Rise of Nations: Extended Edition

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Rise of Nations is back! Play the updated classic with full Steamworks integration and enhanced features, including Twitch.tv streaming!

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Reviews

95%

Audience ScoreBased on 6,969 reviews

gameplay151 positive mentions

stability43 negative mentions

gameplay
459 mentions
33 % positive mentions
65 % neutral mentions
2 % negative mentions
The gameplay of "Rise of Nations" is widely praised for its blend of real-time strategy and turn-based mechanics, offering a rich and engaging experience that combines elements from both the "Age of Empires" and "Civilization" series. Players appreciate the depth and variety of gameplay, including unique mechanics like territory control and attrition damage, which enhance strategic options. Despite some criticisms regarding outdated graphics and occasional bugs, the core gameplay remains addictive and accessible, appealing to both newcomers and veterans of the genre.
- “The gameplay is challenging and requires strategy and tactics to succeed, which keeps you engaged for hours on end.”
- “It successfully combines diverse gameplay mechanics, strategic depth, and a rich historical backdrop to create an engaging and immersive experience.”
- “Rise of Nations features many unique factions, procedurally generated maps, 8 ages (many more than Age of Empires), many creatively implemented mechanics, naval warfare, and much more.”
- “Community balance patch is recommended to fix a lot of gameplay bugs.”
- “However, the preservation of the original gameplay mechanics and balance ensures that the essence of Rise of Nations remains intact, staying true to its roots.”
- “The ai isn't that smart (really only does like one strategy), multiplayer is mostly dead, the gameplay doesn't have as much variety as other similar games like AOE (Age of Empires), and support of the game is obviously long gone.”
graphics
402 mentions
30 % positive mentions
63 % neutral mentions
7 % negative mentions
The graphics of "Rise of Nations: Extended Edition" have received a modest facelift, enhancing the visuals while maintaining the charm of the original 2003 game. While some players appreciate the improved textures and widescreen support, many note that the graphics still feel dated compared to modern titles, with a mix of 2D and 3D elements that may not appeal to everyone. Overall, the visuals hold up reasonably well for their age, but there is a strong desire among fans for a more significant graphical overhaul in future iterations.
- “One of the standout features of the extended edition is the graphical overhaul, which gives the game a modern look while preserving the essence of its original charm.”
- “The improved visuals breathe new life into the diverse and vibrant world maps, making each civilization and terrain more immersive than ever before.”
- “Visually, rise of nations still holds up remarkably well, with its art style standing the test of time.”
- “The graphics are clearly dated and the music tends to get irritating (I just turn it off and have my own in the background).”
- “The graphics update is not going to blow anyone away, but it's good enough to keep the game from looking too old.”
- “Even though the graphics really do show that it was made a long time ago, with the steam extended edition they're much more bearable and hardly a problem.”
music
186 mentions
45 % positive mentions
49 % neutral mentions
6 % negative mentions
The music in "Rise of Nations" is widely praised as one of the standout features of the game, with many players considering it among the best soundtracks in RTS history. While the soundtrack is described as complex, atmospheric, and nostalgic, some users have reported issues with music playback, such as volume resets and interruptions during gameplay. Overall, the soundtrack significantly enhances the gaming experience, making it a memorable aspect for many players.
- “The soundtrack is simply gorgeous and the gameplay is both simple and deep at the same time.”
- “The music is the best one in here though and just made me love it more.”
- “The soundtrack is phenomenal, truly a highlight of each and every game.”
- “The music is broken, and that really really sucks because that was one of the game's best characteristics.”
- “The music gets repetitive.”
- “The bad: the music is unbearably loud and your only solution is to check the box which turns the music off.”
story
79 mentions
19 % positive mentions
73 % neutral mentions
8 % negative mentions
The game's story aspect is generally viewed as secondary to its gameplay mechanics, with many players noting that while there are engaging campaign modes and historical scenarios, the narrative often feels minimal or repetitive. Some players appreciate the strategic depth and variety of missions, but others express disappointment in the lack of a cohesive story, suggesting that the game is more about the mechanics than a compelling narrative experience. Overall, the story serves primarily as a backdrop for gameplay rather than a central focus.
- “The depth of the storyline and the historical units of the various countries is such that you might play the whole (conquer the world) campaign mode 20 times and still find new things each sub-game of the campaign.”
- “Campaign has good storyline value to it (all 5 campaigns from Alexander the Great to Cold War) with hours of enjoyment and various difficulty levels making a challenge even for the veteran players.”
- “Great game, great storyline, lots of fun hours of gameplay.”
- “I don't think anybody came for the story.”
- “No story - even in the historic campaign missions, there's only one objective: destroy your enemies, and that can get old real quick.”
- “The only really serious complaint that hardcore strategy fans could level at Rise of Nations is that the game doesn't have a story-based campaign like so many other recent real-time strategy games.”
replayability
64 mentions
53 % positive mentions
42 % neutral mentions
5 % negative mentions
The game boasts exceptional replayability, with players highlighting the variety of nations, unique abilities, and numerous multiplayer modes that enhance the experience. Many reviews emphasize the game's depth, customizable settings, and randomly generated maps, contributing to an almost infinite replay value. Overall, it is praised for its engaging content and the ability to keep players returning for hundreds of hours.
- “Teaming up with friends or engaging in epic battles against opponents from around the world adds an extra layer of excitement and replayability.”
- “The variety of nations, each with unique perks, adds a level of depth and replayability that keeps the game fresh.”
- “The sound track is great, micro is thorough and rewarding, prioritizing macro is feasible; there are a ton of units to employ and nations to choose from, not to mention the randomly generated maps (you choose one of 20+ styles and a map is randomly built based on the parameters you set)--all of which adds up, meaning there is nearly infinite replayability to this game.”
- “Fans of the original Age of Empires series are better off with superior titles like Age of Mythology or Age of Empires 3 with all the expansions, which both offer more replayability and strategic depth.”
- “The replayability is very high due to many available nations to choose from with many different historic periods to play with.”
- “There is a ton of variety, whether it comes to civ choices, map choices, victory conditions, etc., there is just a ton of customizability for each game you play meaning that the replay value for this title is immense.”
stability
47 mentions
9 % positive mentions
0 % neutral mentions
91 % negative mentions
The stability of the game, particularly in its extended edition, has been widely criticized due to numerous bugs and glitches, especially in multiplayer modes, which often lead to crashes and connectivity issues. Players have reported specific problems such as damage not registering for certain units, freezing during gameplay, and various graphical errors. While some users have noted improvements in running the game on modern systems, the overall consensus is that the game remains unstable and buggy, detracting from the experience.
- “It was well worth buying again on Steam; it runs great on Windows 10 and has improved graphics.”
- “Game runs great on Windows 8, love the price through Steam, can't ask for much more than that.”
- “Very in-depth and bug free.”
- “The game is great, but for some reason the multiplayer is buggy and crashes a lot.”
- “I did quite a bit of troubleshooting, checking file integrity, etc., but nothing fixed it.”
- “Can't recommend it in this buggy state.”
optimization
21 mentions
24 % positive mentions
62 % neutral mentions
14 % negative mentions
The optimization of the game has received mixed reviews, with some players praising its smooth performance and improved graphics, while others report significant issues, particularly in multiplayer modes, including crashes and lag. While many appreciate the updates for modern systems, there are still notable optimization problems that detract from the overall experience, suggesting that further improvements are needed. Overall, the game's performance varies widely depending on individual setups and specific gameplay scenarios.
- “Still one of the best RTS of all time, runs smoothly in this version.”
- “Purchased when it first came out on CD-ROM, replaced my disc copy with a digital copy, and really like the updated resolution and optimization.”
- “The graphics are gorgeous, the performance is almost flawless (I did experience some odd unit disappearances in my first game) and the modern resolutions are a welcome addition.”
- “Game is horribly optimized.”
- “Steam shouldn't even allow such poorly optimized games on its platform.”
- “My rig is amazing yet I still get stuttering at times.”
humor
18 mentions
94 % positive mentions
0 % neutral mentions
6 % negative mentions
The humor in the game is widely appreciated, with players finding comedic value in absurd scenarios, such as historical figures making questionable decisions and the overpowered nature of certain nations. Many reviews highlight the fun of playing with friends, where competitive banter and humorous moments, like the struggle over resources or unexpected defeats, enhance the experience. Additionally, the inclusion of over 100 taunts adds a layer of humor that resonates across different languages, making the gameplay even more entertaining.
- “And witnessing questionable stuff like Louis Bonaparte changing his government to democracy will always be hilarious.”
- “The only game I've played where constant bickering over the 'right' to build the precious porcelain tower has actually threatened several serious friendships (and also become a rather funny meme).”
- “The game features 100+ taunts which can be used to communicate with people in other languages (the taunts play in each player’s language) with a funny or strategic tone.”
grinding
17 mentions
12 % positive mentions
24 % neutral mentions
65 % negative mentions
Overall, players find the grinding aspect of the game to be tedious and time-consuming, often requiring significant investment to progress. While some enjoy the strategic elements and variety in gameplay, many feel that the resource management and unit responsiveness can lead to frustration and a sense of monotony, especially in the later stages of the game.
- “A bit grindy... sometimes.”
- “A bit grindy sometimes.”
- “It's unbelievably tedious.”
- “You'll need a second life for grinding.”
- “Fun in bits, gets tedious when you play it too much.”
monetization
7 mentions
43 % positive mentions
14 % neutral mentions
43 % negative mentions
The monetization model of the game is praised for its absence of modern practices such as microtransactions, in-app purchases, or time limits, allowing players to enjoy the experience without financial pressure. Reviewers appreciate that it avoids the pitfalls of typical cash grabs and unfinished content often seen in contemporary games. Overall, the game is seen as a refreshing alternative to the monetization trends prevalent in the industry today.
- “It runs on most machines, and it doesn't have any modern monetization BS.”
- “There's no real time limit, and unlike on phone apps, there's no in-app purchases or waiting 24 hours for a building to be built.”
- “That's right, no horrible microtransactions.”
- “Good games like this will never come into existence and it will be just typical cash grab content and rehashed sequels to further grab the cash.”
- “Over a decade later it still holds up and is far better than many other present-day RTS games that too often tend to be buggy, unfinished cash grabs.”
- “Microtransactions for a good cause.”
atmosphere
5 mentions
80 % positive mentions
-40 % neutral mentions
60 % negative mentions
The game's atmosphere is enhanced by beautiful maps, immersive sound design, and powerful music that evokes a historical feel. The combination of realistic fighting settings and painterly graphics creates a captivating environment, while elements of city-building and resource gathering further enrich the overall experience.
- “The game offers beautiful maps and atmospheric music.”
- “The sound design is immersive, adding to the atmosphere of conquest and warfare.”
- “The style for the realistic fighting setting mixed with its almost painting-like graphics combine to create a wonderful atmosphere for the player.”
- “The atmosphere feels lifeless and uninspired, making it hard to get immersed in the game.”
- “Despite the potential, the atmosphere lacks depth and fails to evoke any real emotion.”
- “The environments are bland and repetitive, which detracts from the overall experience.”
emotional
4 mentions
100 % positive mentions
0 % neutral mentions
0 % negative mentions
Players find the emotional aspect of the game to be impactful, as it evokes feelings of nostalgia and heartbreak, particularly in relation to the cancellation of a sequel. The experience of engaging in battles feels genuine, with some users expressing that the AI's actions can elicit strong emotional responses, making it a memorable and enjoyable strategy game.
- “A very fun RTS that is one of the few that made me feel like I was actually fighting a war.”
- “Heartbreaking when they canceled Ron 2.”
- “One of the very few strategy games that I actually enjoy. Nostalgia made me buy it, the AI made me cry, and the nukes made me smile.”