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> Results: Age of Empires III: The Warchiefs
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The ESRB says:
Blood: There's nothing offensive though plenty of blood is spilled during battle. Violence: War rages every time you boot it up. Combat prowess is the currency of success. Age of Empires III didn't quite live up to Ensemble's prior strategy conquest, Age of Mythology. The War Chiefs expansion for Age III doesn't really bring the game any closer to equaling their past triumph, but at least it's got some new wrinkles for you to explore. There were various excuses given for making Indians unplayable in the original game, but apparently there was only one solution for an expansion, and that was to put you in charge of these proud men and women. The new Indian races acquit themselves nicely as a unique addition to the Age III formula, though the home city design doesn't really fit with their history. Iriquois, Sioux and Aztecs aren't going to be looking toward the old world for supplies, but as the Age games often go, gameplay takes precedence over historical authenticity and you either accept it or play something else. In this case, it's worth hanging around. The campaign game tells an entertaining story and if you dig triggered scenario events and puzzle-like missions, you get plenty of bang from the gameplay too. Skirmish and online play is where you should end up shortly afterward, where all that history junk is just flavor for the real gameﾗdestroying your buddies and sending their villagers six feet under on random maps. It's nothing revolutionary, but solidly entertaining nonetheless.  
The entire game is built around flinging men, horses and cannon at one another in a battle to the death. If war isn't your kids' bag, then this isn't a game for them. There is a lot of history in this expansion, as there is in every Age of Empires game. Sure, it doesn't play out the way it should on the battlefieldﾗall too often you get swirling masses of crapﾗbut that doesn't mean there isn't something to be learned from the people and places involved as well as the implements of destruction.
Something like Civilization IV is undoubtedly a better choice for teaching kids some history, but if you're tired of watching them play sci-fi and fantasy games, then this series is a good bet. Kids have to think fast, strategize and execute those plans before their opponents do, and the battles are often fluid with tactics changing in seconds. The game definitely makes you put on your thinking cap while at the same time entertaining with visceral action. Comments? Chat about it in our forums! Format For Printing | Tell A Friend | Digg | Slashdot | del.icio.us | Buy This Game Browse Amazon.com's selection of "age of empires" themed games Home > Review Archive > Video Games > Results: Age of Empires III: The Warchiefs |
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