Anyone else play this? Sadly, the online community has really fallen apart since M$ canned the Zone (main place for online play). It is an absolutely amazing RTS. The units and techs are balanced almost perfectly and there are a limitless number of strategies. Sadly, so much of this was removed from AoE3 (though not a bad game either), but AoE2 is still the king. The Mayans shall rise again! Anyone else with me?

This game is brilliant. I still play it with my cousin and roommate every now and then. We prefer to either re-enact historical battles (sometimes in a less historical map / world -- we prefer Black Forest), i.e. Spanish vs. Saracens, Franks vs Britons, Koreans vs. Chinese etc.

The Chinese are undoubtedly the easiest civ out there. The Cho Ko Nu are, when upgraded completely, basically the walking equivalent of a machine gun.

I need to add that I prefer to use shooting units as specials, not melee, or -- shudder -- the War Elephants of the Persians. Useless lumps of flesh.

I still play it sometimes, for old times sake. I particularly like the Mongols and their fast horse archers.

I agree that AoE 3 lacked a few things compared with AoE 2, but Age of Mythology on the other hand came really close to the same feel. I recently went through that whole campaign again, because i just recently installed the Titans expansion, and i wanted experience the whole thing again right from the beginning.

But since i discovered Company of Heroes, i have all other RTS games on hold, simply because it's nothing like i've ever played before, arguably the best RTS ever. It cost me a few nights of sleep in the last week. :D

Hehe, I agree, this is an awesome game which is great fun multiplayer.

And as Link said, the Elite Cho Ko Nu are awesome :D

I've never heard of Company of Heros. I looked at some reviews, it looks really good. How's the multiplayer? Are units fairly balanced? Do you only play as the Allies?

Elite Cho Ko Nu are great, though British Longbows are stronger and outrange them, so the Chinese are often dead before they're even in range. I usually play as Mayans -- very good flush game, good unique unit, decent tech tree (despite lack of stables and cannon galleys), amazing archers.

I was particulary fond of the Teutons. Although Teutonic Knights were so slow they got slaughtered against archers. And Aztecs. I loved Aztecs.

The best part about Age of Empires II was that I enjoyed every civilization equally. I loved, I truly loved trying each and every one out to the max.

Can't tell you anything about the multiplayer part, simply because i never play online.

And yes, the units are fairly balanced, the missions are historically correct, and you play as Abel Company throughout the entire campaign in France, starting in Normandy. In the campaign you can only play the Allies, but in the single missions you can also choose to play the Axis.

The game setup even reminds somewhat of AoE, you need to build a base yourself in order to be able to train units, and to train those units, you need resources, which you can get by claiming fuel and munitiondepots. Without a handfull of those depots, you won't be able to train units, and you'll be toast in no time. Needless to say that there's plenty of skirmishing around those places.

hey I'm in the middle of replaying (yet again...) the official campaigns of AoE2. Just finished the Saladin one.

HOUJOUM !!! :D

shashtim ban!