The battle drums resound as Age of Empires IV strides onto the battlefield of console gaming. In an unexpected revelation during Gamescom’s Opening Night Live, the latest installment of the legendary strategy series announced its arrival on Xbox Series X|S and Xbox One platforms, offering players a chance to immerse themselves in the grandeur of history’s conquests. Having had the privilege of an early preview, here’s what you need to know about this triumphant release.
In response to fervent demands from the dedicated Age of Empires community, Age of Empires IV: Anniversary Edition unfurls the iconic real-time strategy experience in the comfort of your living room. This edition joins the ranks of Age of Empires II: Definitive Edition, which graced Xbox consoles earlier in the year.
If you’re a novice warrior or a returning veteran, Age of Empires IV: Anniversary Edition on Xbox provides a welcoming battlefield. The new tutorial methodically guides you through the basics of erecting settlements, resource gathering, and forging armies, culminating in epic sieges. This comprehensive initiation eased my reentry into the game’s mechanics, reigniting my passion for strategic warfare.
Equipped with newfound knowledge, you’ll commandeer ten distinct historical civilizations spanning the High Middle Ages to the Early Renaissance. Venture through four single-player campaigns that relive historical wars of the era. The tutorial phase acquainted me with the English and French civilizations in the Norman Conquest, priming me for deeper immersion into the main campaigns.
While the prospect of managing armies with thumbsticks might seem daunting, fear not. Expertly honed by strategy aficionados at World’s Edge, Climax Studios, and Relic Entertainment, the controls elegantly translate keyboard shortcuts into an intuitive controller interface. Switching between building, villager actions, and military directives flows seamlessly through a new radial menu meticulously crafted for the console interface.
Enhancing the experience, the Villager Priority System empowers you to dispatch villagers to tasks at a click, ensuring no untapped potential remains. As someone occasionally neglectful of my population’s needs, this efficient system ensured no resource went untapped.
The satisfaction of seeing your efforts bear fruit is unparalleled, whether it’s cavalry breaching palisades or archers strategically thinning enemy ranks. The controls effortlessly let me manage units, dive back into the fray with a single button, and summon reinforcements swiftly when the battle intensified – all without a hint of sluggishness, a feat rarely achieved on a console.
Veteran Age of Empires IV players will seamlessly adapt to these new console controls. However, for those loyal to keyboard and mouse, rest assured, these inputs are fully supported on the console version.
Much akin to the conquerors of history, Age of Empires IV: Anniversary Edition stakes its claim on Xbox consoles, solidifying its position and emerging even mightier. Embark on your conquest with Age of Empires IV: Anniversary Edition, available on Xbox Series X|S and Xbox One, or dive in via Game Pass.
The age of strategic dominance has dawned anew.
