Age of Empires III: Definitive Edition

It's hard to think of any games that have been as influential to the real-time strategy genre as this series. Now, fifteen years later, the game has gotten a long overdue update with the release of Age of Empires III: Definitive Edition, improving on the already impressive original in almost every way. Right off the bat, the game pops with new HD detail and color, breathing new life into the classic experience and making the New World feel like a new world. While a lot of focus might be on the two new civilization additions (the Swedes and the Inca), the existing groups have been tweaked as well. Of particular note, the Native American tribes represented have been reworked to more authentically represent their cultures. It's the little things like this that show how the game balances respect for different cultures and their historic significance with entertaining gameplay.

Aside from adding the content included in Age of Empire III's two expansions, the Definitive Edition also introduces fans to two new game modes: Historical Battles and The Art of War. Historical Battles are pre-set skirmishes that recreate certain snapshots in history, such as the Barbary Pirates fending off the Spanish invasion to take the city of Algiers. These are quicker battles that provide unique perspectives on notable conflicts. They're not only fun, but they do a great job of raising players' interests in how the actual events unfolded and how history could have been different. The Art of War is a series of challenge-based missions, which don't necessarily demand players' victory, but pushes them to achieve specific milestones and goals. These missions really help players hone their skills and learn new strategies before jumping into the fray of online multiplayer. Multiplayer completes the Definitive overhaul of Age of Empires III, made more stable after the work done on the two prior Age of Empires Definitive releases. Add to this things like a competitive leaderboard, spectator modes, and online matchmaking, and you'll see that the tools are in place, working together to make the Age of Empires series historic in ways beyond its theme.