I don't think it could be better.
AoE 3 is a huge step forwards from AoE 2 and the first one, which I played both for many days... Aoe 3 has very, very pretty graphics that I am able to run high with an above average computer but not too far above the line.
My Computer: Utterly Bad |-----------------|---------| Aweeesome
At first when I just went to start playing I saw all these card things and I was like whoa, what are all these things for? But i quickly got used to them after 2, 4 on 4 skirmishes. They are actually pretty cool and aren't confusing at all other than the first look, they give you coll upgrades from your home city which help alot when you want to make an amy of 25 motars to obliterate Queen Elizabeth little colony which brings my to the amazing new physics.
In the old AoE's you only got to see the fire burn from getting hit by swords and blowing up really quickly, now you can take a cannon and blow parts off the building which do actually use physics, while I can't say they fly off in the most realistic way they do still look cool and make the game more fun. (Make an army of 25 cannons to see what I mean). Along with that are the ship battles which I used to hate but now I love them. The beautiful water being clashed with a few warships broadsiding each other is just what the doctor ordered, again using the physics.
Bringing me to the quick summary that AoE3 is huge step up from its last ones and it runs well on computers that you have had for about a year and a half depending on what you got. It looks amazing and the battles are satisfying altogether making it an awesome game.
Side Note: If you don't like the hoses slashing that the reviewer implied then don't use horses. I personally hate the horses and just make an army of cannons and rifle-guys to kick the crap out of the other teams.