We had the opportunity to see a preview of the content of Age of Empires IV, the Microsoft strategy game developed by Relic Entertainment, to which we owe masterpieces of this kind. The new episode promises to be snappy. We tell you why.
Microsoft Relic didn’t randomly pick up the line that Ensemble started in 1997, a company that disappeared in 2009. The talented studio was behind the strategy giants like the Unforgettable Heroes Company or the Dawn of War series. Age of Empires will soon turn 25 and it was necessary to celebrate the occasion with this fourth episode that promises to be just great.
Slap my lord
We’ve seen the game run with VIPs like Adam Esgrin (Creative Director of the franchise), Michael Mann (Senior Executive Producer), or Queen Duffy (Game Manager). DJ, let’s talk about the obvious, the undeniable beauty of the game that takes a big turn compared to other episodes with standard aesthetic and technical work. Special attention is given to natural environments, such as winds in tree tops or in grasses, and sunlight reflected off streams or on building walls.
Extremely fine detail, a feast for the eyes. But where the technology is really deceptive, it’s at the level of unit animation with a very special realism that has been brought into combat movements and gestures. For example, we were able to admire a rider attacking foot units and we could have the man on horseback cut his attackers with great originality in punches. We are clearly on another level of detail compared to the last episode so far.
The Middle Ages are at the heart of the game
From what we’ve seen, the game takes place mainly in the medieval era, all with four technological aspects separated:
- The Dark Age (before the year 1000)
- Fodal Age (1000-1100)
- Age of Castles (1100-1300)
- Imperial era (1300-1500)
The dates here are not official but that is what we assume in light of the different technologies and architecture that we have seen for each era. Because yes, once you cross a new era, you can access new structures and units. So your cities and castles change, your Romanesque churches turn into Gothic churches and then cathedrals. A lot of historic work has been done to make each building look extremely realistic.
Different factions to diversify pleasures
We were able to discover two new factions: the Chinese Empire and the Delhi Sultanate (India). Of course, a change of faction also assumes a drastic change of units, mood, and atmosphere. So you will have different music but also will have drastically unique cities and units compared to the other factions. The Middle Kingdom, for example, can create paddy fields and earn certain rewards, while India can use fighting elephants. It’s basic, but it works perfectly and each culture really feels like it plays differently, which is what the developers want anyway.
In addition to the classic online and single-player modes, the game includes a narrative campaign, of which we were able to see the first part. This is the Anglo-Norman campaign or the conquest of England by William the Conqueror. This allows you to get familiar with the game but also and above all to have a real scenario to follow. It reminds us of our best watches on Empire Earth for the campaign.
Fight our doors
We can regret that the game didn’t go further in time and we’d love to have squares of English grenades in silk socks and fine wigs or loads of Prussian Totenkopf knights. But we can also say that focusing only on the Middle Ages (in its very broad sense from 500 to 1500) allows for a great deal of history and technology to be eaten.
Finally, the surprise at the end of the show was that the game would offer naval battles even if the Middle Ages wasn’t necessarily the most interesting period for that. Whatever the Byzantine fleet with Greek fire, this is not a rejection.
We are waiting for her … patiently!
Age of Empires IV is clearly one of the most awaited PC games of the year with a release scheduled for Fall 2021. From what we’ve seen, everything should be essential. – You have a strategy and stick to the standard smack of this genre by underscoring its roots.
