Age of Empires II: Definitive Edition

Not only has Microsoft made one of the best RTS games of all time enjoyable using nothing but a controller, but they have even improved on the original release in some key ways. Age of Empires 2 is just as good as ever on the Xbox and should be a must-play for strategy fans everywhere.

The Xbox version of Age of Empires II: Definitive Edition managed to surprise us with the controller controls. After such a fun experience there is no doubt that Age of Empires IV port will turn out great.

Age of Empires 2 might be showing its age a little, even with the Definitive makeover, but it is still – and always will be – a timeless classic in the history book of video games, and remains as addictive as ever. It’s amazing to see Microsoft giving Xbox users some much-needed RTS love and going the extra mile with full controller support, despite the fact a few extra things are missing. This release does seem to be just the start of Microsoft’s plans – with Age of Empires IV up next for Xbox. Here’s to the return of the king!

Age of Empires 2 hasn't lost any of its fascination, the Definitive Edition brings it in line with modern gameplay sensibilities and, as an upgrade, is as good as it gets. If you've ever wanted to play Age of Empires from the comfort of your couch, now's your time.

Age of Empires II Definitive Edition continues to be that real-time strategy experience that we all love, and its recent port for Xbox will see many more players join the large community of fans in love with the franchise.

Overall, Age of Empires II in Deluxe Definitive Edition is a very nice addition to the console that AOE fans can now enjoy on their TV. Via Game Pass streaming, they can also play the game on smartphone.

Seriously, if you're the kind of person who loves to think strategically and is interested in history then you'll get sucked into this RTS game. See just why it's been seen as one of the best strategy games of all time.

Some features show that the "base game" is 2 decades old, but the core experience is still mesmerizing and more accessible than ever.

The ultimate all-in-one Age package finally arrives on consoles, with intuitive and clever controls. Kudos!

While one could argue that argue that playing Age of Empires 2: Definitive Edition with a controller is needlessly complicated, that would entirely miss the point of a release on console. Consoles tend to draw a more casual-friendly audience that may not have played the original release. As such, this is a great way to make gaming history accessible to as many players as possible, giving them the chance to play however they want. Being over 20 years old, Age of Empires 2: Definitive Edition doesn't break new ground, but it's a masterful remake with a lot of small improvements and a deep care fort he source material.

Age of Empires 2 Definitive Edition is one of the most popular RTS games of all time. Thanks to a good adaptation that uses shortcuts and an intelligent interface to give players the power to control their empires, we can play it on consoles after almost 25 years. The mouse and keyboard are still better, but this could be the chance for the die-hard fans of the controller to play a true masterpiece.

The Xbox version of Age of Empires II: Definitive Edition retains all of the game's content while making huge changes to the operating system and user interface. These changes have greatly reduced the startup threshold and improved the game experience. It is not only a very successful version, but also an excellent answer to the "can console play RTS" question.

Age of Empires II: Definitive Edition brings a true classic back for a new generation. Whether you are a die hard strategy fan or first time invader, there is no better place to start.

After a dozen or so hours in Age of Empires 2: Definitive Edition, I can safely say that it's the real McCoy. This is not a watered-down port to give Microsoft an easy first-party Xbox Game Pass release. It's the real deal and as feature complete as the PC edition, which is quite an accomplishment. A myriad of quality-of-life improvements makes the original game, while still a classic, very much redundant. The only reason to keep hold of the original is to preserve those big beautiful boxes PC games used to ship in. We're in a new age now, and Age of Empires 2: Definitive Edition is the perfect example of taking an ancient game and giving it just enough love to make it feel almost new, something that many other remasters and re-releases so often miss the mark on.

Age of Empires 2: The Definitive Edition has made the transition to console surprisingly well, giving a new range of people a chance to play one of RTS’s most beloved classics in a new way.