Age of Empires Expansion Pack: The Rise of Rome
Those familiar with the original Age of Empires will need no badgering to try out the sequel. Don't be confused by the 'expansion pack' title, this is a complete game. Though not enough of a change to warrant the title of a sequel, the expansion pack provides new scenarios, weapons, technology and enemies.
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by Microsoft
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Age
of Empires expansion pack: The Rise of Rome, is a real-time strategy and simulation game.
It can probably be best summarised as a cross between 'Civilisation' and 'Settlers 2',
though played at smaller terrain area similar to 'Warcraft'. Confused? Don't be.
Essentially the game is based around the pre-Roman period in the Mediteranian (in the demo
you get to be Carthagenian), with four civilisations battling each other while trying to
stem off the growth of the Roman power base. Each campaign scenario begins with different
resources available, such as building types, technolgy, people and natural resources.
Advances in technology cost resources, as does training troops or erecting new buildings.
The available technologies seem historically accurate, though the time frame is somewhat
skewed — I'd like to think that it took ancient humans more than 800 units of food
and five minutes to develop the Bronze Age. Though there is a big
empahsis on realistic technological advancement, what sets this game apart from the other
titles based on the development of humanity is the war scenarios. They are much like
Warcraft. You move units around and repair damaged ones. Rather than just attacking towns,
send the troops in to take out the barracks first in order to prevent reinforcement, or
destroy their source of food. Diplomacy is also possible if you are inclined towards
pacifism. Good luck, because none of the other nations are. 
The game engine seems intelligent, though the need to watch over every unit becomes tiring for the player. Send somone off to cut trees, and they won't stop until all the trees are gone. You should learn to manage resources well, as in many scenarios the food or wood soon stops arriving. And don't get caught out without watchtowers. Roman soldiers are hard to stop when the only defenders are a couple of guys with slings.
Age of Empires expansion pack is a captivating game. Those who lost many hours to the original should start cancelling social events before installing. The gameplay is enough to pull any Warcraft fan into a new challenge, and the development side will attract fans of SimCity and Civilisation. Age of Empires takes the best of a number of genres and puts them together in one annoyingly good package.
by Ari Weisz-Koves
