Age of Empires III: The WarChiefs (PC) - Review
High: Graphics, gameplay, voice acting, hmm hard to pick the best parts of the game, this is a great strategy title.
Low:
Right to the meat, we all know the Age of Empires series is by Ensemble Studios a Microsoft games studio division, we all also know that "WarChiefs" is an expansion pack to Age of Empires III. What does it add to the game you ask you said right to the meat? In truth in true form with Ensemble Studios "WarChiefs" adds elements to the game that may well should have been part of the original game to begin with. That said over all the game now feels a bit more complete or full and over all plays much better in online gameplay.
These statements may lead some to believe Ensemble Studios leaves there games incomplete to make extra money with expansion packs, but the fact is there expansion packs feel like part of the game. What this means the expansion pack doesn't feel like the Expansion packs of old that feel "slapped" on top of the game but a real part of the game.
The story is still of the Black family and is in two acts, act one is set before and during the revolutionary war, and part two is during the expansion of the railroads. There are very interesting twists in the plot and story of both acts but was really impressed with how act two rolls out. Much of the story seems familiar at first but you will be rewarded to keep playing through. The addition of Indian tribes as playable "civilizations" was a nice addition to the game, but one complaint is that they feel to much alike the "Americans" at times. But there are unique things about the Indian civilizations like the fire pits where villages can do there rituals and they also have other unique units and heroes of course. The only "bad" thing about the story is it may not be long enough for some.
Editors Note: The two acts toke me less then 6 hours to play in total though that was "rushed" but I think for the average user it will take a little bit longer. Still would have been nice to see a few more missions to each act and maybe a 3rd act.
With that in mind the online game play more then makes up for it, and if your so inclined there is also always the campaign editor. So you're always free to make your own campaigns to play and share with your fiends. The online game play is much the same as it was but with the additions it feels much more balanced, more so then even after the last patches. So get online and play against all your fiends and meet new players it's worth it.
The graphics are basically the same though it seems that they are polished a bit, but that could have been during a one of the last patches. Some of the effects that are new for the new units are pretty clean and nice looking which is to be expected with any expansion pack.
Editors Note: I personally play the game and it looks like they polished some of the textures and animations since the last patch.
Voice acting is again a big strong suit of the game, is as great as it was in the game prior to the expansion. They used the same voice actors for the characters in both games and got great new talent for the new characters. The background sounds and music is very fitting and well balanced through out the game. The sound effects are on par with the genre, nothing super about them but nothing bad either. Over all there seems to be a good balance, in battles though wow, it sounds amazing, sounds so life like and real.
Editors Note: Right here is when it pays off to have good quality speakers for your computer entertainment center and a good sound card, you will get by with normal speakers and a cheap sound card but to truly get you in to the game in this and other games a great sound system is a great bonus.
Over all The Warchiefs Expansion Pack is a must have for Age of Empires III with all the balance improvements, the added gameplay and strategy, all adds up to a must have title. The online play is as free and fun as it ever has been, and is well worth money it costs to buy. I would recommend this to any strategy fan, sure its not Age of Empires II and its expansion pack, but it's a worth while modern Real Time Strategy Game. So get out walk to the store and get a copy of this fine strategy title TODAY.
Editors Note: I would buy this as a stand along game is that tells you anything.
High: Graphics, gameplay, voice acting, hmm hard to pick the best parts of the game, this is a great strategy title.
Low:
There really are few and far between but alas the single player game is too short.
Right to the meat, we all know the Age of Empires series is by Ensemble Studios a Microsoft games studio division, we all also know that "WarChiefs" is an expansion pack to Age of Empires III. What does it add to the game you ask you said right to the meat? In truth in true form with Ensemble Studios "WarChiefs" adds elements to the game that may well should have been part of the original game to begin with. That said over all the game now feels a bit more complete or full and over all plays much better in online gameplay.
These statements may lead some to believe Ensemble Studios leaves there games incomplete to make extra money with expansion packs, but the fact is there expansion packs feel like part of the game. What this means the expansion pack doesn't feel like the Expansion packs of old that feel "slapped" on top of the game but a real part of the game.
The story is still of the Black family and is in two acts, act one is set before and during the revolutionary war, and part two is during the expansion of the railroads. There are very interesting twists in the plot and story of both acts but was really impressed with how act two rolls out. Much of the story seems familiar at first but you will be rewarded to keep playing through. The addition of Indian tribes as playable "civilizations" was a nice addition to the game, but one complaint is that they feel to much alike the "Americans" at times. But there are unique things about the Indian civilizations like the fire pits where villages can do there rituals and they also have other unique units and heroes of course. The only "bad" thing about the story is it may not be long enough for some.
Editors Note: The two acts toke me less then 6 hours to play in total though that was "rushed" but I think for the average user it will take a little bit longer. Still would have been nice to see a few more missions to each act and maybe a 3rd act.
With that in mind the online game play more then makes up for it, and if your so inclined there is also always the campaign editor. So you're always free to make your own campaigns to play and share with your fiends. The online game play is much the same as it was but with the additions it feels much more balanced, more so then even after the last patches. So get online and play against all your fiends and meet new players it's worth it.
The graphics are basically the same though it seems that they are polished a bit, but that could have been during a one of the last patches. Some of the effects that are new for the new units are pretty clean and nice looking which is to be expected with any expansion pack.
Editors Note: I personally play the game and it looks like they polished some of the textures and animations since the last patch.
Voice acting is again a big strong suit of the game, is as great as it was in the game prior to the expansion. They used the same voice actors for the characters in both games and got great new talent for the new characters. The background sounds and music is very fitting and well balanced through out the game. The sound effects are on par with the genre, nothing super about them but nothing bad either. Over all there seems to be a good balance, in battles though wow, it sounds amazing, sounds so life like and real.
Editors Note: Right here is when it pays off to have good quality speakers for your computer entertainment center and a good sound card, you will get by with normal speakers and a cheap sound card but to truly get you in to the game in this and other games a great sound system is a great bonus.
Over all The Warchiefs Expansion Pack is a must have for Age of Empires III with all the balance improvements, the added gameplay and strategy, all adds up to a must have title. The online play is as free and fun as it ever has been, and is well worth money it costs to buy. I would recommend this to any strategy fan, sure its not Age of Empires II and its expansion pack, but it's a worth while modern Real Time Strategy Game. So get out walk to the store and get a copy of this fine strategy title TODAY.
Editors Note: I would buy this as a stand along game is that tells you anything.
Scores:
Graphics: 90
Audio: 85
Gameplay: 95
Replay: 90
Overall: 90
Graphics: 90
Audio: 85
Gameplay: 95
Replay: 90
Overall: 90
