Rating: 
Summary: Buggy Code
Review: Be careful with this game -- while a ton of fun, it managed to corrupt 2 of my computers. The Conquer the World section is a ton of fun, but crashes half way through almost every time.
Rating: 
Summary: One of the greatest games EVER
Review: I'm not talking about just a good RTS, which it is. This game goes up in my top favorite of all genre's list. Intelligent AI and a good selection of difficulty levels. Good tutorials and learning scenarios. This being my second RTS i've ever played (the first being Command & Conquer: Generals) i'm was a "newbie" to RTS games, and this is much different (and better) than C&C ever could hope to amount to. This game was easy to learn to play. With the amount of nations you get to play as, each with their own special abilities, a conquer the world campaign, and throw in Online Multiplayer and you have one fantastic game. Again, one of the greatest games, ever.
Rating: 
Summary: Fast-paced , challenging and thorough
Review: I have some mixed opinions of this game despite giving it 4 stars. The game itself is a typical real-time strategy, civilization-type game, but unlike what I understand about most of its predecessors, the succession through the ages is quite rapid. At regular speed, without pausing, you should have your game wrapped up within 2 1/2-3 hours.The positive: a challenging computer opponent, beautiful graphics and interesting action, a fairly-sized range of areas you must focus on, a broad-spectrum of nations and environments to choose from. You can also choose to start or end on any particular age. The negative: one age proceeds to the next too rapidly. Playing the game on a slower speed [there are 6 speeds] merely slows down how quickly it takes things to happen, but citizens and soldiers all move at an annoyingly-slow pace when you do this. It doesn't solve the problem, to me, of the ages progressing too rapidly. I would rather see everything taking place at the same rate, but the time to move from one stage to the next be slowed down. That would be perfect. Additionally, it is difficult to control aircraft during attacks once you reach the modern age and the options regarding nuclear warfare [basically always strike first] aren't very fun. There are also some futuristic things (like artificial intelligence) which I don't really enjoy in the game. Consequently I find myself using settings that do not allow the game to progress past the Enlightenment Age [basically Napoleonic], but I still have a great time with that. Nothing quite like rolling up on the enemy's city with a battery of artillery and letting the cannon balls fly. I really enjoy that :-) the game is great one player, and would be great online, but there have been difficulties whenever I have tried to get going there and I am fairly experienced with online play. I haven't even tried to play online in months now, but I still enjoy the game solo quite a bit. This is very unusual for me, and a testimony to the computer's strength, as usually I seek out human opponents because I find computer opponents boring. I know this sounds like a lot of complaining, but the game is very good.
Rating:
Summary: Fact Versus Fiction
Review: I'm just going to base this review on other negative reviews and tell you the FACTS, versus the FICTION of the negative reviews. For one these people have only played the demo or only played the full game for a short time or not even at all. This is NOT a cheap remake of Empire Earth, this game is distinct on it's own terms and creativity. This is NOT an age of whatever copy either. If you look at both games and play both games enough there are tons and tons of differences and the graphics of age of empires are choppy, old and look completely dated compared to Rise of Nations. You'll find so many things that are completely different from Empire Earth or Age of Empires. For one if you try multiple cueing of buildings to produce troops from both sets of barracks or stables in AOE it can't be done. it CAN be done in Ron. The biggest difference is SMART CITIZENS. rather than just sitting around doing nothing after giving them a task like in AOE or AOM they will move on to another task, you don't have to manage your citizens as much. This option can be adjusted in the options menu. The reviewer who said just another age of empires in a new box is an idiot and doesn't know what he's talking about. He obviously hasn't played the game enough. A lot of the people who are complaining are people who have lousy systems with old video cards and older processors. I saw this game on a top of the line machine with the most recent video card from ATI and the top of the line AMD processor. It was beautiful, it ran smooth, the unit animations were crisp and detailed, just like the buildings. There were no crashes, no hang ups, no errors and it was gorgeous and an absolute joy to play. The Interface and multiple city aspect is easy to master and easy to sort out once you play the game enough. It takes time to get used to things like attrition damage and national boundaries.
You have plenty of time to think and plenty of time to act when playing. this game is not a click fest. Also once you learn some hotkeys and simple one step commands the game gets even easier and you become a better player. This game is full OF STRATEGY. As for the AI being to easy ? that's a total joke. Big Huge Games had to actually make "moderate" level a bit easier because it was too hard. SO don't believe anything about the AI being too easy, it's not true it's another case of FICTION. Microsoft did not make Age of Mythology or Age of Empires and they didn't make this game either they just supplied the financing and publishing. the fact is the game was done by a NEW company called Big Huge Games. You can find out all about them with a simple google search. This game takes RTS games to a whole new level and it takes time to get used to. it's a Brilliant Game. BUY IT. If you'd like to see another good review look at the one that say step learning curve (think he meant steep) he/she got the facts right. I've played just about every RTS there is and i can tell this game is no clone. It took everything wrong with previous RTS titles and fixed it.Once you play the game enough and realize just how much your able to customize almost every aspect of the game you'll realize what a brilliant rts title this is.
You have to play the game for more than a few hours or even a few days to really understand and get into the depth of this game. Things like flanking and unit formation, generals special abilities, and the use of spies. I'd be willing to be a lot of negative reviwers have never been to the later ages such as the modern and information ages, that's when the real fun begins. You have 18 nations in total all with thier own unique units, but once you hit those later ages you get Aircraft that are easily controlled and useful and you get things like Cruise Missles, Nuclear Weapons and ICBM's. there's also additional researches after the information age at the library so it doesn't turn into a nuke fest and an armageddon timer where if any player uses too many nukes everyone loses. lastly unlike most other rts titles you have ALL forms of battles, land, AIR, and SEA. Just wait till you see the fun of using Aircraft Carriers, Submarines, Destroyers and don't forget Special Forces units that can "snipe" enemy units and plant bombs as well. Rise of Nations delivers everything you could ever want in a RTS Title. Don't forget about the zoom in feature either. All the way zoomed out for tactical and all the way zoomed in for those up close and personal battles. Since playing Ron all previous RTS titels have become boring like thiers something missing, including Starcraft. It's so frustrating when you can't dolbe que buidlings after getting used to it.
Rating:
Summary: One of the Best Games ever published
Review: This game combines the greatest aspects of Civilization III, Red Alert 2, Empire Earth, and Age of Empires. I would honestly have to rate this as one of the best strategy, war games I have ever played. I used to think Command and Conquer Generals was cool...until I played this!! Anyone who loves any of the aforementioned games NEEDS to buy this game. No questions asked. You will not be able to turn your computer off!
Rating:
Summary: Fun
Review: This is a fun game, but I can see how it would get old. The gameplay is just crazy fun, and there really is no other match in terms of the thrill you get when you lead your enormous army into a crazy free-for-all. The system is perfect. However, there's not enough gameplay modes. You can go online, but that's not an option for dial-up. You can do a QUick Battle, the real meat of the game. Loads o' fun. Lastly, there's Conquer the World mode. I thought this was like campaign mode in most RTS games. Really, it's like playing RISK on your computer. In fact, it's exactly like RISK on your computer. Kinda like Solitaire, it's really fun, but only when you're bored. In other words, you can only play a computer in Quick Battle, so there's no sory! That's part of an RTS game. Oh well, the gameplay easily makes up for that, a lot of un. But I'd give it 5 stars and I don't see how it could EVER get old if it had a few more modes, such as CAMPAIGN.
Rating:
Summary: Cheap re-make
Review: I love good strategy games, but this doesn't qualify. This is a cheap remake of Empire Earth. The graphics are worse than that of Empire Earth, and the unit movement is very glitchy.
Advise to microsoft game development crew; "Start over!!!"
Yes, the upgrades are cool, but repetitive.
This game held my attention for about 4 hours. Then I got sick of it, and was ready to sell it back.
Rating: 
Summary: Reveiw of Rise of nations
Review: Hi guys. This game is extremley fun, but I give it only three stars because right now Microsoft is having a software problem so it freezes every now and then. Heres the gist of the game. You start out in the ancient age with only a small city and a library with five citizens. You work your way through the ages by doeng research at the library collecting neccisary rescourses such as oil,metal,food,knowledge,wood. and wealth.
Tip for player: Conduct diplomacy with your opposing nation(s), build a giagantic army then wage war.
Overall this is a great game. Keep up the good work, Microsoft!
Rating: 
Summary: Needs a usable interface
Review: Ack! So many of the RTS games have the same interface. Its horrible. The multiple city aspect of this game only makes it worse. Its nearly impossible to fight a major battle as well as keep your cities producing because you have to go and find each city, click on each building and upgrade/build with it. A simple sidebar that allows you to keep your cities running without leaving the battle would be awesome. As it is its just a frustrating experience. The addition of the researching just makes for one more thing you have to try to keep track of in this jumbled game. Obviously this game is a meld of Civilization and Age of "Whatever". It fails at both and leaves you in a click fest where you have no time to think and no time to act. I hope these games move away from the frantic clicking to a more thought out strategy game, but I dont see it happening because people play these game like they're going out of style. I for one hope they are.
Rating:
Summary: Great game
Review: This game is great. Many of the interfaces are similar to Age of Empires, so if you liked that game you will like this one. The tutorial is the BEST I've ever encountered, so if you have never played a real time game just try the tutorial. The tutorial has eliminated the need for a manual. More campaigns would have been nicer, so I am looking forward to the Thrones and Patriots add-on. Haven't tried the multi-player yet, so I cannot comment on it.
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