2:04 - Definitive edition - with voice acting 2:08 - AoE1 - no voice acting Thank you for the demonstration.

7:36 I thought that huge ship was the part of the game for a moment...

"But father, why are we.." "Shut up boy, hammer the ground, the corn isn't going to hammer itself!"

Lol, i remember checking the tech trees on the little handout you got with the game.

We miss you Ensamble Studio... we miss you...

4:16 You can actually enable automatic reseeding with a button in the granary! Which will allow farmers to, well, automatically reseed farms once they're used up.

1:41 The game didn't just have MIDI. CD Audio was also an option, which did have live instruments, though the stock game and Rise of Rome had separate soundtracks. Also, MIDI can sound a lot better than that if you use something other than the default sample set from Microsoft GS Wavetable Synth. You can use either an external sound module, some type of sound card, or just use soundfonts. I especially really like how it sounds on an SC-55.

Spirit, the campaigns were significantly changed in the Definitive Edition as well. Some scenarios like Pyrrhus or Holy Man were unchanged while others like The Great Hunt and Assassins were entirely re-imagined. Our goal was to really modernize and improve the campaigns, as well as give them more historical basis, while retaining the same sense of wonder that players felt in the 90s when we were first transported to this ancient and exotic world.

All I want for this game is Steam release. Nothing more.

It is amazing how good the games looked at the time. I honestly had trouble seeing what the difference of the new one was until the old one was put beside it. Perception is a funny thing

That Instrumental from the original AOE is so nostalgic ❤

Update: It's not a Windows Store exclusive anymore. It is available on Steam.

I actually watched an ad for 30sec so this guy gets paid for his hard work. Keep it up!

3:35 "shh, just blend into the forest so we dont have to work" :D

the units may have more rotations but they are stuck with a single attack animation :( in the old game every melee unit except those lancer dudes had an animation for each angle they attacked from

I'm not trying to hate but some of the things like no scout makes it more 'realistic' like it's a new civilization when aoe2 is set when there are proper nations for many years

There is one thing wrong in the definitive edition, trireme and catapult trireme juggernaught used to be identifiable by the eyes on the front of the ship, but now they give regular trireme the eyes and they all look the same. Why?

That csmpaign with a single priest though...

My main problem with the original AoE 1, was the visuals. Specifically, being able to identify your units. In AoE 2, there's a small outline of your units when behind trees and obstacles. This isn't in the 1st, also AoE 2 unit designs were made to make the units easily distinguishable, focusing on colors. But with this upgrade, I might soon give this a try.

In order to learn about each tech tree, I used to select a mission from random maps which was called, "the intruder", I think, and in that mission, one of the players began playing in the post-iron age. It was good as regards learning about the units available, but not about technologies for each civilization. Still, it was useful.

I actually love the lack of a rank system, makes the game more relaxed and enjoyable :)

They just need to focus on the PathFinding issues, it's super bad :c

9:38 "you want some of this, lion?" *d-d-d-d-d-dabbb*

I would buy it if it came out on steam.

Wahay been waiting for more AOE1 content from you. Love a bit of spirit

I still prefer original songs

Attack Move point - In AoE1, people typically just moved an army close to the enemy, and gave them a stop order, which would make them attack the closest enemy unit naturally, whether it's a building, or another unit. Still a bit less micromanagement, but more a tiny factoid.

There's no reason for the game to be a Win10 exclusive. Seems like a misguided attempt at coercing AoE1 fans into upgrading their OS. Also, the MS Store exclusivity only means a consistently high price. It feels like MS wants to change gaming on Windows10 into a console-like experience with exclusive titles.

Nice vid! I actually had a direct influence on the game's balance changes and was in direct contact with FE when it came to balance. We should play a game together or maybe do a collab vid. I can actually tell you quite a lot about why certain balance changes were made.

Are you going to do civ overviews for this game?

4:14 you can actually make non stop building on farms by pressing mid button in food only storage pit. Where you usually upgrade your tower

I bought both Definite Editions I & II for less than 3 dollars on Steam. My play to pay ratio is now the highest within a few hours of play. What a great game. Not to overcomplicated and very relaxing war gaming. Love it.

You deserve a big fuckin' smooch for this one, Spirit, no wolohomolo tho.

I played the AOE Rise of Rome when it was released in a demo version with a Microsoft 98 CD-ROM back in 2000 and i played the legendray hardcore carthagian mission which was impossible to complete when u needed to fight the red one who had no boats and the yellow one who had boats.

your videos are really well thought out and edited, good job

I was obsessed with the original, 2, and age of mythology. I’ve definitely been missing the first for a while now. My original copies were lost long ago.

"Mountain Temple" is actually Polyester Jammy. You showed the MIDI version, but it actually sounded like this as long as you had the game CD in the drive: kzfaq.info/get/bejne/abZoltahsqevY5s.html

Asking to buy AoE:DE on Windows Store is like asking a person to buy a nice looking shirt that will give them cancer. Get back to me when this game is available on Steam.

Thanks alot for playing the song, nearly made me cry, all those golden days of gaming...

In case it hasn't already been mentioned, I should point out that the original AOE2 didn't have farm reseeding either. It was added later in the The Conquerors expansion along with some other refinements we now take for granted.

I see raids are far more dangerous ... I hate raids D:

The best thing is the increased population cap

Spirit, You are just amazing! Just one of the best youtubers doing great work. I will keep waiting for more videos.

The problem a few of us are having on Steam Forums is that on Single Player the difficulty is set to 'Hardest' no matter what you select. I want to just chill out and build an empire...

1:43 Honestly I kind of prefer the MIDI version of the two...

It looks really good to me. I'd want the idle village number in AoE2 HD to be honest. I would get the definitive edition if it was on steam, basically the windows store is stopping me.

one of the few things that really peeved my pet is the villager building animation and sound. They've slowed it way down and replaced that satisfying "thump-thump-thump" with a wimpy "Ting ... Ting ... Ting" I can no longer get to experience the joy of hearing the thunderous rumble of 100 villagers building a wonder...

12:12 Scouting with the artifacts is a very efficient alternative, if you can find them that early.

original aoe-200MB definite edition-18 gb what the hell?

Seriously would've loved to buy it, even bearing the windows store exclusivity, but the no farm queue and horrible path finding is a turn off.

+Spirit Of The Law Thanks!

That's really great that they added in the tech tree in game. I remember when I was a kid and played this, I don't remember noticing that different civs even had bonuses. I definitely knew about tech tree differences, and mass Hittite Heavy Catapults was a favorite strategy of mine, since I'm pretty sure they get them fully upgraded.

9:40 dapp

Well, since you asked at the end of the video to post any reasons for not wanting it. Yes, it is mostly W10/Wstore exclusivity. I do not use my pc exclusively for gaming, and I do still play many"old" games (~2000s RTS and city builders) that (aside from recently updated games such as the AoE titles) are known to not function well or at all on W10 even with compatibility settings. I also have hobbies like modding games/programming/etc, things which I know are made frustrating by W10 doing things like not allowing you in the program files folder, constantly breathing down your neck with alerts etc. I understand it may be better for people who don't know what they're doing, but I DO know what I'm doing and I need an OS that lets ME control my computer and not the other way around. I don't mean to complain about W10, I'm sure people have good reasons for liking it. For me specifically though it's the exact opposite of the system I need. Regarding AoE:DE, I don't necessarily mind the lack of formations, reseed queues and gates, if those are deemed necessary to preserve the feel and gameplay of the original game. But I would have hoped for more pathfinding improvement at a minimum, and I see no reason for not having triggers to bring much needed creativity to scenarios, other than the obvious reason that it'd take a lot of work. The real kicker is the lack of mod/workshop support that comes with being integrated into Windows Store. Games like this NEED it for longevity, IMHO. I might do a dual boot one day in the distant future, part W10 part W7, but I need more reason than a mostly graphical remake of a game I already have for it to be worth the trouble and money, no matter how good that remake is.

okay but the midi songs genuinly had a charm They always did, in any game

About the music, there's 2 different versions of it depending on what version you played. There is 1 with a pure midi like what was played here and 1 high quality one. Search for the aoe 1 soundtrack and you can tell the difference. The original songs were higher quality than what you showed in the video

No steam no buy

Am I the only one who prefer the old clunky Age of Empires ?

I'm a bit late to the party here, but for those of you that don't know: While you're setting up a custom game, you can choose the game mode to be classic, which lets you play with the graphics and sound from the original for those of you who prefer those. It also takes away the tech tree from the in-game hud, so you'll need to get out those papers, if you want to do it that way.

1:42 The original games had CD audio on them which is used whenever you play with the CD. If you play without the CD it falls back to MIDI files. This is possibly why you remember that music as better quality.

Windows 10 and Windows Store exclusive? NOT GETTING.

I think this is an excellent remaster. It feels like the old age of empires with nostalgia googles on, and some much needed QoL features. Would buy again.

The multiplayer scene would really benefit from rankings. I played 2v2s and 3v3s where I walked over the enemy team effortlessly without help, and I've played where a single player rolled over my entire team without help. That's partly because early aggression is so strong, if you're not really ready ahead of time it's a quick game over. Lack of free scout exacerbates this. But ratings would help enormously.

Wow,. just finished a game of aoe3 not 10 minutes ago as the Iroquois and decided to KZfaq some aoe stuff. Glad you uploaded!

I'm okay with Windows 10 exclusivity, but that Microsoft Store stuff is unacceptable. I guess for old school hardcore AoE fans ist's alright, but most PC gamers won't even bother about investing in a new platform. I know Steam is not the end of the world, but we need good alternatives, not the horrendous Microsoft Store. Hope it does not end up hurting AoE 4 on the long run.

I will never understand why people think the graphics look better. AoE1 is one of the most beautiful games ever made. The music even on midi just sounds way better to me, and I listen to them routinely.

wow, the toggle reseed farm is a great idea! i hope they implement it in aoe2 de

the lack of queuing farms and unit formations/decent pathfinding are the main things keeping from me being a big AOE 1 fan. i played it a bit as a kid but even then i had the second game first and it was always tough going back from age of kings. still its an important milestone in RTS history

Looks so fun. Will it ever be on steam or windows 7?

Age of Empires Definitive Edition actually has a auto-reseeding toggle! You should know that Mister Spirit...

man the midi music was so nostalgic

There's a couple of techs in AoE1 that are begging for Spirit to look at. Both are from the Temple. Zealotry and Sacrifice are really interesting. Zealotry makes it so that your villagers are faster and capable in combat, but carry way less resources. Sacrifice comes with a huge gold investment (600g - AoE1 gold comes in piles of 400 and there is no market mechanism or trade) and allows you to kill a priest to convert a unit. Both seem extremely situational. In the campaigns I have used Zealotry when I had enough resources but needed more military, but rather than just kill the vills I used to attack. They are great for knocking down walls. I could also see it in use when making a major push into an enemy base and you want to send vills in to build towers or forward military buildings. Sacrifice, on the other hand, I just can't see a real use. Perhaps if your priest is about to die anyway, taking an enemy unit?

Do they have to hammer the farms to make new ones?

Aoe 1 game with Aoe 3 graphic engine.

Btw, your music comparison was incomplete and not very fair, there was also recorded, non-midi audio in the original games. It was only played in game though if the CD was inserted. It was waaay better though!

very nice job getting those comparisons with the original and also keeping it professional without memes or judging for windows store gimmicks, great vid

You can find the damn auto-reseed toggle on the Granary

Win10 exclusive is a deal breaker to me. That thing is malware.

The water effect looks like Richard Dean Anderson is gonna come out of my screen

Seeing all of the old gameplay brought me back to my childhood, what a masterpiece. No definitive edition can replace such a game. I do miss my brown colour in AOE II HD though :(

No gates? Plus I can't play it yet. Since it requires windows 10 which I don't have. Which sucks for me!

Seems like a ton of work for an old game. Hope it helps with Ages 4. Probably won’t get it. I appreciate the videos and watching game play, but I like to pretend there is hope to be part of a competitive community for a game, and being old, having AOE4 on the horizon, plus no Steam etc., just doesn’t bode well for that.

Dude, when I heard the new soundtrack it brought a tear to my eye

Probably a bad decision not to include some of the quality-of-life features that made AoE2 an objectively better game (active pause, garrisoning town centres/towers, queuing farms, gates for walls, ability to infinitely generate some resources). I'm not attached to the older version of those gameplay systems at all. The reason I'm playing AoE1 is because I prefer the ancient->classical setting to medieval->renaissance, prefer the visual style, and prefer the music (in Rise of Rome, at least). Would be nice to see some of these AoE2 features included, even just as options if there really is anyone out there who wants to go without the upgrades.

Regarding graphics, yes, it looks modern. But that's the thing - it looks like every other generic modern RTS, so the uniqueness of the original is lost in this regard. That being said, most of the quality of life improvements like farms, tech tree or multi-que are pretty cool...

I think we don't care about definitive edition changes because we already know aoe2, so we don't see the new features

3:30 "A vigorous test of my working memory skills" → psychology degree in action

Hey Spirit I was just wondering, what software do you use to record and edit your videos? Great vids and keep going strong 👍

Damn it. Doesn't run on Windows 7.

So basically. Just buy Aoe2 HD

For me, it's mostly nostalgia that makes me wanna play it. It's perfect.

4:20 the granaries have an auto-seeding function. They have now at least, i havent played it for more than 2 weeks.

Age 4 isn't coming out, but if it does, it will probably be like Rollercoaster Tycoon 4. A broken cash in on fan nostalgia.

I enjoy the game for what it is. But I think they might of missed the ball with making the game more accessible for casual multiplayer. Players have a much bigger skill gap nowadays and its so easy to wipe out another player before they've had chance to respond, which makes really boring and harsh games for new players.

There are actually two versions of the soundtrack in the rise of Rome expansion (which the new one is a remaster of) where if you put the disk in the PC’s main disk drive you’ll get a different version of it.

The MIDI music is NOT the original soundtrack to AoE1! It had proper audio streaming from the game disc itself, but at some point that stopped working properly.

Hey Vsauce, Micheal here. Where are your fingers? Well it dates back to 1943, in Nazi Controlled Germany.

I prefer the graphics in the original.

The Most important thing... is the increase from max 50 popolation... is something I really wanted from the very first times i played the game.

all we need now is a faction overview vid XD