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Aggregator | Score |
---|---|
GameRankings | 82% [51] |
Metacritic | 81% [52] |
Publication | Score |
---|---|
1Up.com | B− [53] |
Eurogamer | 7/10 [54] |
GameRevolution | B− [55] |
GameSpot | 8.2/10 [56] |
GameSpy | 5/5 [57] |
GameZone | 9.5/10 [58] |
IGN | 8.8/10 [59] |
PC Gamer (US) | 91% [51] |
VideoGamer.com | 8/10 [60] |
Game-Debate | 8/10 |
Age of Empires III was well received by critics and reviewers. The game received an average score of 82% according to GameRankings. [61] Age of Empires III was listed as the eighth best-selling PC game of 2005, [62] and over two million copies of it had been sold by May 2007. [7] GameSpot pointed out that "Age of Empires III has some very big shoes to fill", [63] and GameSpy remarked that it "may not redefine real-time strategy gaming, but it sets the bar so high that we will be comparing games to this for years". [64] IGN also commented on the game, saying "Age of Empires III is a superbly balanced and polished game", and: "Discounting a few niggles in the interface, the whole presentation is rock solid." [59] Game Revolution said that it is "as detailed as a history book, and about as much fun", while GameZone stated it is "one purchase you will not come to regret". [55] [58]
Age of Empires III was the eighth best-selling PC game of 2005 despite its late release, and sold over two million copies by May 2007. [65] [66] It received a "Gold" sales award from the Entertainment and Leisure Software Publishers Association (ELSPA), [67] indicating sales of at least 200,000 copies in the United Kingdom. [68]
The game's visuals were highly praised by reviewers. In a preview, IGN said that "After seeing the screenshots, our jaws hit the floor at the amount of detail", [69] while in their review, 1UP.com described it as "one of the most beautiful games you will put on your computer for the foreseeable future;" [53] GameSpy agreed, stating, "Age III's graphics are unmatched in the strategy genre." [57] GameSpot also admired the graphics, but had a negative comment as well; they said, "Were it not for the awkward unit behavior...Age of Empires III would look truly amazing." [63] GameSpy awarded Age of Empires III the "Best Graphics" award at GameSpy's "Game of the Year 2005", mentioning that the graphics engine boasted "all the high-end technology you would normally find in first-person shooters". [70]
GameZone praised the game's sound effects, saying that "you will feel the explosions of the cannon balls, the muskets firing their endless volleys, and the destruction of a building. It all sounds extremely realistic, and makes the game come that much more alive." [58] Eurogamer said: "AoE3 ... sounds fantastic", [54] while Game Revolution mentioned, "The ambient sounds, music and voice work all suit the colonial theme." [55]
Reviewers were divided about the single-player campaign. GameSpot thought it was "standard for a real-time strategy game", but also complained that it had "less-than-stellar voice work and awkward cutscenes"; [63] GameSpy agreed that "Age of Empires III's campaign is not revolutionary", but thought that "the voice acting is great". [71] IGN praised the campaign's story, in that it gave the player a "nice sense of purpose"; they thought "The 24-mission campaign is very well designed." [72] Eurogamer said the campaign lacked originality, stating, though "well-written and imaginatively framed", the campaign "offers exactly the same kind of challenges that RTS campaigns have been offering for years;" [54] Game Revolution disliked the campaign more than the other reviewers. Comparing it to Age of Empires II's campaign, they said: "The plot actually got worse. Age of Empires III...avoids all the interesting and prickly issues like genocide, epidemics and slavery, instead subbing in a wimpy tale of a family destined to protect the Holy Grail from a Satanic Cult." [55]
Age of Empires III's multiplayer was the first in the series to be integrated into the game interface and was highly lauded, as was the Home City concept. The topic of multiplayer was touched by GameZone, who said "this game demands multiplayer mode, and Ensemble Studios provided this for the players", [58] while at 1UP, the reviewer commented similarly, stating, "Multiplayer support has been significantly upgraded with a slick interface, support for clans and a number of other useful features." [53] GameSpy commented on the Home City as well, saying, "the 'home city' system creates long-term depth and strategy". [56] EuroGamer, however, stated: "Stop with the gifts! ... You do not need to let me flick to a home city screen every few minutes so that I can select a free unit or resource windfall. I'm not some spoilt toddler that needs to be bribed with endless sweeties." [54] Age of Empires III uses the ESO server for multiplayer.
Age of Empires III won PC Gamer US 's "Best Real-Time Strategy Game 2005" award. The magazine's Brett Todd wrote: "It was astounding how Ensemble managed to stick to the historical RTS formula yet keep the gameplay feeling fresh." [73] The game was presented with two awards by GameSpy in 2005: "Real-time strategy game of the year" [74] and "Best Graphics". [75] GameSpy highly praised the game overall, giving it five stars in its review, [76] which particularly noted the graphics and multiplayer experience. The game was named fifth-best game of 2005 by GameSpy. [77]
Other awards, [78] including an "Outstanding" from GameZone, [79] reflect the positive critical reception of the game.
The game was given an 'honorable mention' in the 'Best Music' category. [80]
During the 9th Annual Interactive Achievement Awards, the Academy of Interactive Arts & Sciences awarded Age of Empires III with "Computer Game of the Year"; it also received nominations for "Strategy Game of the Year" and "Outstanding Achievement in Online Gameplay". [81]
Yahoo!'s report [82] differed, but still had many positive features. Like GameSpy, Yahoo! also praised the effort put into the graphics and physics, but maintained that these are essentially eye-candy. Both Yahoo! and Eurogamer were disappointed by the traditional economics-based strategy of the game and believed that this, with the lack of useful formation and tactics, meant that the game does not stand up to other modern real-time strategy games. Eurogamer shared these final thoughts and described the new Home City shipments, along with all the treasures scattered around the map, as silly and childish ways of trying to complement the game's lack of strategy and tactical choices. However, Eurogamer recognized that Ensemble Studios was brave to implement "something quite different" from other real time strategy games — the Home City concept. [54]
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We developed this fan patch because of the fact that Ensemble Studios closed down in February 2009, and their successors Robot Entertainment have made few balance changes