Despite all the good things I heard about this game, I decided to put it off and play another game, and then again, and again. It took me a long time to get to this game and now I wish I had not waited so long. Factoring in all the great RTS games I have played, this one felt like a sum of many other RTS games, but it was a sum of the good parts mostly. It is no civilization, but then what is? What Rise of Nations is though, is a well thought out and in depth RTS that allows you play many different ways. All that most RTS fans want is a game that stays true to the genre and doesn't make a lot of drastic changes that make the game both unique in a bad way and unfamiliar to the point where you just wish it was a little more like some of the other great games. Despite the fact this sounds like a detractor, I assure you it isn't.
Sometimes it is not the individual aspects of a game, but the sum of its parts. Thrones and Patriots is a must have addition to the original game, adding even more depth to an already terrific experience. If you are looking for something completely different, this is not it, but it does offer up a genuinely good RTS adventure that will leave you satisfied for your army building and city developing hunger.
The difficulty in the game is variable, extremely variable. The easiest settings are far too easy and the hardest settings will leave you overwhelmed, but there is a perfect balance found with the medium settings that offer a challenge for novice gamers and veterans alike. If you have yet to play this game because you waited, as I did, it is not too late; this is still a game worth playing today.
Other Helpful Reviews for Rise of Nations: Thrones & Patriots
Pros Cons Excellent new nations; great campaigns; governments; launching nuclear missiles. The Dutch are underpowered in aggressive games; even more "clicky" than before; strategic A.I. in campaign is a bit weak. ... Read Full Review
Rise of Nations: Thrones & Patriots is a superb expansion to the original game. Big Huge Games has made some great additions to the game which have resulted in making Rise of Nations an even bigger blast to play. Well... Read Full Review
