Is It WORTH IT? Age of Empires 4 BRUTALLY Honest Review

Age of Empires 4 is the next major installment in the Age of Empires series, but how is it actually? Does it manage to bring that AoE goodness while reinventing itself for a new age, or does it falter and stagnate like empires of old? Or perhaps something in between? Is it one of the best new strategy games of 2021, or not?

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[GetDunkedJin]

Fantastic review; this is exactly why I haven't gone ahead and bought it myself - why would I go and buy a game that only has marginal differences to an existing one I bought recently (AoE2:DE) and over 15 years ago (AoE2)? I want to play RTS games again, but yet I am so over this style of RTS now; the genre needs to evolve, get bigger in scale, start to cut away the bullshit (bad pathfinding + clunky battle systems). No, that doesn't mean I want it to be re-invented to be more like a MOBA or an RPG (like some other guy suggested would happen if the formula were to be changed) or be exactly like TW, but with today's technology - that the old games didn't have - the series could be something so much more interesting and fresh yet still be recognisable. Being faithful to your roots doesn't mean don't attempt to innovate.

[Grumbledookvid]

You didnt adrress the actual problems with the game:

*Graphical/visual*
• Lower geometric detail than SC2, a game from over 10 years ago.
• Lower unit count than SC2, a game from over 10 years ago.
• Low framerate animations
• Lack of animation variation on units (most only have 1 attack animation, for example)
• Censorship of blood and gore (I thought this was a historical game?)
• Lack of map zoom out functionality
• Lack of visual diversity amongst regions.
• Environmental assets that wouldn't look out of place in a mobile game

*Gameplay/features*
• No scenario editor
• No random map scripting
• No custom AI
• No scoreboard
• No map filters
• No unit guard mode
• No unit patrol mode
• No ability to choose player color
• No ability to change teams mid-game
• MAJOR performance optimization problems (watch digital foundry review)

[slicy]

All I wanted was an over all bigger game, more units bigger maps, but most games don't seem to push the boundaries, least games currently

[PragmaticTornado]

I was hoping they followed the footsteps of Age 3, which is my favourite in the series for some reason (and I've played AoE since the late 90's). Instead they simplified it, went back to the Age 2 time periods, and so on. To top it off, the game has visuals that were decent in 2010, and still demand full AAA price for the game.

I don't regret buying it, per se, but I am disappointed. Campaigns so far are very devoid of personality too, compared to Age 3, but I do like the cinematics in between.

What's weird to me is that Age of Empires 2 DE somehow looks better than AOE4 and I have no idea how they managed that. In AOE2 the models/ sprites pop when compared to the environment. But in AOE4 not only do the models look less realistic but the colors are sort of washed out so they don't really stand out from the terrain.

The Civs themselves may be unique but visually this game looks bland, like a mobile game. I'm sure someone who knows more about visual design could probably explain it better.

[Azrel]

"The most cartoonish of the AoEs"
This is what bothers me the most, if it were more realistic I would buy it w/o a second thought, but looking at how it is it just puts me off. The combat to me seems like children playing with toy weapons, no impact at all, specially when I look at the range weapons I can't avoid thinking they are firing NERF toys at each other.

[nickspence]

A game that exists to remind you that aoe 2 definitive exists

[Skyrilla]

Dumbed down, simplified, graphically outdated, animations and details are a step down from Age of Empires 3, its limited in content, it launched with a lot of customization and competitive flaws...

How is this good? It's a slap in our collective faces. It's an unfinished, unpolished game that tried to play it too safe despite Age 2 DE already being a thing.

[eduardoborges]

The problem of age of empires franchise is they cant decide if they juts want to remake the wheel of age of empires, or actualy move on to something else, something different. So far they are in a weird middle which satifies no one. No age of empires will ever dethrone age of empires II if its a similar game. If fans have to choose between the 2 experiences they will ALWAYS choose age of empires II. What age of empires IV should have been is a vastly different game, a different experience, something completely different from the established genre. The devs need to have the balls to say age of empires II was amazing, we will never do anything like it that will be better, we just need to make a completely new wheel to give a new experience, and bring new people. Make a game that doesnt feel like age of empires II reskin, old fans might not like it cause they go in expecting AoE II, but they would never like it anyway even if it was exactly the same thing. Even AoE definitive edition is not enjoyed by all.

[joeblow]

Not an expert here but my 2 cents.
I think they got it 90% right. They took most that was good with AOE2 and built off that. AOE4 is a beautiful deep game.

I love the demo ships. Sort of a take off of the Zerg baneling in Starcraft 2. Love the look of the game the colors and textures.

One thing they missed? Roads! Instead of sacred sites they should have used the trading posts from AOE3. Roads are so essential to transportation and economy. Trading posts mean control of the goods transported on a road.

I also loved the trading posts for native settlements in AOE3. You economically benefit from trade and it opens up more military options.

[tubbieterreur]

Thank you for your honesty sir. its hard to find these days on youtube.

[Spright]

your getting a lot of hate in the comments . Let me just put my 2c in and say i agree with you . Its just AoE 2 2. Theres nothing new here.

[SoulxReaper]

Some people love the way it looks but I really don't, I liked the fantasy look of the buildings in 2 but here I feel they look dull same with the units
And I have to agree with it getting boring my advice for anyone on the fence about buying AOE 4 don't not yet just play 2, you'll find by the time the hype dies you won't care about it anyway

[vangoghsear]

When I saw the trailer, I knew it was going to be a bust. It's basically AoE 3 DE graphics with the AoE 2 themes. I remember all those years ago when many of us were uncertain whether there was going to be an AoE 4 or not. So many others including my self were really hoping the game would be a WW1 or WW2 theme. They waited way too long to make a decision and now we see the consequences.

[automated]

To be fair, I heard 'the new AoE was out' and searched on Youtube... Started watching AoE4 gameplay and thought to myself "oh, or is AoE5 the new one?" (I couldn't tell if this was the older game).

[Godbullet]

They could’ve done so much with this game. Tournament style match making, RPG style, anything. What a joke.

[octapusxft]

As someone who plays AoE and AoM games mainly for the single player, I am sad to hear it does not have a solid single player

[Zade_]

While I disagree on some of your points, this a well put together review that clearly focuses on the things you find value in. I don't understand the dislikes! Great job :)

[buildinasentry]

Thank you man I agree. When I played the beta it just really seems like they lean on old mechanics and themes to sell this age of empires feeling. In previous ensemble age games, the mechanics would change however the FEELING would still remain, the age feeling, some quirks that you can really tell what type of game you’re playing that extends through all the games. I just think, what would ensemble have done? Probably gone onto another time period, some weird mechanics, but the basics of the series would remain

[NonpositiveTM]

"Most cartoony Age of Empires ever..."
Never played Age of Empires Online, huh?