Release Date: September 30, 1999
An epic clash of empires unlike any other! Build a kingdom, raise a dragon, form an alliance and battle alongside online players in this revolutionary new strategy war game! Download Clash of Queens today – Your throne is waiting! You may apply for refund when the Property of Service is not received in your account after your purchase. Newly released versions of Age of Empires I and Age of Empires II, called Definitive Editions, have fueled this resurgence and I have really enjoyed playing them on my Mac with Parallels Desktop. So, when I was asked if I would like to play the about-to-be-released new Age of Empires III Definitive Edition a few days before its release, I. Download Age of Empires 2 HD for Mac OS: Age of Empires 2 HD is a remastered version of the popular real-time isometric strategy game Age of Empires 2. In this game you will find a new visual design, improved gameplay, multiplayer mode and a new soundtrack.
My OS is High Sierra 10.13.6, I purchased the game via steam and I made steam running on my mac. However, when I open the game on steam, the 'Install' button is not highlighted in blue.
Developers: Ensemble Studios, Hidden Path Entertainment
Publishers: Microsoft, Konami
Platforms: Microsoft Windows, Mac OS (and eventually released on PlayStation2 and Nintendo DS game console)
Background:
Set in the middle ages, Age of Empires II: Age of Kings is the second in the Age of Empires trilogy. Age of Empires was the first game to incorporate realtime strategy with historical facts and events, as well as the first game to use a top isometric view. With a legacy spanning over 20 years, this bestselling franchise has sold over 25 million copies worldwide.
Gameplay:
Like its predecessor in the Age of Empires series, Age of Empires II uses realtime strategy in a world based on historical facts. Players can choose either multiplayer or single player game modes. Players can also choose from 5 historical campaigns or 13 civilizations to play as. Game expansions including many more campaigns and civilizations were released after the original release of Age of Empires II. Using a bird’s-eye view, players are able to control those on their side. Historical campaigns have specific missions that need to be successfully completed for the game to end. If players choose civilizations, the end goal is to simply conquer the other civilizations in the game, protect their own king, and to end with as many resources as possible. Players start off with a few civilians and soldiers, and minimal resources. They also have a limited view of the map, only being able to see areas they have already explored. Resources are obtained through hunting, gathering, mining, etc., and are depleted through construction of buildings and fortifications and upgrades. Civilians gather the resources, while soldiers form and fight in armies, and go into war with opponent civilizations. Additional civilians and soldiers can also be produced with time and resources, but are limited by the maximum population which can be increased with the construction of houses. Progress in the game can be saved at any time, and once the game is completed, statistics from the game can be compared to games played by the player previously.
Reception:
Age of Empires II has pulled great ratings from critics such as Metacritic, GameSpot, Eurogamer, and GameRankings, averaging over a 9 in a 10-point scale. It is a highly successful game, with Age of Empires III following suit in 2005. Since being released in 1999, Age of Empires II has stayed relevant and has had 4 game expansions: in 2000, 2012, 2015 and 2016 respectively.
Personal Thoughts:
Age of Empires II is one of the few games I truly got into. I remember sitting in my parents room playing it on the family desktop (before I had even seen a laptop!) all day on Sundays. Although Age of Empires II is far more pixelated and less realistic than modern games, there is a certain appeal to it. There is a balance between its slow going nature and how events in the game happen in realtime, so players are relaxed when playing yet engaged. Fans of a similar, yet more recent app-based game Clash of Clans might be interested in checking out Age of Empires II.