Age of Empires IV Reviews
Age of Empires 4 is a modern, faithful addition.
Age of Empires 4 is a safe return. It is both better looking and larger than before, but at the same time is characterized by an extremely familiar feeling. The various playable civilizations are the triumph of the game, while the campaigns and inherited problems of the rts genre as a whole create some irritation.
Review in Swedish | Read full review
Relic returns with this safe but solid modern revitalisation of the classic real-time strategy series
It doesn’t matter if you’re playing it on a PC or on an Xbox. Sadly, Age of Empires IV feels like a massive step back when compared to the immense levels of fun, customization and depth offered by Age II, III, or Mythology. Playing it on a controller just adds an unnecessary layer of complexity towards the gameplay, even though I still commend the developers for their impressive efforts. I doubt anyone else would have been able to pull off such task. With that being said, I can’t recommend playing this particular version, or Age of Empires IV as a whole for that matter. Just stick to its much better predecessors.
If you feel like you’ve exhausted whats on display in the prior installments, Age of Empires IV won’t disappoint in continuing the legacy, though it will leave you wanting more. I look forward to seeing how the game blooms, though I wish they gave this one another month in development time.
If the development team manages Age of Empires IV properly and manages to eliminate as many problems as possible, then it is certain that it will have success in its hands for Microsoft.
Review in Greek | Read full review
I was never completely won over by Age of Empires IV. Still, I had a great time playing it, and everything clicked together really well without feeling too overdone. The fact an Age of Empires game could be made in 2021 and not feel like something that’s trying too hard to lean into the nostalgia of the original games is a huge accomplishment.
Age of Empires 4 has the potential for greatness, but for now, it walks in the shadow of the rightful king.
Age of Empires IV is a worthy return of an iconic series, but it is difficult to recommend over older remastered entries. Newer players, and some returning ones, may find use of its new gameplay features but will probably end up scrapping them as they grow more experienced.
So, Age of Empires 4 then. It’s certainly a competently-designed RTS. Thanks to unique units, buildings and technologies, playing around with each civilisation is fun and offers a different experience each time. Unfortunately, with it feeling so similar to Age of Empires 2 but with many stripped down features, it’s extremely difficult for me to recommend spending £50 on this when you can grab Age of Empires 2: Definitive Edition for £15.
We got hands-on with the closed network test for From Software's next game, and it felt both familiar and different in an exciting way.
A highly competent but disappointingly unambitious real-time strategy that fails to move either the genre or the Age Of Empires franchise forward.
Age of Empires 4 is a mixed bag for fans of the franchise. For Age of Empires 2 fans, this is an excellent, true sequel. For fans of Age of Empires 3 however, the gameplay might feel too slow and the diversity in troops is too low. History nuts can enjoy themselves with the campaign, but don't expect a challenge. If you are looking for a classic RTS however, Age of Empires 4 is a fine pick.
Review in Dutch | Read full review
Age of Empires IV is a fresh breath of air for the series, but it doesn't abandon the franchise's roots either. All of the campaigns are quite innovative and definitely worth playing. But it remains to be seen whether the game can unseat the previous two games from the spot of the fan favorite.
Review in Slovak | Read full review
Solid RTS with historical lessons and curiosity. But not as good as predecessors from past.
Review in Slovak | Read full review
Running a cavalry charge around the enemy defenses to burn their Wonder to the ground while the clock ticked down to defeat. No horses survived, but victory was mine.
Weaving a tried and true gameplay style with a historic documentary twist, Age of Empires IV reminds us not only how great the series once was, but how much better it can be going forward. Bringing back the excitement of real-time strategy, it keeps both the past and the future in mind - and with that, World's Edge and Relic Entertainment have created an experience that fans of the original games will love, that is also accessible to newcomers of the series as well.
With a comprehensive tutorial and a campaign that will refine your senses, Age of Empires 4 opens the door to new players who can easily get their hands dirty before attacking the multiplayer.
Review in French | Read full review
I hope that in the future, the devs take the asymmetrical civilizations further and focus on mechanics that evolve the Age of Empires franchise. There’s a solid foundation here, and if built in the right direction, it could lead to something special. For now, it’s too old school for its own good.
Age of Empires IV is an old school RTS that should be comfortable for returning players and accessible to newcomers. A bigger focus on historical campaigns is enjoyable, alongside great Skirmish and multiplayer modes.