bit-tech Shopping: Microsoft Rise of Nations: Gold

• Microsoft Windows 2000
• Microsoft Windows 2000 Professional
• Microsoft Windows 98
• Microsoft Windows 98 SE
• Microsoft Windows ME
• Microsoft Windows XP
• Microsoft Windows XP Professional

Rating: 8

Time with product:

Strengths: One game and one expansion in one package. Many nations and units to choose from.

Weaknesses: None at the moment.

Summary: Microsoft puts the original Rise of Nations and Rise of Nations: Thrones and Patriots expansion into one package and sell it as one. Original Rise of Nations features somewhat different approach than the Command & Conquer series. It takes longer time and better management for the player's chosen nation to prosper and develop more advance weaponry and technologies than others. There are many nations and units to choose from, though some nations and its units share similarities with other nations. Expansion reinforce it with additional units and few nations. Rise of Nations try to take RTS with different approach than just futuristic stories, weapons, and technologies, it tries to make the player build a nation from ground up. The process is somewhat slow moving, but it appears to appeal to players that want to try different stuffs. Even though it only uses simple 3D characters and environment, it is still fun to play. Games, especially RTS games, that want to try different style of RTS games should give it a try.

Rating: 8

Time with product: 3 Months

Strengths: Interesting campaigns and rule changes associated w

Weaknesses: I wish that they had better tutorials. Once you set the difficulty level at average or above, the computer can be devilishly difficult to beat.

Summary: This is a good RTS game. I like how there are so many technologies to research, and that the game covers such a long time period. You can go from the Iron Age until the Information Age. Unfortunately, there is much simplification involved to make the game still playable. Like, there are only two different types of fighters that you can launch from aircraft carriers--Corsairs and later, Hornets. This game is missing physical barriers that players can construct. It would be helpful if you could build walls. I like how there are different campaigns, and that the rules vary for each campaign. This is most evident in the Cold War campaign. It's not all divide and conquer. Some missions require converting enemies into friendly units, some missions are raids, and others are strictly defensive. There is a good variety of scenarios.I wish that this game had better tutorials. It has some, but none of them describes what the government is good for. The scenarios cover most of the technology ages, but they don't cover advanced strategies. For some of us dummies, we struggle fighting the computer when the difficulty level is just at average.Overall, this is a great game. I've spent countless hours on it, and I haven't gone through all of the scenarios and campaigns. It's a more satisfying feeling to conquer the world in this game than i

Rating: 8

Time with product:

Strengths: The gold edition comes with the original Rise of Nations and the expansion. Excellent gameplay and balance between the different nations.

Weaknesses: Gameplay is unrealistic when ancient units deal the same amount of damage to modern units.

Summary: Definitely one of the better strategy games, especially among the history based ones. Being able to play as a historical figure and recreating history is one of the best aspects of the game.

Rating: 8

Time with product: 5 Weeks

Strengths: as good as AOE, but you can play for thousands of years (in game of course), you can operate your tank to kill the weak horseman.

Weaknesses: too too many units, pretty old

Summary: I know this is a pretty old game, as old as AOE, but it is also a good game, as good as AOE. the biggest difference is you can only play for some ages in AOE, but you can play for thousands of years in RON. Different nations, different tactics, different priorities let you choose different ways to win.

Rating: 10

Time with product: 2 Months

Strengths: Strong AI to play against, it isn't as good as the starcraft AI but comparible. Loving the Risk type world map, much better than Command/Conquer since it is part of the game strategy. Good Multiplayer

Weaknesses: Tech tree is minimal and annoying to deal with; units from the Modern Day tech could still be crippled by units from the Mediveal age? Can't name your own civilization.

Summary: I usually wait till things go gold before buying the game; the bugs have usually been cleaned out and the entire series is at my fingertips. After playing this game, I wondered why I had waited so long! I was immediately attracted to the multiple strategy layers of the game. It was a two-part long distance goal and short-term battles. A map layout allows the player to view where they should strike next, or perhaps where they will be hit! And don't think you won't be hit by the AI computer, whose level of play can be increased to quite an aggressive challenger. Otherwise the battles are the standard light versus heavy units with various artillery units to swing the battle. A player could be very methodical about all of their battles, but this game also forces the player not to lose sight of a 'bigger' picture on the world map. Definitely recommend now that the game price has dropped; these days, I will usually find myself playing this game rather than Age of Empires 2.