Funny. After this update FOR ME, enemy heroes and rulers have every ability unlocked from the beginning so it's impossible to win against them. At level 1, they already have 200+ health, can cast 45+ spells and are invincible :( Obiously a bug, but one that breaks the entire game for me
Eloquently crafted review for a fantastic title. AOW 3 is one of the 3 games I have played for over 1000 hours*. I can see AOW4 being the first to 2000. (*the others being Terraria and Stellaris)
It’s been a long time since I put 30+ hours into a game, and then decide I want to restart with another race and out in another 60+ hours. This game is amazing and the replay value is immense. Creating unique fantasy races with their own backstories, putting them against each other on a map, and seeing what happens is so much fun.
That's to me the sign of a great 4X - after a huge session, I don't wanna step away - but dive right in and do it all again. What's really exciting is that we're only half way through the content for the game. 2025 is going to be a big year for AOW4!
I couldn't have said it better (literally). I love the random realm options that slowly reveal themselves as you play. Add in the ability to customize each option to be included or not in generation and I can easily see myself passing the 1k hour mark on this one.
Random realms is surprisingly one of my favourite additions. I am super indecisive when picking realm traits so that was a godsend. Really hope they add the option to make some presets though so you can always remove the same traits (saves me a few seconds deselecting immortals every single time)
I played this when dragon dawn first came out but I broke my laptop early this year. I'm getting a new one in January and this is the first thing I'll download
I am excited for you - there's a hell of a lot that's changed. Even if you get no new expansions, the base game has had loads of improvements since DD.
@ginxtv I'm excited to try the new expansions, and not just that but the new mods, too. I remember even back when I played, there was an outlaw culture added through modding, that was sick.
@@WeTube-mf1it oh yeah it's such a great modding scene, and with every expansion the modders have more to work with. Definitely gets a bit more mad with each xpac but I love that. Eldritch Realms in particular was absurd but I have great fun with it
Great video! Age of wonders 4 is shaping to be one of the best fantasy games. As you said its customised nature is greatly benefitted by dlc. However the king of fantasy strategy games for me remains Total war warhammer trilogy. It has now over a decade of added content and factions-races are way more defined and lore-rich. You should try it out if not already.
I always struggled with TW games. I love the unknown nature of the world in a 4X. I do own each of the WH versions, but never really gave them a proper chance. Definitely high up on my list of games to dive into and learn
@ginxtv the tricky part for tw is to get used to the real time battles that require a level of micromanagement and unit knowledge. However you can totally focus on the turn based campaign part and autoresolve most battles. My co-op buddy has 1000 hours played and never played a battle! Even battles are not that hard as you can pause the game at any moment and plan your strategy stress free.
This looks amazing! can I ask if there are random map games/ and what the battles are like? I was looking for something like Heroes of Might & Magic 5 in terms of battles, not so fussed about doing a story campaign. Another video recommended this game as one similar to HoMM thanks
Yes, aside from a few story realms - all the game worlds are random. You can set some traits and then let it generate from there - or make things ultra-random and let the game pick the traits, and these will get revealed as the game goes on. These are things like biome, layout, enemies you find - but also unique game modifiers. In terms of the actual battles, it's similar in that it's turn-based - but there isn't a unit order - it's one player's turn, and then the other. If you are an HOMM player, there'll be a bit of an adjustment, but I think you'll get the hang of it well. If you want something that distinctly feels like HOMM however, this will feel very different. If you haven't checked it out already - maybe Songs of Conquest is what you're looking for?
I was hooked on a *HEAVILY MODDED* Civ VI for years. I loved that game, still love it, but I had to be honest with myself that my favorite part of a CIV playthrough was waiting for some idiot enemy leader to give me an excuse to unload on them militarily.... and the military aspect of the CIV games just aren't that good lol. Just this past year I've fallen in love with AOW4 and AOW Planetfall at the same time [FYI both games run *MUCH* better on a steam deck than CIV VI does] and, yeah, it kind of reminds me of CIV if it just got straight to the good stuff lol. There really isn't a culture victory analog or anything like that, but if youre playing these games for the military aspect then the AOW franchise might be just about the single best option around.
100% agree. I've been a lifelong civ player - but I find myself playing it less and less these days. The combat and AI really get to me. Civ VI in particular, I just can't get past it feeling like a big digital board game, which AOW and other 4Xs just don't. (also glad to hear I'm not the only one who plays 4X games on a Steam Deck. My friends think I'm crazy but I love it.)
Thank you for your content. Does the initial AoW4 game received new musics ? I'm coming from AoW1 and I was at that time in love with the musical atmosphere ; an atmosphere I didn't found to be as magical in the 4th edition of the game.
I actually do not know. I know they introduce new tracks with each expansion (around 6 tracks each?) whether those are included in the base game, I'm not 100% sure on. I do know there are mods in the workshop that introduce other music - including one that brings back the soundtrack from the older games (so you're definitely not the only one missing that music!)
I tried this when it first came out. Essentially my first 4x and I bounced off it hard despite wanting to like it SO bad. What was I doing wrong? Should I come back and give it another go? DOTA 2 was a similar experience. Didn't like it at first and 10 years later I kept playing it.
Coming fromAOW Planetfall, I got the game after seeing reviews and eventually got the all first 4 DLC package. I agree with all you say, it is a solid game with a lot of customization. But there is, for me, something you did not mention and that becomes very evident on the third game you play in this tittle: the game has quantity but lacks on depth and personality. Factions don`t feel that different one from another, and combat is not that unique from one, say, Tome to the next. The games's strive for "symmetry", customization, and balance make it somewhat shallow, and most expansions feel like they add quantity, not expanding on existing mechanics or adding a new axis/dimensions to explore. With the exception of this last one DLC, I'd say. The best 4X games for me have both depth and personality woven in the world and their Factions/Characters, something a bit lacking in this game tbh. But all in all a solid one.
I know exactly what you mean re: the personality - and that feeds into my biggest wishlist for the game - overhauled and fleshed out diplomacy. That whole part of the game is weak, and having better interactions with other empires would really open up the world of each game. They really do add a lot each update, but we're seeing them go back and rework some features and make them feel more worthwhile. The Mystic & Dark culture reworks for instance. Introducing new features while reworking what's already there is the balance the devs need to find, but I feel like they're getting there. Hopefully as you say, some of those older mechanics do get taken back to the drawing board and filled out with the next couple of expansions. (the other big Wishlist feature is the galactic empire mode from Planetfall - it's a travesty that's not in AOW4 'cos I loved that)
Yea, I did notice that personality is just something that's missing. The thing that gives the most personality here is culture yet most still play in the same way- with a few minor differences (especially base game). Race forms don't matter at all, in sake of making them more customizable. Another thing i noticed was the story. There are a few story realms where the stories are connected to eachother, yet your own character does not carry over in any way. Choices don't really matter either, besides in the same story realm, and your character simply doesn't feel involved. I'd much prefer something like planetfall (campaigns where you have a preset character, which you can customize) or AOW3 (campaigns where you switch between multiple people in the same party, with your choices having effect in what missions you play.)
Guys u are completely wrong. This game is the most diverse 4x game on the market. Because you are lazy to try out different combinations it is not the devs fault. I have 300 hours in AoW4 and I play every time a different "faction". You guys just need to experiment more. Pick different traits/tomes/cultures and it will feel varied.
So my biggest issue with AoW4 was that every playthrough devolved into roughly the same thing. Because you could get just about every tome in every playthrough if you are playing well it felt like your roleplay started to lose shape, or you had to just not research in the late game which felt very awkward. Has this been fixed? Because that was one of the few things keeping me from dumping hundreds upon hundreds of hours into it.
I guess it depends on playstyle, but I've found most of my games to be in the endgame when the powerful Tier V tomes come around - so most playthroughs for me have felt distinct. I do see where you're coming from though, and I think there's a very valid complaint in the lack of variety in Win Conditions that end of forcing the late game into a similar place each round. They've improved that a bit with a new Win Con - but that's definitely an area I'd like to see more focus in the future.
Something I always forget to mention as I don't play multiplayer - but yeah I've heard there are a ton of issues with the MP, which is a real shame, and I hope there are improvements there in the future
I think its a possibility. AOW4 has a year, maybe 2 left in it. After that I could see Triumph going back to Planetfall and utilising what they've learned. There's definitely an audience and an appetite for it. If you don't like the fantasy theme, could be worth checking out the Endless Space / Legend (legend has a bit of a fantasy feel but feels grounded in sci-fi) or recently there's been ZEPHON - I put out a video on that last week, really good sci-fi combat centric 4X.
Now i wish there were romance events. Not because i'm a horny guy, but because it would make for interesting dialogue. Let's say you could marry your ruler or one of your heroes with another rulers daughter / son to create a powerful alliance, granting positive influence towards the other faction and eventually forging a new empire? I'm referring to Crusader Kings III. Wish we had something like this in Age of Wonders 4.
You had me there in the first sentence I know what you mean though, I play a lot of CK and Old World and in both, relationships and strategic marriages can have a huge impact on a game - and can imagine that would get way more heightened when you've got a bunch of fantasy species.
What do you think of the AI? Is it enough challenging or does it just keep repeating same? Like spamming same units over and over again if you win of their heroes?
AI is decent - they're good at using the tools of the game rather than just spamming the same stuff - you'll see a lot of build variety - and some of it is very strong. They're also good at using force march and teleport to cover the map quickly - which actually got me using those mechanics more. It's not great in the bigger picture stuff, diplomacy and deal making etc - that's the weakest area of the game as a whole for me, and #1 on my wishlist of improvements I hope to see.
I don't think the base game has ever dipped below $/£/€ 30 - though given all its updates it by itself is still a very rich game. Maybe we'll see a slightly bigger dip during the Winter sale but I wouldn't hold my breath. I do believe it's worth it at that price though - one of the few 4Xs on the market that packs enough content in its base game to feel worth it - and then the expansions are really just extra options and choices for the player - rather than key gameplay systems.
@@ginxtvI know its been a while since this was posted, but I just purchased this game last week. I love it so far. I did get it during the sale and I can confidentially say I would've paid full price for it. Most of my gaming time has been in Total War games, Crusader Kings II and III, and Victoria 2 in the last couple of years. In Warhammer 3 alone, I have over 3,000 hours. I can see myself getting at minimum 500-1,000 hours in this game. The only other 4x game I've played is Civ 6 on my Switch. While I enjoyed it, I mainly played it while traveling and haven't touched it in a while. The amount of fun gameplay I can get out of AOW4 make it worth the price. I only have the base game so far, but I can see myself getting the DLC in the future, once I get the most out of the base game.
@@emanuelalfred1565 Really glad to hear you're enjoying your time with the game. Despite looking quite similar on paper, I've always found it takes a different mindframe to go into Grand Strategy compared to 4X. Kind of nice to switch gears between them though. Hope you have a good time on your AOW4 journey, the base game has a ton of content, and when you want more, the expansions open it up a lot.
I'm sorry to hear that - any particular thing that's working against you? If you're new to the franchise, I usually advise people stay grounded first, play as like humans or elves or something familiar. Dip your toe into the world, try 'normal' stuff, before going off and experimenting with the wilder features.
The AI is okay. It's not great in diplomacy and that whole area of the game is weak, but typically the AI is competent and they've been making improvements. The AI is really good at using force march and teleporting abilities so it looks a lot like they're pulling units out of thin air and cheating (which I used to think was the case) but its good at using the games systems. I wouldn't say its up in the top tier of 4X, but it's better than average (including Civ)
I wish the game launched with a good campaign. I only play these kind of games if there a story mode which slowy introduces me to it's mechanics. Otherwise I get overwhelmed quickly and decide to rather skip
Fantastic game. Only have 2 issues with it 1 -should be easier to get the in between games perk points- as only way to get points is to finish a game, and I never finish a game. 2 -even if only in a "wiki" page and not in game.. an improved UI regarding the branching tomes and what they do. Just something making it easier to make plans, without going in blind, or spendig 1000 hours to learn, or relying to much on other players builds
1. Not sure you knew or you meant something different, but if you don't finish a game and don't plan to (and even if you regret you can come back and get more XP), you can surrender and withdraw all that banked up XP from that game to get the Pantheon points. Finishing or winning a game only gets you extra XP for a win but not necessary to get them.
The combat can be the dividing factor. I wasn't a fan initially, but it did grow on me. Once I got a feel for it, and saw it fit into the bigger picture, my enjoyment of the game went way up.
I played and loved AoW1-2 but struggle to get into 3 and 4. I think its the lack of classic races and too much customisation :(. Its nothing like AoW1-2 yep? I am too simple minded for this which is more like Civ I think?
If you struggled with the feel of 3, AOW4 is another bigger step in that modern direction. Same as if you compare Civ 2 to Civ 6 - they feel like different genres, they're worlds apart. AOW4 does have quite a lot of default races built in, as well as a return to some of the series older factions. But it is also quite flashy with a lot going on - the older games definitely felt more focused on a few key things, whereas the newer ones are more a buffet
That's also my biggest issue with this series - combat just gets stale for me. And given that's really the focus of this series, that's a bit of a problem.
Yeah if you don't gel with the combat, that can make the game difficult to get behind. Tbh I wasn't a fan of the combat initially and would autoresolve everything (even if it screwed me) but I started pushing myself into it more often, and ended up really enjoying it. Found it seeped back into empire building and making decisions I wouldn't make before. Appreciate that won't be a thing for everyone though - you know what you like after all.
@simonh5870 i love the genre. I don't get why this game is so ugly. Look at total war Warhammer. It's not a fps yet it manages to come up with decent graphismes, great art and a real identity. AoW looks like a game made by chat gpt.
It feels like playing a game Risk as a kid and I’m obsessed
the best thing for me is the free update reworking heroes. It is so good
Funny. After this update FOR ME, enemy heroes and rulers have every ability unlocked from the beginning so it's impossible to win against them. At level 1, they already have 200+ health, can cast 45+ spells and are invincible :( Obiously a bug, but one that breaks the entire game for me
What made me happy is that the dev hinted at that they plan to support it for years. In the anniversary post which makes me happy since AO4 rocks
I noticed that too - hopefully they'll keep expanding it for a long time to come!
I love your reviews! Your smooth voice makes it all the better. Thanks for the excellent reviews.
That's so nice to hear - thank you! Plenty more reviews (and me talking) coming up in the future haha
Comments for the algorithm gods and because AoW is worth it
Eloquently crafted review for a fantastic title.
AOW 3 is one of the 3 games I have played for over 1000 hours*. I can see AOW4 being the first to 2000.
(*the others being Terraria and Stellaris)
Three games that definitely deserve that playtime!
It’s been a long time since I put 30+ hours into a game, and then decide I want to restart with another race and out in another 60+ hours. This game is amazing and the replay value is immense. Creating unique fantasy races with their own backstories, putting them against each other on a map, and seeing what happens is so much fun.
That's to me the sign of a great 4X - after a huge session, I don't wanna step away - but dive right in and do it all again. What's really exciting is that we're only half way through the content for the game. 2025 is going to be a big year for AOW4!
I couldn't have said it better (literally). I love the random realm options that slowly reveal themselves as you play. Add in the ability to customize each option to be included or not in generation and I can easily see myself passing the 1k hour mark on this one.
Random realms is surprisingly one of my favourite additions. I am super indecisive when picking realm traits so that was a godsend. Really hope they add the option to make some presets though so you can always remove the same traits (saves me a few seconds deselecting immortals every single time)
I played this when dragon dawn first came out but I broke my laptop early this year. I'm getting a new one in January and this is the first thing I'll download
I am excited for you - there's a hell of a lot that's changed. Even if you get no new expansions, the base game has had loads of improvements since DD.
@ginxtv I'm excited to try the new expansions, and not just that but the new mods, too. I remember even back when I played, there was an outlaw culture added through modding, that was sick.
@@WeTube-mf1it oh yeah it's such a great modding scene, and with every expansion the modders have more to work with.
Definitely gets a bit more mad with each xpac but I love that. Eldritch Realms in particular was absurd but I have great fun with it
Great video! Age of wonders 4 is shaping to be one of the best fantasy games. As you said its customised nature is greatly benefitted by dlc. However the king of fantasy strategy games for me remains Total war warhammer trilogy. It has now over a decade of added content and factions-races are way more defined and lore-rich. You should try it out if not already.
I always struggled with TW games. I love the unknown nature of the world in a 4X. I do own each of the WH versions, but never really gave them a proper chance. Definitely high up on my list of games to dive into and learn
@ginxtv the tricky part for tw is to get used to the real time battles that require a level of micromanagement and unit knowledge. However you can totally focus on the turn based campaign part and autoresolve most battles. My co-op buddy has 1000 hours played and never played a battle! Even battles are not that hard as you can pause the game at any moment and plan your strategy stress free.
Probably my favourite Fanatsy 4x at the moment
I really need to get around to play AoW4 everyday i see new videos talking about how good it is.
It is definitely worth it - you just missed a free weekend on Steam but the whole franchise is on offer to celebrate 25 years of the series
this game looks so cool wth Im a huge rts fan and never heard of this!! will check it out ty!
If you don't mind the shift from Real Time to Turn Based - it's a really great game. Hope you have fun with it!
This looks amazing! can I ask if there are random map games/ and what the battles are like? I was looking for something like Heroes of Might & Magic 5 in terms of battles, not so fussed about doing a story campaign. Another video recommended this game as one similar to HoMM thanks
Yes, aside from a few story realms - all the game worlds are random. You can set some traits and then let it generate from there - or make things ultra-random and let the game pick the traits, and these will get revealed as the game goes on. These are things like biome, layout, enemies you find - but also unique game modifiers.
In terms of the actual battles, it's similar in that it's turn-based - but there isn't a unit order - it's one player's turn, and then the other. If you are an HOMM player, there'll be a bit of an adjustment, but I think you'll get the hang of it well. If you want something that distinctly feels like HOMM however, this will feel very different. If you haven't checked it out already - maybe Songs of Conquest is what you're looking for?
Yes.. it’s a must play
no flame or frost tank
I love the tanks!
I was hooked on a *HEAVILY MODDED* Civ VI for years. I loved that game, still love it, but I had to be honest with myself that my favorite part of a CIV playthrough was waiting for some idiot enemy leader to give me an excuse to unload on them militarily.... and the military aspect of the CIV games just aren't that good lol.
Just this past year I've fallen in love with AOW4 and AOW Planetfall at the same time [FYI both games run *MUCH* better on a steam deck than CIV VI does] and, yeah, it kind of reminds me of CIV if it just got straight to the good stuff lol. There really isn't a culture victory analog or anything like that, but if youre playing these games for the military aspect then the AOW franchise might be just about the single best option around.
100% agree. I've been a lifelong civ player - but I find myself playing it less and less these days. The combat and AI really get to me. Civ VI in particular, I just can't get past it feeling like a big digital board game, which AOW and other 4Xs just don't.
(also glad to hear I'm not the only one who plays 4X games on a Steam Deck. My friends think I'm crazy but I love it.)
Thank you for your content. Does the initial AoW4 game received new musics ? I'm coming from AoW1 and I was at that time in love with the musical atmosphere ; an atmosphere I didn't found to be as magical in the 4th edition of the game.
I actually do not know. I know they introduce new tracks with each expansion (around 6 tracks each?) whether those are included in the base game, I'm not 100% sure on.
I do know there are mods in the workshop that introduce other music - including one that brings back the soundtrack from the older games (so you're definitely not the only one missing that music!)
@ginxtv Nice to learn about, thank you !
I tried this when it first came out. Essentially my first 4x and I bounced off it hard despite wanting to like it SO bad. What was I doing wrong? Should I come back and give it another go? DOTA 2 was a similar experience. Didn't like it at first and 10 years later I kept playing it.
Coming fromAOW Planetfall, I got the game after seeing reviews and eventually got the all first 4 DLC package. I agree with all you say, it is a solid game with a lot of customization.
But there is, for me, something you did not mention and that becomes very evident on the third game you play in this tittle: the game has quantity but lacks on depth and personality. Factions don`t feel that different one from another, and combat is not that unique from one, say, Tome to the next. The games's strive for "symmetry", customization, and balance make it somewhat shallow, and most expansions feel like they add quantity, not expanding on existing mechanics or adding a new axis/dimensions to explore. With the exception of this last one DLC, I'd say.
The best 4X games for me have both depth and personality woven in the world and their Factions/Characters, something a bit lacking in this game tbh. But all in all a solid one.
I know exactly what you mean re: the personality - and that feeds into my biggest wishlist for the game - overhauled and fleshed out diplomacy. That whole part of the game is weak, and having better interactions with other empires would really open up the world of each game. They really do add a lot each update, but we're seeing them go back and rework some features and make them feel more worthwhile. The Mystic & Dark culture reworks for instance. Introducing new features while reworking what's already there is the balance the devs need to find, but I feel like they're getting there. Hopefully as you say, some of those older mechanics do get taken back to the drawing board and filled out with the next couple of expansions.
(the other big Wishlist feature is the galactic empire mode from Planetfall - it's a travesty that's not in AOW4 'cos I loved that)
Yea, I did notice that personality is just something that's missing. The thing that gives the most personality here is culture yet most still play in the same way- with a few minor differences (especially base game). Race forms don't matter at all, in sake of making them more customizable.
Another thing i noticed was the story. There are a few story realms where the stories are connected to eachother, yet your own character does not carry over in any way. Choices don't really matter either, besides in the same story realm, and your character simply doesn't feel involved.
I'd much prefer something like planetfall (campaigns where you have a preset character, which you can customize) or AOW3 (campaigns where you switch between multiple people in the same party, with your choices having effect in what missions you play.)
Guys u are completely wrong. This game is the most diverse 4x game on the market. Because you are lazy to try out different combinations it is not the devs fault. I have 300 hours in AoW4 and I play every time a different "faction". You guys just need to experiment more. Pick different traits/tomes/cultures and it will feel varied.
So my biggest issue with AoW4 was that every playthrough devolved into roughly the same thing. Because you could get just about every tome in every playthrough if you are playing well it felt like your roleplay started to lose shape, or you had to just not research in the late game which felt very awkward. Has this been fixed? Because that was one of the few things keeping me from dumping hundreds upon hundreds of hours into it.
I guess it depends on playstyle, but I've found most of my games to be in the endgame when the powerful Tier V tomes come around - so most playthroughs for me have felt distinct. I do see where you're coming from though, and I think there's a very valid complaint in the lack of variety in Win Conditions that end of forcing the late game into a similar place each round. They've improved that a bit with a new Win Con - but that's definitely an area I'd like to see more focus in the future.
@ gotcha, thanks for the info! I may get back to it at some point and see how it plays now.
Multiplayer is often not working. When it is not desync, it is wierd error that prevent you from hosting.
Something I always forget to mention as I don't play multiplayer - but yeah I've heard there are a ton of issues with the MP, which is a real shame, and I hope there are improvements there in the future
How are the chances we'll get a Planetfall 2? I really like this type of game, but not a big fan of fantasy in general.
I think its a possibility. AOW4 has a year, maybe 2 left in it. After that I could see Triumph going back to Planetfall and utilising what they've learned. There's definitely an audience and an appetite for it.
If you don't like the fantasy theme, could be worth checking out the Endless Space / Legend (legend has a bit of a fantasy feel but feels grounded in sci-fi) or recently there's been ZEPHON - I put out a video on that last week, really good sci-fi combat centric 4X.
I really wish planetfall have more expansions for it so, I’m hype for a second entry as well
Now i wish there were romance events. Not because i'm a horny guy, but because it would make for interesting dialogue. Let's say you could marry your ruler or one of your heroes with another rulers daughter / son to create a powerful alliance, granting positive influence towards the other faction and eventually forging a new empire? I'm referring to Crusader Kings III. Wish we had something like this in Age of Wonders 4.
You had me there in the first sentence
I know what you mean though, I play a lot of CK and Old World and in both, relationships and strategic marriages can have a huge impact on a game - and can imagine that would get way more heightened when you've got a bunch of fantasy species.
I agree they should add this but not because it's cool I'm just a gooner
What do you think of the AI? Is it enough challenging or does it just keep repeating same? Like spamming same units over and over again if you win of their heroes?
AI is decent - they're good at using the tools of the game rather than just spamming the same stuff - you'll see a lot of build variety - and some of it is very strong. They're also good at using force march and teleport to cover the map quickly - which actually got me using those mechanics more.
It's not great in the bigger picture stuff, diplomacy and deal making etc - that's the weakest area of the game as a whole for me, and #1 on my wishlist of improvements I hope to see.
I enjoyed the free trial but damn is it expensive even on sale
I don't think the base game has ever dipped below $/£/€ 30 - though given all its updates it by itself is still a very rich game. Maybe we'll see a slightly bigger dip during the Winter sale but I wouldn't hold my breath.
I do believe it's worth it at that price though - one of the few 4Xs on the market that packs enough content in its base game to feel worth it - and then the expansions are really just extra options and choices for the player - rather than key gameplay systems.
@@ginxtvI know its been a while since this was posted, but I just purchased this game last week. I love it so far. I did get it during the sale and I can confidentially say I would've paid full price for it.
Most of my gaming time has been in Total War games, Crusader Kings II and III, and Victoria 2 in the last couple of years. In Warhammer 3 alone, I have over 3,000 hours.
I can see myself getting at minimum 500-1,000 hours in this game. The only other 4x game I've played is Civ 6 on my Switch. While I enjoyed it, I mainly played it while traveling and haven't touched it in a while. The amount of fun gameplay I can get out of AOW4 make it worth the price. I only have the base game so far, but I can see myself getting the DLC in the future, once I get the most out of the base game.
@@emanuelalfred1565 Really glad to hear you're enjoying your time with the game.
Despite looking quite similar on paper, I've always found it takes a different mindframe to go into Grand Strategy compared to 4X. Kind of nice to switch gears between them though.
Hope you have a good time on your AOW4 journey, the base game has a ton of content, and when you want more, the expansions open it up a lot.
It might be 4X but this game is not doing it for me like at all… major buyers remorse.
I'm sorry to hear that - any particular thing that's working against you?
If you're new to the franchise, I usually advise people stay grounded first, play as like humans or elves or something familiar. Dip your toe into the world, try 'normal' stuff, before going off and experimenting with the wilder features.
So, years ago I skipped this because i've read IA was dumb and not competitive in any way. Has this improved?
The AI is okay. It's not great in diplomacy and that whole area of the game is weak, but typically the AI is competent and they've been making improvements. The AI is really good at using force march and teleporting abilities so it looks a lot like they're pulling units out of thin air and cheating (which I used to think was the case) but its good at using the games systems.
I wouldn't say its up in the top tier of 4X, but it's better than average (including Civ)
I wish the game launched with a good campaign. I only play these kind of games if there a story mode which slowy introduces me to it's mechanics. Otherwise I get overwhelmed quickly and decide to rather skip
Fantastic game. Only have 2 issues with it
1 -should be easier to get the in between games perk points- as only way to get points is to finish a game, and I never finish a game.
2 -even if only in a "wiki" page and not in game.. an improved UI regarding the branching tomes and what they do. Just something making it easier to make plans, without going in blind, or spendig 1000 hours to learn, or relying to much on other players builds
1. Not sure you knew or you meant something different, but if you don't finish a game and don't plan to (and even if you regret you can come back and get more XP), you can surrender and withdraw all that banked up XP from that game to get the Pantheon points. Finishing or winning a game only gets you extra XP for a win but not necessary to get them.
@prinstyrio0 thanks. That's great, didn't know this!
I still don’t love the combat.. but I’ve been playing TWW and haven’t played turn based much since MoO3
The combat can be the dividing factor. I wasn't a fan initially, but it did grow on me. Once I got a feel for it, and saw it fit into the bigger picture, my enjoyment of the game went way up.
I played and loved AoW1-2 but struggle to get into 3 and 4. I think its the lack of classic races and too much customisation :(. Its nothing like AoW1-2 yep? I am too simple minded for this which is more like Civ I think?
If you struggled with the feel of 3, AOW4 is another bigger step in that modern direction. Same as if you compare Civ 2 to Civ 6 - they feel like different genres, they're worlds apart.
AOW4 does have quite a lot of default races built in, as well as a return to some of the series older factions. But it is also quite flashy with a lot going on - the older games definitely felt more focused on a few key things, whereas the newer ones are more a buffet
Shame really, I really dislike the combat, it looks nice but not enjoyable, yes you can auto battle but that can really gimp your campaign.
That's also my biggest issue with this series - combat just gets stale for me. And given that's really the focus of this series, that's a bit of a problem.
Yeah if you don't gel with the combat, that can make the game difficult to get behind. Tbh I wasn't a fan of the combat initially and would autoresolve everything (even if it screwed me) but I started pushing myself into it more often, and ended up really enjoying it. Found it seeped back into empire building and making decisions I wouldn't make before. Appreciate that won't be a thing for everyone though - you know what you like after all.
Still it's paradox so I'll just torrent it
Yeah I dunno man they lost at me the pronouns. I won’t support anything DEI looks fun
That's the only woke thing in the game. But is it?
There is only binary pronouns. You can't create any.
Snap out of it brother.
Still : the game is ugly as hell and has zero identity...
It's ok, 4X games are not for everyone.
@simonh5870 i love the genre. I don't get why this game is so ugly. Look at total war Warhammer. It's not a fps yet it manages to come up with decent graphismes, great art and a real identity. AoW looks like a game made by chat gpt.
What's your favorite game in the 4X strategy genre?
@@MatthewCenance HoM&M.
@@francoiscolin6692what no definitely not lmfao