A game series that is just running out of steam.
The games graphics are a major update from AOE2, with stunning new unit textures that can keep you distracted while you build up your armies. Battles overall though don't have much visual detail, you see your rifleman shoot and reload and be overrun by native American axeman. Naval battles look good, with great reflections on the surface of the water.
The player can expect the usual building of structures, and resource collecting. With a few improvements to these areas such as the collectors not needing to return the goods to a building, instead say a peasant cuts down a tree, that wood is automatically transported to your treasury.
Game play overall is very bland, with the mass producing of superior units being the quickest and most efficient way to defeat your enemies. Naval battles play along in the same way, its basically whoever has the most ships will win. (Although i admit the naval battles were very visually stunning.)
All in all, if your a die-hard AOE fan then go out and buy this, otherwise wait til the price lowers and pick-up a mediocre game.