Age of Empires II: HD Edition Critic Reviews

Age of Empires II recaptures its status as a classic with an HD remake filled to the brim with content. With eight campaigns, a robust multiplayer, Steam Workshop integration for modders and a map editor, strategy fans will find that Age of Empires II HD is definitely worth the price of admission.

Do you want a modern RTS with an absurd amount of polish and visuals that make you feel justified in purchasing that high-end gaming rig? Well, you’ll want to look elsewhere. In fact, I hear StarCraft II’s new expansion is pretty great. But if you want to relive the glory days of when the RTS was first coming into its own as a genre (with a glorious palette of pixel art), then you can’t do much better than Age of Empires II: HD Edition.

Instead, the re-release should be considered by anyone with an itch to revisit the well-loved game or anyone looking for a new and entertaining strategy title at a reasonably low price.

AoE2 is an RTS with classic sensibilities, and it can be daunting for those used to simpler, more focused, and more modern RTS games. It will chew you up and spit you out if you aren’t careful.

While a little frustrating if you’re not into tons of micro-management, Age of Empires II HD with the Workshop and updated multiplayer features is an excellent title. The brilliance of the game’s design is still there, you just might need to look past it’s age to see it.

Ironically, the best part of this Age of Empire II: HD Edition has little to do with the HD resolution, and way more to do with the Steam features. Steam Workshop and the online matchmaking are the true additions to this game that still is as good as we remember.

Quotation forthcoming.

All in all, the combat and gameplay is unchanged, and I’m OK with that. Even in a world of beautiful advanced RTS titles like Starcraft II the game holds up remarkably well.

Age of Empires II: HD will scratch a nostalgic itch for some, but Hidden Path's update doesn't go far enough to bring new audiences to the series.

It´s a great classic, it´s good to see it again and being able to buy it with the convenience of Steam, but it´s a bit pricey for what it offers and the first days have been problematic in the multiplayer. Good effort, but it could have been better.

All in all, this is a disappointment. It sure is great to see this cornerstone of real-time strategy in higher resolution on a modern PC, and it certainly isn't less fun as it was all those years ago. Still, I would have expected more that slight visual adjustments, especially regarding the steep 18,99 euro price tag. If you're into the multiplayer side of AoE2, this might not really bother you, since, thanks to Steam, this remake has got you covered for months and years to come.

A good graphic overhaul, but not much more unfortunately.

Mixed emotions, overall. On the one hand we have the same graphics, not at all improved. On the other, Steam offers functional multiplayer and workshop support, that breathe life into an old game.

Though it's still the competent RTS game it has always been, it can’t be avoided that the age in Age of Empires II has become apparent. The HD edition shows once again why the game is a classic, but besides a functional multiplayer lobby it just doesn’t add enough to warrant the price tag.

Unfortunately Age of Empires II HD isn't a very impressive update. It disappoints graphically and not much has been done to improve or modernize it. The gameplay is still strong though, and Age of Empires II still shows how balanced and detailed strategy games can be. With the addition of the Steam Workshop there's enough potential here for the game to be given a new look. Too bad this is left up to the players though.

You think you can ride with Age of Empires 2 into the high definition era? Think again. Instead of offering full social penetration with “like us”, “subscribe”, “watch” and “follow” the visuals should have gotten the attention this classic deserves. If you can live without online battles and the pseudo HD, here’s some advice: The gold edition from 2001 is a bargain…

This high-definition edition of the classic real-time strategy game adds little more than bugs.

Let me make a list of all the changes introduced in the HD version of Age of Empires II - higher resolution.

There is absolutely no reason to trade money like that for a game like this, for a mouldy time-capsule that will likely mar your memories of the original. This time, history needs to be left to rest.

For youngsters it's oddly out of date, for the old stickers it's far from the original. This is how the HD edition of the legendary strategy game Age of Empires II has turned out. From one golden legacy to just broken pieces. Hopefully, its community will put it together.