Draft:Age of History

Age Of History (game)

The Age of History franchise, also known as AoHII or AoCII, is a series of grand strategy wargames developed by Łukasz Jakowski. These games allow players to take on the role of a leader, guiding a civilization through various historical periods. The franchise is designed to provide a balance between accessible gameplay and strategic depth, making it suitable for both casual and experienced players.

Name Change

The Age of History franchise originally started as Age of Civilizations. However, due to copyright reasons, in 2020 the name was changed to Age of History. Łukasz Jakowski, the developer of the game, mentioned in a forum post that he had to change the name but did not provide further details on the matter

Mobile Release and Spin-Offs

The first game in the series, Age of History, was released for mobile devices on September 9, 2014. This initial release laid the foundation for the franchise, introducing players to the unique gameplay mechanics and historical settings.

In 2014, a spin-off titled Age of Civilizations: Europe was released, focusing specifically on the history of Europe. This spin-off allowed players to engage in strategic warfare and diplomacy within the context of European history.

The following year, in 2015, three more spin-offs were released: Age of History: Asia, Age of Civilizations: Americas, and Age of Civilizations: Africa. These spin-offs expanded the game's scope, allowing players to explore and shape the history of these respective regions. Unfortunately these spin offs have been replaced with the Age Of History 2 spinoff counterparts excluding Africa and Americas, the old ones are no longer available for download.

Age of History 2

Age of History II, also referred to as AoHII is the highly anticipated sequel to Age of History. Developed by Łukasz Jakowski, this grand strategy wargame was released on November 21, 2018, marking a significant upgrade from its predecessor. Age of History II is available on PC, as well as mobile devices, ensuring accessibility for a wide range of players.

As of May 2024, Age of History II received positive reviews from both the Steam community and mobile users. On Steam, the game currently boasts an impressive 38,511 reviews, with a ranking of "Very Positive". This positive reception reflects the game's engaging gameplay, and great modding community. On mobile platforms, the game has garnered 33.6K reviews and a solid rating of 4.3 stars, On GOG Games it has a 3.1 out of 5

Shortly after the release of Age of History II, a lite version of the game titled "Age of History II - Lite" was made available. This lite version offers a free alternative for players who may wish to experience the game's mechanics and features before deciding to purchase the full version. The lite version was released on December 10, just a month after the launch of Age of History II.

One of the key aspects is the significant increase in map size. Age of History II boasts a much larger map, with 4,269 provinces compared to the 364 provinces in the original Age of History Earth Map. This expanded map allows for a more extensive and detailed gameplay experience, offering players the opportunity to interact with a broader range of territories and civilizations.

Issues with Age of History 2

However, there have been some concerns and negative reviews regarding certain aspects of the game. One common complaint revolves around the lack of Steam Workshop support. While modding support is available on the game's forums, the absence of Steam Workshop integration has disappointed many players. Łukasz Jakowski, the developer, has uploaded a mod called "Two New Governments" on the Steam Workshop, but this was described as a test and does not add any content. The presence of the Age of History 3 logo on the mod's thumbnail suggests that it may serve as a test for future mod support in Age of History 3.

Another issue that players have raised relates to the turn-based war system, which some find to be lacking in depth. The combat mechanics primarily rely on numerical calculations, To mitigate this annoyance, the game does incorporate defensive bonuses from towers and castles, which provide a defense bonus to the defending side. Additionally, land effects, such as those found in snowy, hilly, or desert regions, can also offer bonuses or penalties to units, further adding some variation to the combat mechanics.

It is worth noting that, despite the emphasis on numerical advantages, players can employ tactics to wear down enemy forces and gain an upper hand. Allowing the AI to initiate attacks and defending against them can deplete their resources and weaken their ability to produce more troops. This strategy can be effective in gradually weakening the enemy and tipping the balance of power in your favor.

While the combat system in Age of History II may not provide the level of strategic depth that some players desire, there are still tactical considerations and approaches that can be employed to maximize success on the battlefield.

The update schedule and bug fixes have also been a point of contention for some players. There have been reports of a persistent save issue bug that prevents players from accessing their saved games after playing for an extended period. However, it is worth noting that as of 2024, when the developer returned to work on Age of History 3, he addressed this bug and fixed it to improve the stability and performance of the game.

Lastly, a common complaint revolves around the AI's intelligence and the lack of multiplayer functionality. Some players have expressed frustration with the perceived lack of challenge posed by the AI opponents, as they may exhibit predictable or suboptimal behavior. Additionally, the absence of multiplayer limits the game's potential

Age of History 3

Łukasz Jakowski announced in August 2023 that he was working on Age of History 3. This announcement generated excitement among fans, and an alpha teaser for the game was released on January 6, 2024,garnering significant attention and positive reception. The developer's YouTube channel experienced a boost in subscribers, with an increase from 33k to 42k subscribers within three days of the video's release. As of May 7th, the alpha teaser has accumulated 409k views, and the main channel now has 90k subscribers, with an expected growth to reach 100k in 25 days according to Socialblade.