Age of Empires DS Preview

[bapenguin]

IGN (http://www.ign.com) has a hands on preview (http://ds.ign.com/articles/686/686636p1.html) with Age of Empires: Age of Kings for the Nintendo DS.

To start things off, lets clear up a few issues. First off, the game is not a real-time-strategy game. Age of Kings marks the first of the series to offer a different style of gameplay. The design is entirely turn-based, though it shares a ton of elements from its inspiration, Age of Empires II for PC. While the story lends itself to the previous PC title, the game is not a port of its bigger brother. Age of Kings DS offers all new campaign scenarios, featuring five of the civilizations from the original game, each with their own hero. Along with the five civilizations, AOK includes 40 units, 15 buildings, and over 60 technologies, spanning all four ages. The idea of the game is to build up your civilization from the feudal age, and conquer your foes while evolving your society through scientific and industrial expansion. Certain civilizations will develop strength through siege weaponry, while others focus on the development of gun powder. Strategies vary based on the civilization that is chosen.
Sounds good. Though I kinda wish they kept it a RTS.

[bapenguin]

After watching the video I have concluded this isn't AOE, but Advanced Wars in a Medieval skin.

[captainstrombosis]

AOE sucks anyway

[jacktion]

Yeah, it is Advance Wars with town management and tech tree skill building. But that sounds pretty cool though doesn't it?
A real RTS would be great on this system though. Even something old like Command and Conquer or Starcraft. Make it so!

[Bydo_Empire]

I'm probably in the minority, but I'm glad they went turn-based. RTS's require such constant maintenence and zipping back and forth between units, I'd get too distracted especially if I was playing on a plane or something. Even at home I guess I played a lot more Civ than AoE or Warcraft. Starcraft 64 was a real RTS, right, you'd think that would be a fairly easy port.

[AntB]

Ugh. What would make me buy a DS is Age of Empires 1.

[Suicidal ShiZuru]

I'm probably in the minority, but I'm glad they went turn-based. RTS's require such constant maintenence and zipping back and forth between units, I'd get too distracted especially if I was playing on a plane or something. Even at home I guess I played a lot more Civ than AoE or Warcraft. Starcraft 64 was a real RTS, right, you'd think that would be a fairly easy port.

Pause...save...standby...non retardation? I'm not defending the game but just... yeah ok I don't even know.

[YoungAlCapone]

Yeah, it is Advance Wars with town management and tech tree skill building. But that sounds pretty cool though doesn't it?


I think it sounds cool too, if it is done right.

I don't really like AoE so I am still on the fence about this. Even though it is really different, I still worry.

[Steve_Erhardt]

I love AoE, and this sounds good to me. I'm okay with it not being RTS, as it sounds more complicated than those little screens could allow for me to be effective at the game (especially seeing as how I already tend to suck at RTS to begin with). Turn-based i can handle.

Which is not to say I wouldn't like to see an RTS on the DS... but speaking only for myself, it'd have to be relatively simple and still engaging... not a combination I'm sure is even possible.

[Magnanimous Gnome]

Forget a TB Age of Empires - I want Age of Wonders on the DS!

Triumph is hard at work on a "next-gen" console title - here's hoping that's what it is, but I doubt it. ;)

P.S. 9 ;)