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Rise of Nations

EMAIL PRINT pc

8.8 User Score:

Generally favorable reviews

Based on 30 critic reviews
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Based on 24 votes
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Game Info

Publisher: Microsoft

Developer: Big Huge Games

Genre(s): Real-Time Strategy, Turn-Based Strategy

Players: 8

ESRB Rating: T (Teen)

Release Date: May 19, 2003

Summary

Dominate 6,000 years of history from the Ancient Age to the Information Age. Which forces will you deploy to lead your nation to global prominence? Trade, espionage, diplomacywar? Whichever path you choose, youll experience the pulse pounding thrill and speed of real-time gaming combined with the epic scope and depth of turn-based strategy games brought together for the first time ever in Rise of Nations. Rise of Nations is a new historical real time strategy game from Big Huge Games' Brian Reynolds, designer of PC game classics such as "Civilization 2" and "Alpha Centauri." In Rise of Nations, you'll create new cities, improve city infrastructures and expand national borders. Conquer foes through military might using everything from sling-shots to cannons to stealth bombers to nuclear weapons; corner the market on key commodities and consolidate power under your rule; wheel and deal across time with history's eminent cultures. [Microsoft]

Also On Metacritic

GAMES: Rise of Nations: Rise of Legends Rise of Nations: Throne and Patriots

Cheat Codes & Hints: Cheat Code Central GameSpot Guide IGN Insider Guide

Also On The Web: Adrenaline Vault Preview Firing Squad Int Firing Squad Preview Game Over Online Preview Games Domain Preview Official Website

What The Critics Said

All critic scores are converted to a 100-point scale. If a critic does not indicate a score, we assign a score based on the general impression given by the text of the review. Learn more...

100

Yahoo! Games

The maturation of a genre. More "Civilization" in scope, feel, and satisfaction than even the popular "Age of Empires" series, Rise of Nations is the world's first 4X RTS.

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100

Play Magazine

Possibly the best AI ever found in an RTS. [Aug 2003, p.77]

100

G4 TV

Hidden beneath that glossy surface is a game that takes almost everything that's annoying with real-time strategy titles and fixes it. It's deep, yet accessible. It's action-packed, yet manageable. In short, it's everything you could ask for in a real-time strategy game.

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GameZone

Rise of Nations revitalizes this genre because it blends the mechanics of real time and turn based strategy games into one. As weird as this may sound, the game does this flawlessly and expounds the gameplay a hundred fold.

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Gamers' Temple

A well-designed, well-executed paragon of strategy gaming, although mouse-click maniacs may be disappointed that the game requires more thought than the typical RTS.

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Gamezilla!

A worthy product with far more assets than shortcomings and a campaign game that will keep you playing.

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GameSpot

In many ways, Rise of Nations is better than the strategy games that have come before it. It's smarter. It's more challenging. It gives you more to do.

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PC Gamer

A stunning achievement in RTS design. [Aug 2003, p.74]

netjak

Graphically, this game is amazing.

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PC Format

While other games may offer more to immediately get excited about, its charms will last long after their 3D glories wane, and for fast-paced but thoughtful strategy action, you simply cannot do any better.

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Game Over Online

No current strategy title can give you the clash between horseback cavalry and industrial age tanks and howitzers as compelling as what Rise of Nations brings to the table.

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Entertainment Weekly

Yes, Nations emphasizes military might over diplomacy, but it's still one of the most intelligent and riveting strategy games we've played in a long time. [18 July 2003, p.83]

Game Informer

As solid as bedrock. [July 2003, p.119]

ActionTrip

Merging the best of the historical strategies of Civilization and Empire Earth with the dynamics and appeal of the Age of Empires and C&C, giving this RTS the level of detail reserved for turn-based strategies and simulations. And the best thing is - this really works!

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TotalGames.net

Animation of the beautifully rendered characters and unit models particularly livens up the screen, and the attention to detail is often quite remarkable.

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PC Arena

Aside from the lackluster sounds, Rise Of Nations has Gameplay that rocks and beats out any recent RTS offerings and at a pace that you can be done in 90 minutes or less - all of which makes this an ideal game for almost any gamer.

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Adrenaline Vault

A towering aggregation of everything that's good about strategy gaming.

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Armchair Empire

The second, more significant disappoint that RON inflicts upon the gamer is the mind numbing singularity of the conquest battles. As much as I love toasting the opposition into roasted marshmallow oblivion, doing so 22 times in a row gets a little old.

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Eurogamer

One of the most impressive strategy games we've seen in years.

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AtomicGamer

Rise of Nations is a great fusion of several recent and classic strategy titles. It combines Empire Earth with Age of Empires, puts in a dash of Civilization and Risk, and then mixes it all together with a ton of options for you to play around with.

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GameSpy

An enormous game... Classic real-time gaming simply doesn't get much better than this.

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FiringSquad

There is a lot to be said for the city-centric game design, the intricate unit balancing, the smart AI, and the catchy, quickie action, although there isn’t anything here to make the jaded sit up and shout.

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Gamer's Pulse

Has a huge amount of game play options and is one of the most intriguing RTS games I have played since Civilization. The only concern I had was with the amount of horsepower required by your computer to play in a bigger game.

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Game Revolution

Where Rise of Nations really sets itself apart from the pack is with two innovations: territorial control and a big Risk-like macro game.

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IGN

A game that borrows extensively but cautiously from the TBS genre, doing what it does extremely well but offering next to nothing which is new.

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GamePro

Rise of Nations’ biggest weakness—lack of variety—becomes obvious. Every nation is the same, except for some bonus modifiers; there really aren’t that many units; and in the end, you wind up wielding them as a jumbled horde.

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GMR Magazine

Playing Rise of Nations won't make your jaw drop in amazement, but you'll probably still have lots of fun as long as you like RTS games. [Aug 2003, p.74]

Maxim Online

What truly sticks out about this real-time strategy game is that it never lets its engrossing depth create a dull moment.

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Computer Gaming World

Like its brethren, it is good - but without being amazing or breathtakingly original. [Aug 2003, p.72]

Computer Games Magazine

This is as unconventional as a conventional real-time strategy game can probably get, at onece like everything and nothing you've ever played. [July 2003, p.66]

What Our Users Said

The average user rating for this game is 8.8 (out of 10) based on 24 User Votes

Note: User votes are NOT included in the Metascore calculation.

George D. gave it a9:
Awesome game, but the one problem with it and many other strategy games is that the water battles or ships are "smooth". There are always little awkward and stick out the water a lil but if you ain't too serious about it I think the game is awesome. How it lets you build massive armies cause one unit makes three men. Plus many other unbelievable reasons, in my opinion the 40 bucks I used on this was money well spent.

Tony G. gave it a 9:
In my RTS world, all games are simply shadows of Warcraft III. That being said, this is a really good game! It's an intriguing combo of Age of Empires and Civilizations. The single player is really enhanced by the "Conquer the World" option, which is a nice RTS version of the classic Risk. I prefer this game over Age of Empires because it is more unique. And anything that AOE does, Warcraft III does better. But Rise of Nations has several unique concepts not present in either game: wonders and its cleverly designed research tree. While wonders were technically present in AoE, in RoN they build much faster and provide in-game benefits. As for the tech-tree, it is a very simple, straightforward progression that isn't present in other RTS games. You choose to advance in one of four categories: military, civic, economic, and science. Another great aspect of RoN is how open-ended your expansion capabilities are. Instead of needing to build near resources, you can build a city anywhere you want. This leads to an interesting concept: how do I shape my expansion towns in my growing empire? Do you locate them all in a line to invade enemy space, or do you build out in a circular, turtle like defensive pattern? Combat is not nearly as smooth in WC3, but that's ok. It's different but still a lot of fun. Instead of insane micromanagement, this game concentrates more on macromanagement. The battles spread out over large areas, and you need to be aware of where you're sending your guys. Outflanking is a valid maneuver here. The pacing of battles is relaxed compared to WC3, but AoE players will find it similar. Overall, this is a very enjoyable game. If you're an RTS nut, try it--you won't be disappointed.

Intrepideer gave it a 10:
An awesome game that is great for a mental challenge.

Kevin R. gave it a 10:
Awesome in every sense of it's genre. Every part of the game seems to have been particularly focused on by it's designers to be the best it can be. The game never gets old, especially when you hook up with some buds in a multi player game, either online or on a network. Speaking of multi-player... The strategy needed to play individual people in this game is so distinctly different it is amazing. RON forces you to think ahead and adapt quickly to play on your opponents weaknesses, and defend against their strengths. Some games have come close to accomplishing this level of strategy, but this game nails it!

Chimp gave it a 9:
Amazingly fantastic game. I'm not one of those people who give things they hate a 0 and things they like a 10 just to raise the score, i give honest reviews. beautiful RTS graphics, real strategy, excellent multiplayer, and an interesting world map mode......it has key elements from civ that make it fun with classic RTS factors too...definitely the RTS of the year. MY only complaints are even though the civilizations have distinct bonuses and special units and look different with i think 4 different unit and building sets.....they all still play al little bit too much the same, with maybe the exception of the chinese who get instant citizens. but mostly its just trade bonuses, faster tanks, etc......you will notice these and they are game factors, but i tend to like warcraft3 style a bit more with totally different civs. I think each civ could have a real radical ability(some already do). but check out the upcoming expansion, adding 6 races and some campaigns too. this is a excellent game with great graphics, sound, and gameplay. i hope RTS's will continue to innovate like this.

Chris W. gave it a 10:
This is one of the best games i have ever played. It combines the stratagy of the Civ. series with the action of A.O.E. Let this game sets the standard for all RTS games of the future.

Marcus B. gave it a 10:
Fantastic game. Don't listen to those who complain that it's like Civ III or Age of Empires or whatever else. It takes the best bits of those games and fuses them into an addictive package. So yes, it does REMIND you of various games, but it feels better than all of them. It is faster and more like a RTS than Civilization (thank god), less oriented towards micromanagement than AOE (no more farms to reseed!), and has a learning curve that is less steep that Medieval: Total War. The only downside is that if you LOVE one of the aforementioned games, you might be biased and view RON as derivative. Don't. Give this game a chance!

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