Age of Empires 2 HD Announced

[EddieA]

Microsoft has announced that an updated version of Age of Empires 2 is coming to Steam in early April.  It will include all the content from AoE2 and its expansion and updated graphics.

[KC]

I don't understand why they would do this when AOE3 has been out for years.  Was AOE2 that much different or better?

[PR_GMR]

Wasn't AoE2 the best of the series? I would play it.

[Eco-Logic]

Definitely the best in the series.   I wish they would make a tablet version.

[Lordnine]

I don't understand why they would do this when AOE3 has been out for years.  Was AOE2 that much different or better?

I preferred AOE2 much more than three.  Very different feeling games.

[Isgrimnur]

I've been toying with the free to play version.  It's like they wanted to draw the tutorial out for weeks, and make it so that every civilization had to go through it.  

If the price is right (and I have no doubt that it will be eventually), I might double dip on AOE II.

[CeeKay]

If the price is right (and I have no doubt that it will be eventually), I might double dip on AOE II.

$19.99 ($17.99 for pre-order on Steam) seems a bit to much for a game this old IMO, even with updated graphics.  I'll wait to see how it has held up before even thinking about what sale price it'll have to hit before I buy it.

[Isgrimnur]

No doubt.  I have a hard time justifying it before it hits $5.  I may even wait until it's $2.50.

[lex]

Well, the HD remaster is being made by Hidden Path, who made the Defence Grid games, so I think that's worth a little more than bargain bin price at least.

And from their description they will also be integrating Steamworks for matchmaking and use Steam Workshop for mods.

The game is worth whatever you think it is, but it looks like they are putting some care into the release.  I'm hoping they get enough sales so they get to re-make Rise of Nations!!!.

you can see some comparison of what the old and new graphics look like here

http://www.hiddenpath.com/games/age-of-empires-ii-hd-edition/

Oh, and it looks like one of the founders of Hidden Path is the original lead designer for AoE II

[Gratch]

AoE II is one of the very few RTS games that I enjoyed.  Looking forward to an HD release.

EDIT:  My brain read it that they were redoing AoE II using the AoE III engine.  Now that's something I would be on board for.  Looks like they're just enhancing the original though, and after watching the trailer, it really doesn't look much different.  I'll probably just skip it and track down my original discs buried somewhere in the closet.

[Isgrimnur]

You can get AOE III complete along with the pre-order for 27.99.  3 is under a 50% sale promo for $19.99 by itself, but it was in a flash sale back in January for $9.99, so bear that in mind. 

[siege]

I'd be interested for nostalgia's sake but not at $20. Always thought RoN was the better RTS of the two.

[corruptrelic]

While I enjoyed AOE 2 for multiplayer, it had some of the worst singleplayer AI I've seen in an RTS.

I remember playing skirmish maps and having the AI send formations of troops at me - except - they never stopped to engage until they reached their destination. My troops would hack and slash away at them and they'd never fight back.
Instead of having an "auto attack" to defend themselves while moving, they would keep moving no matter who was attacking them.

Made skirmish a headache. Hopefully there are still a good number of people playing online to warrant another purchase.

[EngineNo9]

This looks so much like the original that it hardly seems like an HD remake.  It doesn't seem like they increased the number of frames of animation or anything like that, and the original graphics were already pretty detailed for the time.

[Lordnine]

I think they are really just missing their ideal price point.  At $10 I think pretty much everyone with fond memories of the original would pick it up just for the nostalgia and the fact that it will using Steam matchmaking. 

At $20 we start to look for faults…