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Age of Empires: The Age of Kings

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For other uses, see Age of Empires: The Age of Kings (disambiguation).
Age of Empires: The Age of Kings
Developer(s)Backbone Entertainment
Publisher(s)Majesco
Platform(s)Nintendo DS
Release
  • NA: February 14, 2006

  • PAL: November 10, 2006

  • AUS: November 16, 2006
Genre(s)Turn-based strategy
Mode(s)Single player, wireless multiplayer, hotseat multiplayer

Age of Empires: The Age of Kings is a turn-based strategy video game developed by Backbone Entertainment and published by Majesco for the Nintendo DS handheld video game console.

Age of Empires: The Age of Kings allows the player to take command of any one of five historical civilizations: the Britons, the Franks, the Mongols, the Saracens, and the Japanese. It has a single-player campaign and a scenario mode, as well as a multiplayer wireless and a hotseat mode.

Gameplay

Age of Empires: The Age of Kings is turn-based, similar to Advance Wars in both movement and combat. As a derivative of the Age of Empires series which is a real-time strategy game as opposed to a turn-based strategy game, The Age of Kings incorporates several features and mechanics commonly associated with its series genre, including technology advancement and resource/building management.

The playing field is divided into a grid, with the player having an overhead perspective of the map. Units are able to move a certain amount of spaces in the four cardinal directions, with how far they can go affected by several variables, including the unit's natural movement abilities and terrain. Each unit type is given a specific amount of spaces that it can move, with some having better movement capabilities than others, while others have worse. There are a variety of terrain types, such as roads, forests, and grass. Roads are best for movement, while some terrains slow the player down but can provide other advantages, such as extra range or defense.

Each of the five civilizations has its own hero, which is stronger than other units. The Japanese hero is Minamoto no Yoshitsune; the Saracens' hero is Saladin; the Mongols' hero is Genghis Khan; the Franks' hero is Joan of Arc; and the Britons' hero is King Richard the Lionheart. Each hero has special abilities which are unique to them.

Most units are divided into four main categories: Infantry, Cavalry, Ranged, and Siege Units. Infantry and Cavalry units are only able to attack an enemy unit or structure in any adjacent square (with the exception of squares which are diagonally adjacent), while ranged units and some siege units are able to attack from a greater distance away from enemy units and structures, which can be altered by the terrain the unit is on. Each unit has movement, attack, defence, range, and vision values. Some units may have additional defensive bonuses against certain types of enemy units or abilities.

There are many variables to be taken into account before battling an enemy. Before entering the battle, the game will display the stats of both units, which consists of the units' health points, attack power, and defensive capabilities. This screen shows an adviser, who predicts the chance a given attack has of being successful. The attack power and defensive capabilities of the attacking unit vary depending on the opposing unit's special abilities. When the units enter into battle, many warriors are seen, which begin to battle each other. The attacking units usually do more damage as they get the first strike. As a unit's HP drops, their attack power does as well.

The player can advance his or her civilization by researching new units, crafts, and other advancements. Once the player advances far enough in his or her research or completes certain conditions, a new age is made available. Players usually start in the first age, the Dark Age (Though this can vary), and eventually gains access to future Ages, including the Feudal Age, the Castle Age and the Imperial Age. Advancing in Age unlocks new subjects for the player to research, makes additional buildings and units available, and upgrades existing units to their equivalent in the new Age.

Campaign

The Age of Kings includes a campaign divided into five sections, one for each civilization. Each section contains 5 or 6 missions. The first section of the campaign, following Joan of Arc, acts as a tutorial and educates the player about the basics of the game. Campaign missions vary widely in characteristics. Some contain a field effect known as the fog of war, and in some missions the player starts out with some buildings while in others the player may start without any. By playing to earn "Empire Points," the player can buy powerful units to use in-game in the Bonus Items Shop.

Multiplayer

The Age of Kings contains a multiplayer mode which can support up to four players, who can play through a wireless connection. Up to four players can also play with just one Nintendo DS console by passing it back and forth between the players as their turns come up.

Technical issues

Some players have experienced technical issues which may impair gameplay or even damage the data on the cartridge. The game data may become corrupted during a Save and Quit operation, preventing the cartridge from booting afterwards. The game may sometimes freeze in a battle involving scorpions and after the end of a mission. Majesco released claims that they were investigating the issue but no official solution or replacements have ever become available, only workarounds.

Majesco has determined that using a short profile name (2-3 characters in length) may be causing some issues and has suggested users change their profile name to at least four characters as a temporary workaround. Majesco eventually began inserting a slip of paper into all copies of The Age of Kings they produced, which warned users of the problem and provided the solution.

Reception

Age of Empires: The Age of Kings has received an average score of 80.0% at Game Rankings (based on 45 reviews)[1], and an average score of 80/100 at Metacritic (based on 38 reviews).[2] IGN gave it an 8.2/10, saying that the gameplay was solid, although they stated that it should have had more civilizations and online play. Both IGN and Electronic Gaming Monthly each gave it a Game of the Month award. It received an award for "Best Game Design" Elan award in the inaugural Canadian Awards for the Electronic & Animated Arts on September 14, 2006. It was also nominated for 2006 BAFTA (British Academy of Film and Television Award): Best Strategy Game.


Tribes and Colours

  1. ^ Age of Empires: The Age of Kings Reviews
  2. ^ Age of Empires: The Age of Kings (ds: 2006): Reviews
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