Age of Empires 2 HD - Return of the Classics!

Loyal · 03-30-2013, 01:43 AM

This is about three weeks old by now, but I figured you guys would be interested anyway.

The old classic, Age of Empires 2, is getting a HD re-release on Steam. Currently it can be pre-purchased at 10% off, and the game releases April 9th. It includes both Age of Kings and The Conquerors in all their glory.

Besides the graphics update, the game includes full Steam support, including modernized multiplayer, and whatever people may decide to throw on the Workshop. AoE2 already retains a reasonably active multiplayer scene even today, over a decade since its original release, so this should provide quite a spike in activity.

Between this and the recent release of Heart of the Swarm, it's looking to be a very exciting time for strategy game fans!

Bells · 03-30-2013, 02:15 AM

i would rather wait for a bigger price drop.

I missed the Age of EMpires 3 slae on steam recently, so i can wait for this a bit further. Im SURE it will be 40% or more on the next big sale...

that being said, making walls out of Cannon towers in the corner of a map while making a massive cavalry never gets old. NEVER.

Ramary · 03-30-2013, 07:22 PM

Funny story when it was first announced. AoE2 was one of the few things my brother and I agreed on liking, and pretty much the only thing we ever played together (he has always been the dude bro type, but he likes history, and I always been the nerdy as hell type...and also like history so this is how we bonded.) He lives up more north of Boston now, but he was visiting the day of the announcement, and I played the trailer which used the original intro music. Halfway though he bursts into my room and we both just start kinda having a moment of giddy joy, crushed for him when I told him it was windows only.

What he gets for getting a Macbook I tells ya.

As for the game, already got it pre-ordered.

Loyal · 03-31-2013, 11:40 PM

My first exposure to Age of Empires 2 was one of those pirated copies with buggy text and no music. Suffice it to say, it was pretty mindblowing when I got the real version.

I do wonder if they're planning on making any sorts of changes to the game proper. Perhaps UI improvements, or improved pathfinding AI (okay, I can't say that with a straight face), or even balance patches.

Azisien · 04-01-2013, 12:26 AM

I had just hosted a little LAN party at my flat a few weeks before this, and one of the games every single one of us installed and played was AoE 2. Certainly showed its age, but we had a good few matches. The nostalgic feelings were still fresh when I saw the HD version appear on the Steam page, and it was purchased before I even really registered what was happening.

Ramary · 04-01-2013, 08:48 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Loyal

I do wonder if they're planning on making any sorts of changes to the game proper. Perhaps UI improvements, or improved pathfinding AI (okay, I can't say that with a straight face), or even balance patches.

New unit limit in mutiplayer is 500, which is up from 200 in the original game. They also did claim to have some AI fixes.

Loyal · 04-06-2013, 10:39 AM

Those who have ordered the game by now are now able to install and play it. Rejoice!

Ramary · 04-06-2013, 01:12 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Loyal

Those who have ordered the game by now are now able to install and play it. Rejoice!

Sadly it still has some bits and bugs that needs to be worked out, online for example has this huge delay.

BUT I WAS ABLE TO BUILD TURTLE SHIPS AND JUST SLOWLY PATROL THE OTHER GUYS' ISLAND AND MURDER EVERYTHING THAT MOVED, AND SET FIRE TO EVERYTHING THAT COULD NOT MOVE. I MISSED YOU AOE2.

03-30-2013, 02:15 AM	#2
Bells That's so PC of you Join Date: Sep 2004 Location: In a Server-sided Dimension where time is meaningless Posts: 10,490	i would rather wait for a bigger price drop. I missed the Age of EMpires 3 slae on steam recently, so i can wait for this a bit further. Im SURE it will be 40% or more on the next big sale... that being said, making walls out of Cannon towers in the corner of a map while making a massive cavalry never gets old. NEVER. __________________ *BELLS STORE : Clothes! You wear* them! Free US Shipping Subscription System? WTF?! Zazzle Black!**

03-30-2013, 07:22 PM	#3
Ramary HE OPENS THE DOOR TO HIS DARK PAST Join Date: Jul 2011 Location: Some craphole Posts: 770	Funny story when it was first announced. AoE2 was one of the few things my brother and I agreed on liking, and pretty much the only thing we ever played together (he has always been the dude bro type, but he likes history, and I always been the nerdy as hell type...and also like history so this is how we bonded.) He lives up more north of Boston now, but he was visiting the day of the announcement, and I played the trailer which used the original intro music. Halfway though he bursts into my room and we both just start kinda having a moment of giddy joy, crushed for him when I told him it was windows only. What he gets for getting a Macbook I tells ya. As for the game, already got it pre-ordered.

04-01-2013, 12:26 AM	#5
Azisien wat Join Date: Jan 2005 Posts: 7,177	I had just hosted a little LAN party at my flat a few weeks before this, and one of the games every single one of us installed and played was AoE 2. Certainly showed its age, but we had a good few matches. The nostalgic feelings were still fresh when I saw the HD version appear on the Steam page, and it was purchased before I even really registered what was happening.