Age of Empires II: HD

Age of Empires II: HD Edition is a real-time strategy video game developed by Hidden Path Entertainment and published by Microsoft Studios on PC in 2013. It represents a full graphical upgrade built over the original AoE2 title that was developed by Ensemble Studios in the distant 1999. It features a wide array of high-definition graphics upgrades, built-in support for widescreen monitors, and a brand new multiplayer front-end that can communicate with digital distribution service Steam.

Set in the Middle Ages, the game tasks players to establish their home base, manage the construction of defensive structures, train a wide array of military units, and prepare themselves for confrontation with neighboring civilizations which can be controlled either by real players in a multiplayer environment, or computer-controlled AI. During the flow of a single match, the players are encouraged to upgrade their base and units by moving from one historical age to another (Dark Age, Feudal Age, Castle Age, and Imperial Age), and reach the most powerful and capable “endgame” units and structures that can be a key for securing a victory on a field. Players can choose between playable 13 civilizations. Age of Empires II: HD Version features an array of five single-player campaigns, the additional modes of play, and an upgraded multiplayer module that is powered by Steam.

Immediately after the release of this HD remaster, the popular consensus between media and the worldwide audience settled on the belief that the game could have gone through a more extensive remaster procedure. The visuals are not upgraded dramatically, and the initial game balance favored more aggressive play. However, the game did get deserved praise for its better compatibility with modern Windows OS and integrated support for Steam Workshop, an online distribution platform for user-made content and mods.

The game has also received three large expansion packs – fan-made project “The Forgotten” in the summer of 2013, “The African Kingdoms” in the spring of 2015, and the “Rise of the Rajas” in late 2016. These expansions infused into the original game 13 more playable civilizations, a wide variety of new maps, balance changes, better AI, and much more.

After the end of the work on HD Edition, a brand-new version of Age of Empires 2 was released to the public in 2019 under the new moniker “Definitive Edition”.

System Requirements - Can I Run Age of Empires II HD Edition

• Memory: 4 GB
• Graphics Card: Intel HD 3000
• CPU: Intel Core 2 Duo E8400
• File Size: 2 GB