Age of Empires IV: The Sultans Ascend Review - The Good, The Byzantine, and The Ugly Localization
A potent blend of historic warfare and strategic depth that mostly hits the mark, despite a few hiccups.
last updated Nov 20, 2023
It offers heaps of content, vast strategic depth, and has enough gaming nutrition to satisfy the hungriest of RTS appetites.
A March Through Time
The Sultans Ascend gifts Age of Empires IV with a treasure trove of content that raises the strategical bar for armchair generals. New civilizational powerhouses like the Japanese and Byzantines descend onto the battlefield, each boasting distinct architectural flair and fresh unit rosters that scratch that new-civilization itch. Beyond the aesthetics, the gameplay innovations astound - especially with the addition of variant civs that remix the familiar with a dash of exotic spices. It’s a history buff’s dream, blending old favorites with unexpected twists. And, for those who delight in multiplayer skirmishes, this expansion pack adds layers of strategic diversity that'll keep you plotting conquests until the roosters crow.
Sonic Time Machine
The clanks and clatters of battle have never sounded sweeter. From the unnerving twang of Japanese bowstrings to the thunderous charge of Byzantine cavalry, the audio in The Sultans Ascend provides an immersive audible tapestry that complements the visual feast. Don't even get me started on the new tracks; they're earworms that won't quit, carrying you through campaigns with a cinematic grace that even your neighbors will appreciate. Sure, we lose the docu-style videos from the base game's campaign, but the gameplay harmonics hit enough high notes to balance the scales.
Pixelated Perfection?
Graphically, it’s more of the rich, textured beauty that we've come to expect, with welcome additions like a stunning Japanese biome that could double as a desktop wallpaper. Performance-wise, the game runs smoother than a greased goose escaping Thanksgiving. There were some murmurings about the Byzantine proportions being as out of whack as my caffeine intake, but once the action picks up, you’ll be too busy trying not to get slaughtered by enemy hordes to notice the odd oversized door. Keep those graphics settings tuned, and any dips in frame rate will be as rare as a well-mannered online argument.
A Clash of Cultures
The real juice of this DLC lies in the gameplay changes and the expansion's dedication to diversity. The attention to multiplayer shines with new maps that are as balanced as they come. They’ve even gone above and beyond by giving allies co-op walling abilities – talk about friendship goals. The campaign might not bowl everyone over with its shift away from historical lessons, but it's robust enough to give your grey matter a workout. The new water rendering is a visual treat, making naval battles not only strategic triumphs but also a feast for the eyes.
STEAM RATING
Developer
Relic Entertainment, Forgotten Empires, Climax Studios, World's Edge
Publisher
Xbox Game Studios
Release Date
November 14, 2023
The Verdict
The Sultans Ascend stands as a testament to what strategy game expansions should aspire to. It offers heaps of content, vast strategic depth, and has enough gaming nutrition to satisfy the hungriest of RTS appetites. Despite a few teething issues such as the Byzantine's curiously giant doorways and the unholy mess that is the Chinese localization, the resilience of the core game and its community shines through. So is it worth forking over the cash for this expansion? Most certainly. The Sultans Ascend might not conquer the hearts of every gamer, but for fans of the genre, it's an empire worth building.
