Age of Empires III: Definitive Edition

About Age of Empires III: Definitive Edition

Age of Empires III: Definitive Edition arrived on October 15, 2020 as a complete package for PC. Tantalus Media handled the heavy lifting to update this classic Xbox Game Studios title. It remasters the original game with fresh graphics and audio while including every expansion pack plus new content never seen before. This entry follows the Black family across three generations in a fictionalized take on colonial history. You control unique factions like the Knights of St. John or the United States as you battle for resources and territory. The setting shifts from Malta to the Caribbean and eventually the American frontier. It is the standard bearer for real-time strategy fans who want a polished version of a beloved franchise without hunting down old discs.

Gameplay

Sessions involve gathering wood, food, and gold to build bases while scouting enemy movements. You manage your town center to produce villagers and military units like musketeers or war wagons. The campaign mode guides you through scripted scenarios where objectives change between destroying buildings and defending positions. Each act features a different playable faction with unique technologies and unit types. Multiplayer matches let you compete against others in real time to crush their economy before they can build an army. Controls feel tight once you get used to hotkeying production queues and moving groups. Co-op play allows two people to team up against AI opponents or each other. The pace speeds up as you advance through ages, unlocking powerful artillery and specialized units for your civilization.

What Players Think

Players on PlayPile rate this title with solid approval metrics that align with its 75 Metacritic score. Community reviews highlight the value of getting all expansions in one purchase. Average playtime stretches well beyond the main story due to extensive multiplayer matches. Completion rates show many users finish the campaign while returning repeatedly for skirmishes. Mood trackers indicate high engagement during weekend tournaments and co-op events. Review snippets frequently mention the satisfaction of remastered visuals compared to the 2005 original. Data shows a dedicated player base that still logs hours weekly. The community appreciates the balance changes made in this edition over previous versions. Achievement hunters find plenty of challenges to unlock across different difficulty settings.

PlayPile's Take

This version is worth buying if you want the complete package without hunting for old DLC. The price point reflects a full remaster that fixes technical issues from the past. Achievements add extra goals for completionists who want to master every mechanic. You should play this if you enjoy managing economies and commanding armies in historical settings. The campaign offers a solid narrative hook but shines brightest in multiplayer modes. Skip it if you prefer modern RTS mechanics or fast-paced action games. This game demands patience and strategy rather than reflexes alone. It remains a strong entry for the genre despite its age.

Storyline

The story-based campaign mode consists of related scenarios with preset objectives, such as destroying a given building. In Age of Empires III, the campaign follows the fictional Black family in a series of three "Acts", which divide the story arc into three generations. All three acts are narrated by Amelia Black (Tasia Valenza). Instead of playing as one of the standard civilizations, the player controls special civilizations linked to the character or period that each Act portrays: the Knights of St. John for Act I, John Black's Mercenaries for Act II, and the United States for Act III. Most player units speak English, with the exception of unique units such as Spanish Rodeleros and Lancers or German Uhlans and War Wagons. Act I: Blood In the late 16th century, Morgan Black—a Scottish-born mid-level commander of the Knights of Saint John— defends their last stronghold on Malta from the forces of Sahin "The Falcon" of the Ottoman Empire (in a telling of the Great Siege of Malta). When the Turks flee, Morgan and his superior Alain Magnan discover a stone library telling of the Lake of the Moon; the Fountain of Youth, a rumored source of eternal life; and a secret society called the Circle of Ossus, who seek the Fountain for their own gain. Alain orders Morgan to sail to the New World to search for the Lake, but Morgan is attacked by the pirate Elisabet "Lizzie" Ramsey and lands in the Caribbean islands. After re-engaging and defeating Lizzie, Morgan's men find some navigation charts and sail to New Spain. In Yucatan, Morgan's forces destroy an Ottoman base. However, Spanish conquistador Francisco Juan Delgado de Leon captures Sahin. Morgan then defends his new Aztec allies from the Spanish and learns Delgado was looking for the map to the Lake of the Moon, disguised as a town square mosaic. Morgan sets sail for Florida, but his fleet is damaged by a hurricane and docks in Havana, Cuba, where he earns Lizzie's respect and promises her the gold from the Spanish treasure fleet if she takes him to Florida. In Florida, while Alain claims the lake, Morgan and Lizzie capture Spanish treasure ships and Sahin, killing Delgado in the process. Sahin tells Morgan that he only wanted to keep the Circle from claiming the Fountain. Alain orders Morgan to execute Sahin, but Sahin and Lizzie convince Morgan that Alain actually leads the Circle of Ossus. At the Lake of the Moon, the group captures an enormous stationary cannon called a "Fixed Gun" from the Circle. Using the Fixed Gun, Lizzie's fire ships and Morgan's ground forces hold off the Circle's elite Boneguard soldiers, kill Alain, and destroy the Fountain. After the battle, Sahin returns to Turkey, and Lizzie, having lost her Spanish gold, leaves for the Caribbean, although it is hinted she and Morgan will reunite. Morgan silently wonders whether they really found the Fountain of Youth, then refills his empty canteen with water from the lake.