Age of Empires III: The Asian Dynasties Expansion Pack Reviews

• THE EXPANSION THAT MAKES Age Of Empires 3 TRULY SHINE!

  
  By A74TA8X5YQ7NE on 2007-10-25
  This is a solid expansion to the AGE OF EMPIRES III, the one you will play for hours at end. Although the 3rd installment of AoE was the weakest of the series (I personally enjoyed much more AGE OF EMPIRES II), I have to admit that I was really pleased by this expansion - and cannot complain but about minor things.
  
  After the lukewarm WARCHIEFS, which introduced Native American civilizations, this expansion introduces three major Asian civilizations (Japanese, Chinese, and Indian) - with their corresponding campaigns.
  The Japanese campaign takes place during the Shogunate civil wars. The Chinese campaign (trying to avoid any...political shoals) is on the fictional discovery of the New World by the Chinese (I would have preferred it to be about the unification of China under the Qin dynasty - but, then again, that would make it quite similar to the Japanese campaign). Finally, the Indian campaign is centered on the uprooting of the British East-India Trading Company.
  All three campaigns follow a scenario that will surprise you at many points (and frustrate you in some others). Nevertheless, keep in mind that this is an RTS game - so don't expect a JAMES CLAVELL novel plot twists.
  
  The graphics are just a notch better than WARCHIEFS, the interface has received only minor retouching strokes and one can rely on finding, once more, the known exceptional gameplay. Not only are the new units carefully balanced, they can be seamlessly incorporated with the previous AGE OF EMPIRES III units. Stacking Samurai infantry against Highlanders anyone? (yes, only one can survive in the end...)
  
  My only complain is the music: AoE's are of the games that are played for endless hours. So music is important not to be tiresome. This being the ASIAN DYNASTIES expansion, I felt that the game developers missed the chance of introducing some new and distinctly Japanese, Chinese and Indian tunes. Well, one can always bring his own music I guess...
  
  One of the best expansions this year.
  
  RECOMMENDED.
  
  

• Asian dynasties - A sweet addition

  
  By A2CSVDM5ACMAEI on 2007-11-23
  Well i dont want to spoil anyone by giving out too many details about China, India and Japan. ill just say that 3 new nations are unique, fun and easy to play with. All have specific only to them cards, wonders, military units. The artists at Big Huge Games did a great job of capturing the unique building structures for the new factions too. They all share similar economic tree but have elemets that distinct them like Japan can't hunt but has Cherry Orchard, and its houses serve as shrines that attract wild animals and generate 3 different resources one ata time. India cant kill cows from lifestock but uses them to gather Export, a new resource which you can spend to buy some units from Consulate where you ally with European nations. Each new side has own strategy it can implement. India relies heavily on Elephants, China on its Banner Army. Its very fun, voice acting of villagers is excellent and amuzing as always so its really a joy to listen villagers speak back on new languages. Graphics are passable, they are a bit oldy compared to some other rts games on the market but the gameplay is what counts. Its a rare and generous package of new visuals, new gameplay, and absolutely crucial improvements to the core game. If you weren't an Age III fan before Asian Dynasties, get ready to be one now. A good title for fans, worth buying for those hoping for a reinvigoration of the series.
  
  
  
  

• Wonderful Expansion to AOEIII

  
  By A3516ZEL33IXPV on 2007-11-24
  I have lots of added fun with this all the time now. More maps, new
  explorer abilities like stun and team/twin explorers! I found a new icon
  in the upper-right of descriptions that allow you to read about all the
  Real-life-history involved with the items. Sure glad I finally found
  that! Jeff in TX
  
  

• Newer maps, more experience cards, and more fun

  
  By AZL5TO7ZOGIWN on 2008-01-20
  This expansion pack adds extra challenges with newer maps like the Silk Road map which allows for capturing trading posts instead of building them and further adding the option for a "monopoly win" of the routes. Other maps have treasures and guardians in the sea as well as on land. You can now earn up to having 25 experience cards in a deck as you progress in experience and they have done away with that lame customization of a home city which never made much sense. The experience cards for the new civilizations are also more diverse and innovative than the standard ones in Age III. For loyal players of the series you may get a sense that Age of Mythology was the influence for many of the new features, and a happy marriage at that.
  
  

• From a demo player's perspective...

  
  By A2E9QUBL3OIH0Q on 2007-11-20
  I've always been a huge AOE fan, but in the past few years, I haven't really kept up with my playing. Recently, I've been really getting back into the Japanese and Asian culture, and I found out about this expansion. I downloaded and installed the demo with ease. The first warning sign I found; the moment I initalized the software, I was given a warning that my video card couldn't support the game. I'm running an intergrated intel video card, the basic one that came with my PC. I proceeded anyways, for I laugh in the face of system failures.
  
  The demo consists of a 1-level scenario, skirmish mode, and even a multiplayer mode. I was disappointed with the lack of game missions, but found skirmish mode to be more than enjoyable! An extremely cool feature is the ability to build a "deck" of "cards". These cards are essentially bonuses that add to game play. One example is a card that gives you seven samurai. In order to unlock new cards, you have to gain experience through playing skirmish mode. The cards are completely optional; you don't NEED to use the cards to win, but they add such awesome effects! My favorite has to be the "dojo" card, which creates a dojo building that generates armies for no cost (accept to population). Overall, I am extremly pleased with the game play, especially with the amount replay value!
  
  Now the con: you need a decent graphics card to really enjoy this game. The graphics were fantastic, even at 600x800. But during large battles, specifically sea battles, I ran in to major lag, and several times I had to reboot my system.
  
  Overall, awesome demo, which left me with positive impressions.
  
  
• if a fan great game
  By A2V4Z0VF6SJRY1 on 2007-12-02
  This game is by far the funnest online mulitplayer experience out there. If you are looking to buy this game for purposes other than mulitplayer i suggest u don't. The ranking system of eso is amazing so well accurate over 4,000 ppl online at one time.
  
  
• Fun game!
  By AZ7LGYMK2JQVF on 2007-11-26
  Fun addition to the original AOE 3 and the warchiefs expansion, this game will give you more stuff to do with the 3 new asian civilizations.
  
  The campaigns are alright, but I was not buying this game just for the campaigns.
  
  So if you are looking for a fun strategy game to play, this is one that is definitely worth trying.
  
  
• Awesome Expansion...
  By A3SZDJK32TJXZC on 2007-12-06
  Age of Empires III: The Asian Dynasties Expansion Pack
  I thoroughly enjoyed the new civilizations and their corresponding technologies. I've played all the new single player scenarios.
  
  I only wished the designers would have incorporated more civ-specific music.
  
  
• No European Addtitions
  By AM6GA6H61EXY7 on 2007-12-12
  Although fun, this expansion pack added only maps and civilizations, unlike the previous expansion pack "The Warchiefs". Absolutely no enhancements were made to the previous civilizations.
  
  
• Same Fun, More of it
  By ALAJBVJSU1Z0X on 2008-01-23
  I enjoy all of the Age of Empires games and this one is another great expansion with new gameplay. You get to learn new ways to build your army and new ways to fight which keeps it interesting. The best fun is playing head to head with my husband. We are very competitive.
  
  
• Great Game to Waste Many Hours At!
  By A38OCDJQOAQ2XG on 2008-07-14
  I am an original Age of Empires user - back when they came out with the very first one, I had it so this review might be a little biased. I love Age of Empires and play it with friends every now and then.
  
  This game is fairly complicated but my 11 year old brother gets it pretty well. Basically you start off with villagers and a town center. The whole goal of the game is to gather resources to build up an empire. The more wood, gold, and food you get the more people, buildings, soldiers you can create.
  
  This game is fairly PC intensive so if you have an old system don't count on getting the full effect of the game. I have a Quad 2.4Ghz system with a Nvidia 8800GT card and with all the settings turned up the fans are going 100%. That being said, the graphics are very impressive if turned up all the way.
  
  The Asian Dynasties Expansion pack is pretty sweet - adds the Chinese, Japanese, and other Asian countries. The way they build is completely different than how the other empires build (say the British). If you already have a British city - create a Japanese one just to try them out, you won't be disappointed. This expansion pack adds a ton of units and options to purchase while playing. Get it!
  
  
• More of the Same
  By A1O7S22L13O318 on 2008-01-08
  The Asian Dynasties is another add-on for Age of Empires (III). It turns out to be more of the same with different looking characters. Gather wood, gather food, gather coin to build up your empire so you can fight other empires for world dominance. I bought this for my 12-yr old son who got quickly bored with the game once he played it for a short time. I enjoyed it somewhat because the characters tend to speak something that sounds like the Chinese language.
  
  
• Age of Empires III: THe Asian Dynasties
  By A1EJYEILD47ZD3 on 2008-06-14
  I have played AOE II, and AOE III. For some reason, I never really got into AOE III, until I got this expansion and The Warchiefs. They really complete this version of AOE III.
  
  The different game play options are awesome. With no fighting treaties for 10,20 and 30 minutes, King of the Hill, Regular Supremacy, and Death Match.
  
  If you liked AOE II, you will really enjoy this expansion. I would recommend a decent graphics card and at least a duo core processor, or the slight delays in game play will drive you nuts.
  
  
• Great But...
  By A2GMJ806KCUPD on 2008-07-31
  It's a great expansion pack but I still like Warchiefs better. Warchiefs I find is more entertaining, and Dynasties you can get tired easily. I would buy Warchiefs first if you want to buy Dynasties.
  
  
• Awsome fun well worth the money for hundreds of hours of fun!
  By AFI41J6S8SAE4 on 2008-02-14
  This game just keeps getting better with every expansion. You can't go wrong if you dig stradagy games. Great graphics and many diffrent configerations to keep you interested.
  
  
• AOE 3 is not like the last 2.
  By AZBXYXO71RX08 on 2008-07-18
  I have the first 2 in the AOE series. This one is not as historic, as far as I can tell. The stories aren't the same and it seems more like WarCraft than the last 2 games. Still, some of the graphics are great and the game itself is simple enough for younger audiences, despite the "T" rating. My wife also likes the background music.
  This addition was nice because it had more in it than the War Chiefs, 3 story lines, as opposed to only 2. That ups the value in my book.
  One drawback I do see is that it deals with the Chinese sailing to the Americas. While there is some speculation about this among historians (yes, I watch the History Channel), there still isn't enough evidence to support it. Plus the game shows them landing on an Eastern shore. Some archeologists are actually looking for a Western landing. So there's more fiction/speculation than previous iterations. If the hype dies on the Chinese bit, that sort of makes this a little mediocre.
  Then there's the Indian saga. That one has a little more historical relevance to it. So to me, it was actually better.
  Still, if you're into AOE, this is certainly more graphically stunning but stories are not on par with earlier versions.
  
  
• So-So
  By A2XH12OIEAU7MO on 2008-07-24
  This is not all that great, but does give a few more scenarios. I am disappointed that a company with such capabilities would not take a step up with this game. I find my self playing The Conquerors from Age 2 most of the time. But then I am a grouchy old lady; perhaps the younger folk like these new versions. I was disappointed.
  However the product was delivered in a most timely manner. It is the product I am unhappy with not the service.
  
  
• The hours just fly by
  By A1B9JE8PXODEQA on 2008-07-30
  This game is great! I was completely impressed! I was a huge fan of Age of Empires II and played it constantly, bought III but I think my computer was a little slow, so I wasn't able to really say much about III. After a new computer and the expansion coming out, I am completely sold on it and spend hours and hours on it. Whether it's the campaigns or endless skirmishes. The detail paid to the historical accuracies is great!
  
  
• Great game
  By A3N83XAYWYLEVY on 2008-09-15
  I love the age of empires games and this one is no exception. The graphics are amazing. The few things they added, like export, are great too. Good changes but the game still plays the way you are familiar with.
  
  
• Calidad.....
  By A2T5WPA4NFGB5S on 2008-10-12
  Exelente para jugar sus misiones en casa, practicar estrategia y lanzarce a jugar online en el servidor de microsoft que trae incorporado...
  
  

• Age of Empires III: The WarChiefs Expansion Pack
• Age of Empires III, Gold Edition
• Age of Empires III
• Age of Empires: Collectors Edition (Jewel Case)
• Sid Meiers Civilization IV Beyond the Sword