So I decided to pop in Age of Empires 2 for the first time..

[RyaNtheSlayA]

...in a year or so. Wow... I forgot how totally addicted this game is. It is absolutely amazing, now I remember why I wasted much of my summers on this game. Its brilliant, do yourself a favor if you don't have it, go get it, it runs on pretty much any computer that has come out in the last 10 years (available from walmart for 10 bucks) and is addictive as hell.

[Killette]

I definitely agree, many hours of my life have gone into that game

[NebachadnezzaR]

My first RTS, so many fond memories...

[Niode]

Awesome game. It's hard to find peeps to play with nowadays. I sold it for a pittance. I might look into getting it again...

[PharmaceuticalCowboy]

I enjoy the Age of Empires series as well. I feel that 2 was the pinnacle for the Empires series, but I really really liked Age of Mythology as well. Age of Empires 3 just felt like more of the same, and it really didn't build on anything from AoE2 or AoM.

[REPO Man]

My first RTS, so many fond memories...

Mine was Dark Reign.

But as for AoE2, I might try that out.

[RyaNtheSlayA]

The worst part about 2 is that 3 cant hold a candle to it. I bought 3 being excited to have more gunpowder units (Spanish are the only ones in 2 i think) and having more industrialized tech. Sadly wrong. Another amazing game though is Rise of Nations, its deeper as far as gameplay but I wouldnt say its any more fun then Age of Empires, esspecially since it takes about 2 hours to get a good nation going vs. Age of Empires 2 where it takes 15 minutes before you can start beating on the small guys.

Which brings me on to my next giant gripe w/ NEW "RTS's" and the like. I extremely hate 99% of all new RTS's simply for the fact that they stupidify (haha fun word right?) the genre. Age of Empires 2 built a good premise of ease of use combined with decent difficulty and basic diplomacy so even Command and Conquer fanatics would still be challenged but new players wouldn't be alienated. Problem with, oh lets bring my most hated one WORLD IN CONFLICT. There is no, strategy, or diplomacy, the whole game is about being the first to get enough battle points to nuke the shit out the other player and win. Now sure there are a few DECENT new RTS's, like Sins of a Solar Empire, Age of Empires 3 (it doesn't suck, its just not as good as its predecessor), and Company of Heroes (dumbed down but not so much that you feel stupid playing it). Sure some of you will attest to CnC3, but honestly, Generals is just about the same game as far as my experience. Anyway, all this has lead to me recommending you a game, try out Blitzkrieg as well, it really does take strategy and micromanaging pro's to win at this game but a little secret is you can pause the game select units, and tell them what to do w/o resuming the game.

[The Apprentice]

I wrote a review on this a while back, I loved it. I also have Age of Empires III. I love that game too, I play as Russia. I don't know, I think I might just appriciate the unique qualities of the third game more than you guys do since I've heard a lot of negativity about it, for example I like the new emphasis on trade and alliances with native americans, much improved naval battles, and the cards.

I also have the Warchiefs expansion, and I think it was a good expansion, but not as great as conquerors was for AoE2.

[fastbilly1]

Either 2 or Mythology is the pinnacle of the series - I have both thinstalled for lanparties. However Im a C&C fan so Red Alert 1&2 are still my preferred. Actually I should have a topic sometime this week in the other systems board about the topic of RTS's. If yall could all help out I would be much obliged.

[link343]

It's hard to find peeps to play with nowadays.

http://www.igzones.com/

Over 1000+ players! I haven't played this game in a long time but it is the best RTS, imo. We should have somesort of get together with this game.