Age of Empires II

Released in 1999, "Age of Empires II: The Age of Kings" is a real-time strategy (RTS) computer game. Developed by Ensemble Studios and distributed by Microsoft, the game offers players the opportunity to guide historical civilizations through famous eras like the Dark Ages and the Feudal Age.

Like the first title in this popular series, "Age of Empires," players gather resources and build towns, which must be defended against invasion. Players must also ravage and pillage rival empires by killing enemy units and razing buildings. Each time a player's civilization reaches the next age, access is granted to new technology, buildings, and units.

Players may choose to try their hand at a campaign scenario that mirrors a major historical event, like Joan of Arc's campaign in France or Genghis Khan's invasion of Europe. Random maps are also an available.

There are a few ways to win the game. A player can destroy all enemy units and buildings on the map, he can locate and control all of the relic treasures on the map, or he can build a "Wonder" and prevent its destruction for a set amount of time.

Players can also play in a death-match style where the civilization begins with tons of resources and units where the goal is to eradicate the opponent. Alternatively, players can play a campaign where the goal is to kill the enemy king before his or her own king is killed by enemy units.

The allure of "Age of Empires II" is its addictively simple gameplay that doesn't get boring even with repeat campaigns. The game is visually complex, yet easy to master, and provides hours of straightforward entertainment.

When it was first released, "Age of Empires II: The Age of Kings" scored high reviews from most respected game reviewers and the game broke sales records during its initial release. Over a decade after it came out, players were greeted with a redone version that boosted graphics to high definition levels.