Thread: OT | Age of Empires IV "Relive the Middle Ages, All Over Again"
Official Thread

El Rey

The GOAT
 
Platforms
  1. PC
  2. PlayStation
  3. Nintendo
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Age of Empires IV is a real-time strategy video game developed by Relic Entertainment in partnership with World's Edge and published by Xbox Game Studios. It is the fourth installment of the Age of Empires series. The game is scheduled to be released on October 28, 2021, for Windows.

Game events are set to be in the Middle Ages. The game will have 4 campaigns at launch and a total of 8 civilizations available.

Minimum System RequirementsRecommended System Requirements
Requires a 64-bit processor and operating system.OS: Windows 10 – 64 bit, or Windows 11
OS: Windows 10 – 64 bit, or Windows 11CPU: 3.6 GHz 6-core (Intel i5), or AMD Ryzen 5 1600
Processor: Intel Core i5-6300U, or AMD Ryzen 5 2400GRAM: 16 GB
Memory: 8GBGPU: Nvidia Geforce 970 GPU, or AMD Radeon RX 570 GPU with 4GB of VRAM
Graphics: Intel HD 520, or AMD Radeon RX Vega 11VRAM: 4GB
DirectX: Version 12DirectX: Version 12
Additional Notes: CPU with AVX support requiredAdditional Notes: CPU with AVX support required

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To start their empires, players will need to explore the world around them to locate essential resources. Using these resources, they'll construct buildings, produce units, and build their economies — all the while fighting off a barrage of enemy raids and attacks. Guide your empire through the ages, and when the time is right, strike your enemies with the full force of your empire, claiming victory!

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The game is available on Steam for $59.99 or included as part of the Xbox Gamepass. Get the gamepass!

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Rus

The Rus are highly skilled hunters, adept in the wild. Supported by their battle-ready cavalry, the Rus grow more powerful as they expand to new frontiers through the Ages. The Rus civilization tells the story of a fledgling empire caught between powerful opponents over the years 882-1552 CE. Hardened by devastating invasions, political instability, and bitter winters, the Rus were built for survival. Masters of hunting, trade, and wooden construction, they would rebuild their realm as their leaders fought to birth a new empire under Moscow. Experience the Rus civilization through four Ages portraying distinct moments in history: in Age I, traditional Slavic with Norman and Norse influences; in Age II, the Rus' Golden Age with Byzantine influence; in Age III, the fall of Mongol influence; and in Age IV, the rise of the Muscovy Duchy.

Special Units
Warrior Monk, Horse Archer, The Streltsy

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Holy Roman Empire

The Holy Roman Empire is a civilization shaped by a powerful infantry army, made stronger by the support of their religious unit — the Prelate. The Holy Roman Empire spans the years 936-1517 CE. The empire, centered in a region that comprises modern Germany, claimed to be the rightful successor to the ancient Roman Empire. Its emperors controlled central Europe with a stalwart infantry of exuberant Landsknechte, and aimed to capture the center of the Christian world itself: Rome. The Holy Roman Empire stands out through their early access to religious units, available from the First Age onwards. Through careful use of the Prelate, players will be able to buff Villagers, speeding up their economic growth.

Special Units
The Prelate, Landsknecht

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Chinese

The Chinese civilization is one of impressive constructions, gunpowder strength, and a dynasty system that provides unique benefits and varied strategies to overcome the opponent. The Chinese civilization is a thriving, unique civilization that grows through their dynasty system over the years 907-1644 CE. They are powerful defenders behind formidable fortifications. The engineering prowess of the Chinese dominated the world for centuries, a trait present in Age of Empires IV. You live through history as Chinese culture, strength, and innovations created ripples across Eurasia, growing your empire as you move through vibrant Tang, Song, Yuan, and Ming dynasties. Your units speak Mandarin Chinese, a Sinitic language originating in North China.

Special Units
The Imperial Official, Fire Lancer, Nest of Bees

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English

The English are a defensive powerhouse in Age of Empires IV. Their strength is unparalleled, reinforced by the power of their archery units, a firm control over castles and defensive buildings, and a highly dependable food economy that sustains them through the Ages. Age of Empires IV introduces the English civilization during the Anglo-Saxon era in Great Britain spanning from 850-1555 CE. As you progress from the Middle Ages to the Late Renaissance in the 16th century, you bear witness to the story of a civilization that survived the fall of empires, conquerors, and plagues. Age of Empires IV has you build up the English civilization across four eras: the Anglo-Saxon, Anglo-Norman, English Gothic, and Tudor eras. Each Age has its distinct style from architecture to armor, with populations speaking Old English in the Dark Age and evolving to Early Modern English by the Imperial Age.

Special Units
The Villager, The Longbowman, The Man-at-Arms

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Delhi Sultanate

The Delhi Sultanate civilization is at the forefront of technological innovation. They have a strong focus on research and defense, with an edge in technological advancement over other civilizations. The Delhi Sultanate civilization is based on the powerful empire formed from the invasion of the Ghurid Dynasty (originating in Persia) into northern India spanning the years 879-1526 CE. For 300 years, this empire shaped an independent Indo-Islamic region, adopting technology present in India. Advancing through the Ages has you experience this civilization's rich history. With the first Age reflecting the Turkish and Iranian Ghurid Sultanate, playing the Farsi/Persian-speaking Delhi Sultanate civilization brings you through the Mamluk and Khalji Dynasty, Tughlaq Dynasty, and the Sayyid and Lodi Dynasty—getting a taste for the Delhi Sultanate's vibrant cultures and defiant strength.

Special Units
The Scholar, War Elephant, Tower War Elephant

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Mongols

The Mongols are an agile civilization, excelling in hit-and-run military strategies and capable of expanding armies rapidly. The Mongols are extremely capable in hit-and-run strategies, thanks to their exceptional mobility and nomadic nature originating in the Great Steppes of Central Asia. You witness the Mongols through the Ages, spanning from 1000-1500 CE, as a disciplined civilization, recognized for changing history in connecting the East to the West. The Mongols are known for their unique structure and are at their most powerful when playing to their strengths in tight groups. They speak Mongolian—the most widely spoken of the Mongolic languages.

Special Units
The Khan, The Mangudai

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Abbasid Dynasty

The Abbasid Dynasty is an adaptive civilization due to their ability to research unique upgrades at the House of Wisdom. These upgrades impact and alter core game elements and mechanics, providing a unique way to build your empire. The Abbasid Dynasty civilization spans the years 750-1517 CE and is based on the Abbasid Caliphate and the Mamluk Sultanate. The empire was born in modern-day Iraq, but after the Mongols destroyed its capital of Baghdad in 1258, the seat of power moved to Cairo. You will experience the "Golden Age of Islam" playing the Abbasid Dynasty – an Arabic-speaking civilization. This period saw flourishing technological innovations as the medieval world raced towards the modern era. The Abbasid Dynasty ruled the spiritual heart of the Islamic world for nearly 800 years, surviving civil wars, the Crusades, the Mongol invasion, relentless piracy, and rebellions.

Special Units
Camel Archers, Imam

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French

Known for their calvary, the French are a fearsome army whose armored knights and charges can tip the tides of battle. The French civilization in Age of Empires IV spans the years 840-1559 CE and is based on a medieval France that fought its way from adversity to prosperity. Overcoming invasions, plagues and revolt, France emerged as a powerful modern nation. Playing the French civilization will take you through the age of chivalry and honorable combat, to the time of Jeanne d'Arc and France's darkest hour, to the formation of a disciplined standing army capable of liberating the nation with the roar of cannon fire.

Special Units
The Royal Knight, The Arbalétrier, The Cannon

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Norman Campaign

Age of Empires IV takes players on a journey through the ages as they command influential leaders, build expansive kingdoms, and fight some of the most critical battles of the Middle Ages.

At the start of the Norman Campaign — just one of four campaigns available in Age of Empires IV — William of Normandy sets forth on the hard-fought road to conquer England and become its new king. What follows is an epic story of succession, family conflict, anarchy, and rebellion — all with the players in the front seat.

Hundred Years War

Ravaged by years of English raiding, France must gather its might to resist the onslaught. Over the course of a century, this fragile country evolves by virtue of chivalric knighthood, the fierce determination of a peasant girl named Jeanne d'Arc, and the explosive force of cannon fire. During the 100 Years War campaign, players will defend France, turn the tide of war, and forge the foundations of the French nation.

The Rise of Moscow

The story of Moscow's rise begins at a humble outpost on the Moskva River and ends with the emergence of a new superpower. Playing as the Rus and their iconic leaders, players will battle the relentless brutality of the Mongol invasion, unite allies and foes, and force a change of fortune – from subjugation to independence.

The Mongol Empire

Under the unifying rule of Genghis Khan, warring Mongolian tribes came together and forged the largest contiguous land empire the world has ever known. What the Mongols lacked in resources, they made up for with tactics, martial skills, and adaptation. The Mongol campaign takes players through the thunderous rise of this awe-inspiring empire.

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Eagerly waiting for reviews from actual gamers. I am not considering buying at the moment, but maybe later once the design is ironed out I might change my mind.
 
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I gotta try it. I just went to install it and it requires 218.65 GB (adding to OT) to install! THAT IS INSANE. Like COD insane.
It's 34GB without separate 4K Videos pack (which supposed to add to a 90GB total). Some kind of bug. Are you using MS Store version? Don't put it in the OT.
 
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I gotta try it. I just went to install it and it requires 218.65 GB (adding to OT) to install! THAT IS INSANE. Like COD insane.
Wtf... I haven't seen anything in this game that would warrant such outrageous size. 10 factions, mediocre graphics, few campaigns and maps. I honestly expected around 20-30, with DLC down the line maybe to around 80 but 220 just for the base game? Holy shit.
 
It's 34GB without separate 4K Videos pack (which supposed to add to a 90GB total). Some kind of bug. Are you using MS Store version? Don't put it in the OT.
Using the MS store version yeah, that's what it told me.
Wtf... I haven't seen anything in this game that would warrant such outrageous size. 10 factions, mediocre graphics, few campaigns and maps. I honestly expected around 20-30, with DLC down the line maybe to around 80 but 220 just for the base game? Holy shit.

Hahaha, yeah to be honest as much as I love part 2, which I've now put over 400+ hours into, I really don't see this looking too hot.
 
Using the MS store version yeah, that's what it told me.


Hahaha, yeah to be honest as much as I love part 2, which I've now put over 400+ hours into, I really don't see this looking too hot.
Well hopefully Hainz is right and it is just over 30 gigs.
 
Just played a few missions in the campaign and I love it.

It all same AoE.



1) Sound and Music - its perfect, when you have a single scout you hear the movement of a horse and scout ONLY. When you move an army you hear everything. Horses, spears cracking, multiple marching footsteps. This also changes if you use a single unit army. So for example if you have horses only, you only hear horses riding.

Music is fucking perfect. Its old AoE music except more epic.

2) To advance you need to build wonders (not just click a button to advance) so you're now seeing more detailed buildings to add to your city.

3) City layout. This is just perfect. I always wished they had a layout structure for city building. When you build a building a road would appear. Now that is happening. So you can organize your city more effectively and the layout looks more detailed anc looks like a city than a disorganized mess.

4) Navel Ware fare is the same, some new units for you to use as you approach fortresses

5) Every Civilization has a unique skill, Mongols are the best imo.

6) Building is quicker but cost more. Some units cost the same for example 50 food for a settler/worker.

7) Same gold, wood, and food. Felt they could have add an extra dimension here. Like influence. So for example if you made friends with an AI civilization you would need to keep them happy so they can help you or make sure you civilization reach goals that would impress them or else they become your enemy.

8) The AI is bit weird at times so if you click to attack an enemy. Sometimes there is a lag or they run past the enemy, stop a little distance away and then turn around and attack. Its not always like this but I notice it for some of the missions especially when you're playing against the comp.

9) The graphics are good for 2021. Bit cartoony at times, like the navel warfare part but its good.

10) Still playing through the campaign so can't say much for now.
 
Gamepass for 1 dollar is a pretty good deal. I've played the opening tutorial it was pretty cool even if it did not have you build a smith, church and market to show those aspects.

Presentation is nice, and the graphics look better in game then at first glance. Sound is... interesting, both the OST and the units.

The influence from Age of Mythology is nice. It's also cool how building up your settlement has smaller farms, roads being built.

Garrisoning archers on walls, towers are small touchs from stronghold 1. More please.

Makes me wish we could get Rise of Nations and Legends DE.

Very much agree zooming out needs fine tuning.

Unit abilities, like archer stake walls, camping and infantry building siege weapons are nifty changes.

What I very much dislike -

The campaign is awesome as a interactive documentary. However it lacks any of the storytelling intimacy of 2 and 3's campaigns.

The goal achieved sound is the under attack alert from 2 which is throwing me off constantly.

IV is promising. I like it.
 
Tell you what the impressions here are the complete opposite of the Steam forums.... its a bloodbath. Defo gonna try it on Gamepass first 🙈😅
 
Tell you what the impressions here are the complete opposite of the Steam forums.... its a bloodbath. Defo gonna try it on Gamepass first 🙈😅

Well there's probably no way in hell it could measure up to 2. People are not gonna be happy with it no matter what.
 
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AoE 2 is one of the best games ever made and the DE version actually made a lot of improvements. You see the same said about Ocarina of Time, Chrono Trigger, ect.

Did you ever play Star Wars: Galatic Battle Grounds? It is Age of Empires 2 with a Star Wars reskin. I loved it, it had at-ats, ships and shields. It really added to the gameplay.
 
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Okay so almost complete the campaign and I was expecting more for nearly $60

Campaign is not as good as I was expecting....documentary style is fine but its boring


Not seeing any map editor, when army dies I was expecting to see the body quickly decay. That's not happening, it just fades on death.

So in AoE you would see the body turn to skeleton.

Weirdly I can't choose my colors in skirmish modes.

Ships aren't tiered anymore like AoE 3


It feels just like 2.........I would personally wait for a sale or use gamepass.
 
Finally just started the campaign and it seems decent so far, but I am terribly annoyed by how blatant the LOD transition is whenever you zoom in or out. Surely there's no good reason for this...
 
Okay so almost complete the campaign and I was expecting more for nearly $60

Campaign is not as good as I was expecting....documentary style is fine but its boring


Not seeing any map editor, when army dies I was expecting to see the body quickly decay. That's not happening, it just fades on death.

So in AoE you would see the body turn to skeleton.

Weirdly I can't choose my colors in skirmish modes.

Ships aren't tiered anymore like AoE 3


It feels just like 2.........I would personally wait for a sale or use gamepass.
Screw that, I'm currently working on AOE2 campaigns anyways. I got 6 more to beat to 100% the game. Hopefully by then they've worked some of this shit out.
 
Okay so almost complete the campaign and I was expecting more for nearly $60

Campaign is not as good as I was expecting....documentary style is fine but its boring


Not seeing any map editor, when army dies I was expecting to see the body quickly decay. That's not happening, it just fades on death.

So in AoE you would see the body turn to skeleton.

Weirdly I can't choose my colors in skirmish modes.

Ships aren't tiered anymore like AoE 3


It feels just like 2.........I would personally wait for a sale or use gamepass.
How many missions are there across 4 campaigns?
 
How many missions are there across 4 campaigns?

I think there are 37. That's including the intro mission with the spear men and side missions.

The mongol empire is the best.

I think there are 21 missions in the main story but I wasn't counting.
 
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I think I played 37. That's including the intro mission with the spear men and side missions.

The mongol empire is the best.

I think there are 21 missions in the main story but I wasn't counting.
There are side missions too? That's cool. 37 missions seems pretty good.
 
There are side missions too? That's cool. 37 missions seems pretty good.
Yah go into art of war. Its a training area. I think it has 5 missions and each missions is timed so get a gold medal you have to finish in "x" time, silver bronze etc.

Skermishes is just skermishes vs the AI with different grounds and some scenarios like aggressive expansion etc.

and then you have the 4 main story lines with daily quest needed to complete.
 
Finally just started the campaign and it seems decent so far, but I am terribly annoyed by how blatant the LOD transition is whenever you zoom in or out. Surely there's no good reason for this...

Apprently ppl are having issues with the zooming, it's a universal problem and most ppl are hating it.

I went back to age of empires 3 to see what they took out.

No card system in this game. Which seemed to be fun especially as you're leveling up. wish they added like a purchase (not real money) or black market here to buy added perks and weapons not in the tech tree or outpost

They do have the tech tree system as you progress through the various ages.

One thing I think made AOE3 well loved about the story line was how it played on both fantasy and real world stories. Like the fountain of youth or whatever it was called. AOE 4 is entirely historical.

Edit - I'll also add the tiny details are better but also lacking in some areas.

Example when you're building you see outlines of little ppl moving at quick pace all over the building. Sound design is much better as I explained earlier. But there is a lack of violent effects in this game compared to previous games, dunno if that was intentional.
 
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Apprently ppl are having issues with the zooming, it's a universal problem and most ppl are hating it.

I went back to age of empires 3 to see what they took out.

No card system in this game. Which seemed to be fun especially as you're leveling up. wish they added like a purchase (not real money) or black market here to buy added perks and weapons not in the tech tree or outpost

They do have the tech tree system as you progress through the various ages.

One thing I think made AOE3 well loved about the story line was how it played on both fantasy and real world stories. Like the fountain of youth or whatever it was called. AOE 4 is entirely historical.

Edit - I'll also add the tiny details are better but also lacking in some areas.

Example when you're building you see outlines of little ppl moving at quick pace all over the building. Sound design is much better as I explained earlier. But there is a lack of violent effects in this game compared to previous games, dunno if that was intentional.

Turns out there is a fix for the LOD transitions. There are two settings above "High" for the environmental detail, and if you max it out, the detail will stay the same regardless of zoom level. Environmental detail is the only setting that goes above High, so I missed it at first.
 
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Turns out there is a fix for the LOD transitions. There are two settings above "High" for the environmental detail, and if you max it out, the detail will stay the same regardless of zoom level. Environmental detail is the only setting that goes above High, so I missed it at first.

Is it Geometry detail? B/c I maxed mine out and it still a little wonky. I think Im gonna lower the frame rate a rather than have it on unlimited.

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Is it Geometry detail? B/c I maxed mine out and it still a little wonky. I think Im gonna lower the frame rate a rather than have it on unlimited.

jjk.jpg

Yeah, that's the one! It fixed it for me at least. I'm still just playing the initial English campaign, so haven't put in too much time yet.
 
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Yeah, that's the one! It fixed it for me at least. I'm still just playing the initial English campaign, so haven't put in too much time yet.

When I'm playing skirmishes and max population at 200 the zoom and fog of war gets wonky. I lowered the frame rate and that's working as well. Kept all the other settings maxed out
 
Played the first 3 Norman missions and half a skirmish. Seems good so far, faithful to the originals. Only possible issue I've noticed so far is the lack of maps. I set up an 8 player (me + 7 AI) skirmish and there was only one map to choose from and it was really small.
 
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Played the first 3 Norman missions and half a skirmish. Seems good so far, faithful to the originals. Only possible issue I've noticed so far is the lack of maps. I set up an 8 player (me + 7 AI) skirmish and there was only one map to choose from and it was really small.

Yah the maps are small but they have a crafted maps options which is a coming soon feature which makes me wonder if this is the map editor similar to AOE 3.
 
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Yah the maps are small but they have a crafted maps options which is a coming soon feature which makes me wonder if this is the map editor similar to AOE 3.

I'm totally down with that. If they have mid-long term DLC plans that'll improve the map options I've got no issue waiting as there's plenty of meat in the campaign for now.