Age of Empires III: a real strategic game, not like the so loved "horde-games" like warcraft 3 and starcraft.
AoE III single player campaign is nothing stunning, and definitively not historical. Perphaps a bit of fun, but it´s not thinked to get the players making pages and peges of review about it. Skirmish and multi-player is what this game was made for. In skirmish, we will fight against computer, with computer controlled allies or alone, but what makes it interesting is the metropolis. It´s our reinforcements base and in more than one battle, it will make the difference between victory and defeat. Same is for MP. The difference, is that our enemies will be humans, and the battles can give us hours, and I mean HOURS, of playing, including in 2v2 and therefore. It´s a real addictive game and, what is more importat, REPLAYEABLE. If you really like strategy or if you are a natural strategic-player, you won´t get bored. If you get bored, then go back to horde-games. Only excuse is if you have played Medieval:total war or such games (definitively NOT warcraft or starcraft).
In graphics, AoE III has a lot of good. First, most textures and models are well done, specially ships. Effects (explosions, smoke, water, etc) are great, more with reflecting. Only drawback are some textures that don´t look good, but you won´t notice. About ships, that is something i love of this game: ships are big, not like the others AoE, where ships were 4 pikemans long. Now, it makes a lot more of sense to have an army in a ship. Except for carvels, that are a bit small, frigates and galleons are amazing. You have to see them to believe it.
In general, graphics are done with caring and for thinking persons, not like the "kid" models we see in warcraft III, but not so detailed how in Armies of Exigo.
Sound...well, there´s nothing special in it. It´s like the others in the series. Listening something else than "Lumberjack" in every nation language would be nice.
The value is there, where it has to be. Nothing more, nothing less. If you can´t buy it, then save some money for it. It definitivelly worths it and won`tregret.)
How I said, AoE III is a great and real strategic game, and you can´t win with a horde of knights followed with four cannons and some priests. Use your astucy and intelligency, not your speed to make troops (well, that too, but you won´t win with a lot of pikemans only). Of course, it is a instant classic: you must play, and you cannot don´t play it. :-)