Rating: 
Summary: Not a Necessary Expansion
Review: If you have 30 dollars to kill, then youll still enjoy it. I'm not saying that the expansion is a bad game, I just think that for all the things you get in the amazing basic Rise of Nations, the expansion pack isnt really necessary. It comes with 4 or 5 new nations, 2 of which are native americans, but with only a few new buildings, I think that youll be happy with just the original. Its still a great game nonetheless.
Rating: 
Summary: A world class expansion pack for a world class game.
Review: Like many who have been eagerly anticipating the arrival of Thrones and Patriots, I played a social-life crippling amount of Rise of Nations when it debuted in early 2003. That's why when my co-junkie CIO barged into my office yesterday with this expansion pack I was both elated and petrified at the potential darkening of my social life that might occur if this follow-on was half as interesting as press has made it out to be.I went home, and savagely thrust the CD into my eager drive, loading....anticipatory sweat began to bead on my backhair....loading... Fast forward 20 minutes, and if you asked me "how is it", I wouldn't answer you. That would be my answer. Now, sitting here in my office, I'm jones'ing to run home and play again...the crackling of US Marine Machine Gun fire, screaming Persian Elephants.... So much has changed, yet thankfully, for RON lovers, the gameplay is still comfortably familiar. There are however some notable differences in this game. First off, there are 6 new nations, 20 new unit types, and 4 new maps. But so far, the biggest difference is the ability to choose a government type... At the Classical Age you establish a Senate and choose a government. Your choices are: Despotism, Socialism, Capitalism, Monarchy, Republic, and Democracy. Your Government gives your nation military and non-military bonuses, and each government type allows you to create a Patriot. The Patriot is a special unit that acts as your leader. They are produced from the Senate and give certain bonuses to units and buildings within a proximate radius of their location. What's interesting is that each of the six governments produce a Patriot unique to their type. So in choosing government type (which give you global bonuses), you also need to balance that governments value against the unique set of Patriot bonuses. As if there weren't enough choices in Rise of Nations to begin with. But really, as I expressed in my review of RON, that's what I love so much about this game. I know of no "one way to win". Much like chess, there are counters to every efficacious strategy and tactic, "rushing", "turtleing (holing up defensively)", "age leaping"...every game must be played dynamically against your partners strategy. A "thinking mans RTS". Needless to say, I'm thrilled. I haven't been this excited to game since I was learning Rise of Nations a little over a year ago. If you love RTS's like Civilization, you'll should pick up this habit. If you're already addicted to RON, well, your next fix is on the shelf... I hope this was helpful. Enjoy.
Rating:
Summary: Great Game
Review: Out of all of the types of games that I have played like this it is one of the best yet. I really can't wait for expansion packs to come out for it. The graphics and gameplay are great. I would recommend this game to anybody.
Rating:
Summary: A big hit!
Review: Rise of Nations: Thrones & Patriots is a game you can't put away. It's a game that is addictive. RISE OF NATIONS, named PC game of the Year is a game about building up your own civilization and conquering territory. THRONES & PATRIOTS EXPANSION PACK adds to that idea by adding new civilizations such as Lakona, Iriqouis, Americans, and Persians (my favorite). It also adds new governments such as Despotism, Monarchy, Capitalism, Socialism, Democracy, and a Republic. You can also build a Senate once you advance to the Classical Age.
Also, new challenging campaigns are included. That includes 'Alexander the Great', 'The Cold War', 'The New World', and 'Napoleon'.
All of these new features adds up to make this game the best conquering game I've ever seen. This is one that you can't let go.
Rating:
Summary: A big hit!
Review: Rise of Nations: Thrones & Patriots is a game you can't put away. It's a game that is addictive. RISE OF NATIONS, named PC game of the Year is a game about building up your own civilization and conquering territory. THRONES & PATRIOTS EXPANSION PACK adds to that idea by adding new civilizations such as Lakona, Iriqouis, Americans, and Persians (my favorite). It also adds new governments such as Despotism, Monarchy, Capitalism, Socialism, Democracy, and a Republic. You can also build a Senate once you advance to the Classical Age.
Also, new challenging campaigns are included. That includes 'Alexander the Great', 'The Cold War', 'The New World', and 'Napoleon'.
All of these new features adds up to make this game the best conquering game I've ever seen. This is one that you can't let go.
Rating: 
Summary: Lots of new features, not quite enough to satisfy.
Review: The hit of the first Rise of Nations was hard to overcome, but this expansion makes the game even better. The goverments that come into play just add to what type of nation you want to become: Military or Economic. But you will have to choose wiseley in order to win in harder modes of the game.
Overall: Brings new aspects to the game, but lack of choosing grows dull, you can only choose three. * * * * out of 5 The new nations brought into the game are the best features by far, unfournatley, only 6 are new:
Americans (very good, ability to entrench is excellent)
Iriquios (decent, just another nation)
Lakota (decent, just another nation)
Persians (very good, top 5 nations)
Indians (almost exactly like the Persians, very goood)
Dutch (unique units are somewhat inifective, decent) Overall: Wish there were 1 or 2 more nations to have more playing time in future. * * * * out of five The wonders are, again, seem to be to few: only 3 more, and at that one of them is just a city, and the other a huge castle. Of course they have huge benefits but I can think of a few "wonders" off the top of my head. Overall: Highly dissapointed in the quantity of wonders: * * * out of five The campaigns were defintely needed for this game, just because everything else seems limited (but good). The "New World" campaign is my favorite since you can be about 10 different nations, with different goals in mind. The Napolean and Alexander are roughly the same thing except of for different ages. The Cold War is my second favorite since you have to do many things in order to keep other countries conent with yours. Overall: Adds to the gameplay but in Alexander and Naploean the senarios are repetitive in late game: * * * * out of five Dont get me wrong, I love this game and recommend it for anyone, but just way a week or so for the price to go down.
Rating:
Summary: Great Expansion
Review: This expasion improved the game alot. The new armys make the take over the world campaigns more interesting. I also like the alt take over the world campaigns. Napoleon, Alexander the great and the new world campaigns are very fun.
Rating:
Summary: The bar for RTS games
Review: This game has set the bar for all subsequent real-time strategy games. I tried to play Age of Kings a few weeks ago after playing this game a lot, and all i could do was smile :) the habits i had developed from this game couldn't fit there and the gameplay was just a lot better.
The original was good, but the expansion makes it a lot better. The new nation additions are interesting, with the Americans, Indians, Iroquios, Lakota and Dutch. I like the interactions with realtime history and you can use this game as an excuse for history homework :-D The new campaigns are also a lot more interesting than trying to take over the world one step at a time like Risk.
The one thing I wish they had done is made a campaign with World War 2. Other than that, i highly recommend this game.
Rating:
Summary: What happened?
Review: This is a great expansion pack. I liked very much the original RoN but there were some problems with it:
1) After some time it sort of became repetitive--either quick tactical battles or the usual R&D for an hour and then attack with full force.
2) The micro-management was, to put it mildly, a bit too detailed--especially when you had to gather resources, build an army, do research, keep upgrading everything, and possibly have to attack (or fend off one) at the same time.
3) The game was also out of historical context with the only possibility being the solo Conquer the World campaign. As I was playing, I kept thinking (which is apparently quite similar to what the developers at Microsoft were thinking)--what if the game had been infused with more history. What would the great generals do in certain situations? And then, what if resources were limited in certain campaigns--what if you actually had to play at the historical odds? Would be fun, no?
You bet. This expansion pack, I think, corrects all of the above weaknesses. There are new units, and new nations--yeah, yeah, variety is good but I think the four new campaigns are the real gems in the crown. It makes playing the real-time part of the game so much more fun and you actually have to think as quite often the standard R&D for an hour and then full attack is either not avaible or simply would not work. And the best part for me--all four campaigns are historically based. Believe it or not--you can get a pretty good overview of military history by playing this game. There is a strategic advisor at the turn-based part who gives bits of advice that nicely immerse you in the politics of the given era. And at the beginning of every historical scenario there is a short summary of what actually happened when the opposing sides faced off.
So for those of you who liked RoN and for some obscure reason have not yet purchased this expansion--shame on you! For everyone else--if you buy one RTS game or if you are remotely interested in military history/strategy--buy the original RoN and this expansion pack!
Rating:
Summary: The BEST Strategy Game
Review: This is a great strategy game. Make governments to raise commerce or military strength. I can play this game for hours every day. It is very hard to beat. Games are usually 1:30 long. I strongly reccomend this game.
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