Age of Empires II: HD Edition


Age of Empires II: HD Edition is a real-time strategy video game developed by Hidden Path Entertainment and published by Microsoft Studios. It is a high-definition remaster of the original game . It comes with improved graphics, widescreen support as well as new multiplayer options through Steam. It was released worldwide on April 9, 2013.

Reception

Age of Empires II: HD Edition received mixed reviews with aggregate review website Metacritic assigning a score of 68 out of 100 based on reviews from 20 critics. Critics agreed that the HD Edition changed very little from the original game. Daniel Starkey of Destructoid added that the reluctance to change the game features encourages "a much more aggressive, and obsessive style of play". He highlights the fact that many of the problems of trying to run the original game on a modern computer are gone, and calls its compatibility with Steam's Workshop "an amazing bonus".
Paul Dean of Eurogamer was less forgiving; although he agreed that the Workshop compatibility was a good addition and praised the players in the online community as "remarkably calm and friendly", he thought that the game should have been updated more, citing its "boring campaign" and poorly-aged gameplay mechanics: "It just doesn't play very well, and its flaws are more blatant than ever before". Underscoring his criticisms of the lack of significant changes to the game, he described it as "a mouldy time-capsule that will likely mar your memories of the original".

Expansions

''Age of Empires II HD: The Forgotten''

In August 2013 an expansion pack was announced for Age of Empires II HD, entitled The Forgotten. It is based on the fan-made expansion, The Forgotten Empires. The Forgotten introduces five new civilizations: the Italians, Indians, Slavs, Magyars, and the Incas. It includes new maps, campaigns, units, a new game mode, an increase of population limit from 200 to 500 and numerous balance and gameplay adjustments.

''Age of Empires II HD: The African Kingdoms''

A second expansion pack for Age of Empires II HD was announced on April 9, 2015, and released on November 5, 2015. The African Kingdoms introduces four new civilizations: the Berbers, Ethiopians, Malians, and the Portuguese. It includes new maps, campaigns, and units, a new game mode, and numerous balance and gameplay adjustments.

''Age of Empires II HD: Rise of the Rajas''

Rise of the Rajas was released December 19, 2016. It is set in Southeast Asia, and adds four civilizations as well as a new map type with environments, units, improved AI and more.