Age of Empires III: The WarChiefs

UPC: 882224259880

Platform: IBM PC Compatible

Publisher: Microsoft Game Studios

Developer: Ensemble Studios

Category: Strategy

Style(s): 3D Real-Time Strategy

Synopsis: Computer strategy enthusiasts can continue their conquest of the Americas as one of three Native American civilizations in this add-on disc for the best-selling Age of Empires III. Civilizations such as the Iroquois Confederacy or the Sioux Nation possess distinct units under command of a powerful WarChief, each playable in either a 15-mission solo campaign or a competitive multiplayer match. Also included in the expansion pack are several enhancements to existing European civilizations, from new mercenary units to additional home city and card deck features. An assortment of random maps will have players exploring parts of the Americas uncharted in Age of Empires III, while improvements to the stat tracking, play modes, and allies help extend the original game's replay value. ~ Scott Alan Marriott, All Game Guide

Package Contents: Quick Reference Poster

Straightforward and to-the-point, the manual excellently lays out the new features of WarChiefs, including profiles of characters in the single-player campaign.

Little-to-no graphical improvements over the original, so what was once spectacular has become above average with the passing of time. A nice touch is that the new native American civilizations match the level of detail already present in existing civilizations.

It's time to trade in your tri-corner hat for a feathered headdress. Age of Empires III: The WarChiefs expands on the addictive real-time strategy gameplay of Ensemble Studios' Age of Empires III, adding several new wrinkles guaranteed to please already addicted Age fans. However it's doubtful this expansion will win any new fans to the series. Any developer worth its salt will take care to please its hardcore fans first, and Ensemble has delivered a 20 lb. bag's worth of new content. Chief among the new content is the addition of three new playable civilizations, which all have their roots in the so-called "New World." WarChiefs lets you take control of either the powerful Aztec civilization, with its pyramids and impressive infantry units; or the fast-moving and hard-hitting Sioux, masters of the hit-and-fade cavalry attack; or the technologically advanced Iroquois Confederacy, who can field artillery to complement their well-balanced military force. All three civilizations play differently from each other, and the three collectively play <I>very</I> differently from any of their European counterparts. For example, all three New World civilizations have the addition of a new building, the fire pit, which gives your extra villagers a place to shake their groove thing, enhancing various abilities for other units in the process, or even generating new ones. The new civilizations also have entirely new units and home cities, and all three have unique cards for their deck, though some overlap exists with civilizations from the previous game. Overall, these new civilizations seem particularly adapted to rush strategies rather than building up a force behind strong defenses, providing a nice counterpoint to the existing European civilizations, particularly the Dutch and the Germans. The Old World powers haven't been neglected in WarChiefs either. The venerable European civilizations have new units, including the ultra-useful Spy, who is invisible to foes and receives a bonus for attacking enemy explorers, mercenaries and warchiefs. You also get new home city cards to play with, new structures and units, as well as the ability to declare a revolution, cutting you off from your home city, but greatly expanding your military. New victory conditions, such as through a trade monopoly, also alter previously tried-and-true strategies and breathe new life into the Age of Empires formula. The single-player campaign, which lets you fight alongside the likes of George Washington at Valley Forge, is well-produced, ramps up the difficulty gradually enough, and covers another chapter of the Black family history. For all that, the expansion doesn't tread any new ground, and in fact, the increased complexity of the new tribes may actually turn off new players. Managing your villagers, military units, navy, and dancing natives takes patience and a thick skin, as you'll most likely be wiped off of the map if you haven't played AoE III. Of course, if you've already exhausted the possibilities of AoE III, you'll be delighted with this new coat of (war) paint.

If your taste runs to taking on human opponents, this expansion considerably broadens the replayability of the original, both with unconventional civilizations and variations on existing ones.

As with the graphics, nothing has been done to improve already an already excellent score and collection of sound effects.

New variations in gameplay will be welcomed by fans of the game who are tired of seeing the same tactics and AI, though the new civilizations will be difficult for newcomers to master.

PC or Mac: PC CPU Type: Intel Core Duo CPU Speed in MHz: 2.15 MhZ RAM: 2 GB Hard Drive Space: 160 GB Sound Card: SB Audigy CD Drive Speed: 8 +/- DVD DVD Drive Speed: 8 +/- DVD Modem Speed: N/a Video Card: NVidia GeForce Go 7900 Video Ram in MB: 256 MB Graphics Type: True Color Color Depth: 24 bit Graphics Resolution(s): 800 x 600 Compatible Devices: Mouse, Keyboard Software (DirectX 5.0, etc.): DX9 Graphics Accelerator Card: Required