In Age of Empires 4, many strategy game fans have set their hopes. Our test reveals the strengths and weaknesses of the new part.
Age of Empires 4 im Test
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Top strategy with cutbacks
Age of Empires 4 feels like a top title in terms of play, but due to the mediocre AI and a rather uneven look, there is a bit of a bland aftertaste. The wow factor is missing as well as the charm known for the series, so strategy fans can still consider buying the Age of Empires 2 remaster as an alternative.
We liked that
- Very good gameplay
- Different civilizations
- Pleasant optimizations
- Great tutorials
We didn’t like that
- There is a lack of charm
- Graphics could be better
- Partly questionable AI
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When a new part of the Age of Empires series appears, almost all fans of strategy games take a closer look. After all, the real predecessor appeared in 2005. For the release of the fourth offshoot, tactical foxes had to be very patient.
The expectations are not low. At first glance, the available ages are reminiscent of Age of Empires 2. You begin in the merciless Middle Ages and develop your civilization, of which there are eight in total, up to the Imperial Age. The swords clink, the arrows buzz and the city wall crumbles when siege weapons strike.
Tips for beginners for Age of Empires 4
If you get into Age of Empires 4, you should consider a few tips. This makes the strategy game a little easier.
Every civilization has advantages and disadvantages that you should be aware of in advance. Beginners don’t need to worry. The game reveals all of that and more. The tutorials are great and even if you’ve never played strategy games before, you can take a look Age of Empires 4
Playfully clean
Anyone who has known the series for a long time will find it easy to play, because the gameplay is essentially as you know it from Age of Empires. You build your city around your village center, increase your population and collect enough resources for sufficient military units and progress into the next age. Once there, you unlock new buildings, units and technologies – progress is a great advantage for your victory.
Immediately noticeable compared to the Definitive Edition of Age of Empires 2, which was released in 2019, were optimizations made by the developers at Relic Entertainment and World’s Edge to make your life as strategists easier.
Units move more naturally across the terrain, also passing through fields instead of past them. Your military units no longer stand in each other’s way so often, they automatically look for the position assigned to them. Very good.
Archers can now also stand on walls to repel attackers from there – finally!
AI questionable at times
But not everything is going to the fullest satisfaction, so the developers still have to act when optimizing the artificial intelligence of the computer-controlled opponents and allies. It is not always clear which decisions the AI makes.
In the event of an attack on the enemy base, for example, it can happen that the enemy military does not rush to the defense to help. Nor does it plan a nasty counterattack that hits you at a sore point right now.
The developers can improve this with updates. Until then, more ambitious players should perhaps compete online against other players if a little more challenge is desired.
The charm is a little lacking
You don’t need an expensive gaming PC to play the title. the System requirements are more gracious and the game looks quite good at maximum settings, but not really outstanding. We are also a little dissatisfied with some other design decisions.
Buildings and units could sometimes be more detailed. Sometimes when looking at it, one has the feeling that parts of the building are shown particularly finely and others are not. Sometimes surfaces look monochrome without a large structure, sometimes they reveal details. All of this gives the impression that the visual representation is not entirely natural, not entirely from a single mold, as is the case with Age of Empires 2 in the Definitive Edition.
Images and screenshots for Age of Empires 4
This is what the new Age of Empires 4 looks like.
In addition, the hit effects of siege weapons look relatively crude and unkind. The suspicion grows that the game may not be quite finished yet.
A matter of taste: Weapons of military units are sometimes displayed in a somewhat exaggerated manner. Blades or arcs shine in bright white and look overdone. The player can easily see which unit it is, but that doesn’t contribute to a round overall look either.
Age of Empires 4 is in Game Pass
We will continue to play Age of Empires 4 and add further experiences to this review, because there is no lack of game depth.
Who does not want to spend so much money on it and the Xbox Games Pass has subscribed, for whom there is good news: That PC game can be played free of charge for users of the service. So you can try out the title yourself before buying it and form your own opinion.
Age of Empires 4
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