for the upload.