By Lovely town, I’ll accept it
Version Assessed: PS5 Pro / European
- review by Khayl Adam
Age of Empires 4: Anniversary Edition is yet another remarkable real-time strategy title from the now illustrious series that brought the subgenre to prominence in the late 90s and early 2000s (with ‘prominence’ being a relative concept).
Crafted by Relic Entertainment and first published by Xbox Game Studios in 2021, it’s now PS5 players’ chance to immerse themselves in a high-caliber, refined title filled with content from subsequent DLC expansions.
AoE 4 encompasses numerous missions distributed across various campaigns inspired by the lives of authentic historical figures and cultures, from William the Conqueror and the Normans, to the Mongols and Genghis Khan.
Documentary-style openings for each mission merge real-world visuals of historical landmarks with in-engine gameplay, reminiscent of the History Channel.
Unlockable video segments termed “Hands on History” await triumphant players, featuring discussions with historians and specialists on subjects such as castle construction and incendiary arrows, which we thoroughly enjoyed.
The UI has been revamped with the gamepad in consideration, showcasing the same streamlined command inputs and time-efficient automation for villager oversight and the economy that we praised in Age of Mythology: Retold. Nevertheless, it still requires some acclimatization.
Alongside the campaign, players can partake in comprehensive medieval combat on randomly created Skirmish maps against the AI, or engage in online warfare with others to compete for leaderboard recognition.
Diverse civilizations provide unique playstyles and gameplay peculiarities; the Germanic Holy Roman Empire utilizes formidable Landsknechte infantry capable of AOE strikes and Prelate support units that wield inspiring holy relics to enhance nearby villagers’ collection rates.
The French, in contrast, benefit from having the most formidable cavalry in a period dominated by armored riders, complemented by unique early artillery, as well as some advantageous trade bonuses.
One of the more visually appealing strategy titles available, AoE4 performs excellently on PS5 Pro, and its elevated production values are apparent.
Maintaining a connection to its own history, Age of Empires 4: Anniversary Edition represents an exhilarating advancement for the series and a satisfyingly intricate game in its own right; you’re likely to discover something new with each session.
Khayl Adam is Push Square’s wandering Australian correspondent, a journalist dedicated to hunting down the richest, most enticing PlayStation narratives on the internet. With six years of experience as a freelance journalist and skilled wordsmith, RPGs hold his first great passion, while strategy and tactics games are a close second, genres where he is more than happy to specialize.