SidViscous
Member
Hmm, I thought it looked okay but then they showed the AoE III stuff it was hard to tell the difference, the turning animations haven't changed since they were using sprites; i wonder if that's for gameplay reasons or something.
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Age of Empires IV Showcase
- Thread starter .Pennywise
- Start date
- Event
ScaryBrandon
Banned
I'm not impressed so far but hopefully the gameplay is great.
.Pennywise
Banned
I just forgot I have this game day 1 with Game Pass.
Damn I love Game Pass.
If it plays as good as it appears to I'll probably buy it too.
Damn I love Game Pass.
If it plays as good as it appears to I'll probably buy it too.
TheAssist
Member
The thing I hate most of AoE4 is that it isnt Company of heroes 3.
Than again, graphically it looks worse than AoE3. Didnt do them any favors showing it on the same stream.
I know graphics dont really make an RTS game but maaaaan, I really want some high end looking WW2 RTS game. Imagine the deep mud, artillery, explosions, tanks vs tank fights, smoke and weather effects...
Unfortunately RTS (not DOTA clones) dont seem to be mainstream enough to get that kind of budget. Than again if you never try you never know.
Than again, graphically it looks worse than AoE3. Didnt do them any favors showing it on the same stream.
I know graphics dont really make an RTS game but maaaaan, I really want some high end looking WW2 RTS game. Imagine the deep mud, artillery, explosions, tanks vs tank fights, smoke and weather effects...
Unfortunately RTS (not DOTA clones) dont seem to be mainstream enough to get that kind of budget. Than again if you never try you never know.
RedVIper
Banned
Total war games are simulating thousands of units, the expectations shouldn't be the same as a AOE game where you have like a hundred units fighting it out.
Not to mention total war games do have some excellent animations for their special units.
This preview told me nothing about the game, it showed off some very mediocre graphics and their super DiverseTM team.
Let's hope the game itself is any good, it would be sad if we got a big RTS since god knows when and it turned out to be shit.
Vae_Victis
Banned
I don't know what Total War games you mean, but all the latest releases look a LOT better than this, no matter how you look at it.
On a general technical level, and being generous in regards of the art style they chose, this looks about on par with Rome 2. Which was released 8 years ago.
If you zoom in and start checking individual models, even Rome 2 looks MUCH, MUCH better.
Compared to TW Warhammer or Three Kingdoms, it's not even remotely a contest.
AoE4 probably doesn't need this level of visual detail at all, since you are not meant to zoom all the way in.
What bothers me the most is the disconnect between the semi-realistic environments and the pastel people. The unit colors are too flat, saturated and unshaded, they don't fit in the scene at all. Animations are also very basic, and there is clearly no real physics/momentum (when they turn, soldiers "snap" from looking one way to looking the other, same for being stationary -> moving and the other way around).
Hendrick's
If only my penis was as big as my GamerScore!
I just hope MS outs more if this type of game on iCloud.
Halo is Back
Member
Never played this series. I'm fucking hyped now
The gameplay graphics kind of dehyped me for the game. Sure the animations for building construction is better and characters looked more detailed but at times but I was just expecting a lot more in 2021. I wouln't even say I'm graphics whore. I play age of empires 3 but not the hd edition since I hate the ( I think it's called) ui in the new version. So junky that it killed my interest in further playing and went straight back to the older version. I may just need to some someone actually playing it before deciding.
LordOfChaos
Member
After Age of Mythology 2I am aroused.
But Rise of Nations 2 when?
SirKicksalot
Member
But Rise of Nations 2 when?
And what about Rise of Legends and the unfinished expansion?
BarringGaffner
Member
I play a ton of AOE2 online and this looks more like Aoe3.
Of course I will play it but it just doesn’t like they are creating a replacement for AOE2 online.
Of course I will play it but it just doesn’t like they are creating a replacement for AOE2 online.
ShaikhCroft
Member
Why are we comparing Alpha version of this game with the final version of another game? 
KyoZz
Tag, you're it.
Why are we comparing Alpha version of this game with the final version of another game?
Criticism is good when justified.
It is not by saying nothing that things can change. I prefer to say it loud and clear and see it corrected: the models of the units need to be reworked.
I mean no matter which way you put it, compared to another game or not... There is a big shift between how models are rendered next to the terrain/buildings/vegetation.
Also their is a new camera system that allow more zoom and control.
Finally, Alpha and beta are made for this: look at what can be improved before the release and I truly believe it's just a matter of tweaks.
And don't misunderstand me, I'm really excited for this game (I even created the OT since a loooong time already ^^) but yeah, this need to be fixed.
supernova8
Banned
also the scale is all wrong. If you look at the size of the people compared to the buildings you'd think they're all 7 feet tallI don't know what Total War games you mean, but all the latest releases look a LOT better than this, no matter how you look at it.
On a general technical level, and being generous in regards of the art style they chose, this looks about on par with Rome 2. Which was released 8 years ago.
If you zoom in and start checking individual models, even Rome 2 looks MUCH, MUCH better.
Compared to TW Warhammer or Three Kingdoms, it's not even remotely a contest.
AoE4 probably doesn't need this level of visual detail at all, since you are not meant to zoom all the way in.
What bothers me the most is the disconnect between the semi-realistic environments and the pastel people. The unit colors are too flat, saturated and unshaded, they don't fit in the scene at all. Animations are also very basic, and there is clearly no real physics/momentum (when they turn, soldiers "snap" from looking one way to looking the other, same for being stationary -> moving and the other way around).
Someone that got my point.
Also I love TW games but I have different expectations in terms of how I am zooming in with my camera or not. I find that TW is generally a slower game so I am more likely to zoom in to see my general whereas I am not in AoE games.
I wasn't comparing the animation and model quality as I know that total war is on a different level in comparison to AoE.
Also are we really criticising the height of the buildings in comparison to the units?
This was my point. Not that the models was as good as the ones created from creative assembly. I think there is a slight shading issue on the units but it's not too bad or jarring enough.
HE1NZ
Banned
My only issue is really low resolution shadows. Kinda weird they didn't fix it for the video.
RedVIper
Banned
AOE 2 came out in 99, AOE 3 (Which is usually regarded as worse) in 05.
I don't think it's unreasonable for people to want the series to improve after two decades.
Why shouldn't I want extremely detailed character models? Buildings?
I shouldn't I want better animations?
"It's just as good as the last one" is a bad thing imo
DuckZilla
Neo Member
Im also disappointed.
The first thing I immediately noticed is the huge arrows, then the cartoony looks of all of the units, poor combat animations and poor units details. I wanted to be blown away but now really underwhelmed. As
RedVIper
said, Its normal after 15 years to expect more out of this
The first thing I immediately noticed is the huge arrows, then the cartoony looks of all of the units, poor combat animations and poor units details. I wanted to be blown away but now really underwhelmed. As
RedVIper
said, Its normal after 15 years to expect more out of this
Alright
Banned
C&C Red Alert released on PSX and that controller didn't even have analogue sticks. Halo Wars 1 had a very competent and usable control scheme.
Console RTS' just need a time slider, where the default is 0.5x speed when playing on console, with the option to speed up on the fly for when you've done your building/resource management. This would compensate for the 'slower' moving cursor on controller vs M+KB. Avon Colony was great with the 1x, 2x, 4x, and 8x, speed increases.
.Pennywise
Banned
I think the units being too stylized can be changed easily. Other stuff like people complaining of everything, like graphics of the enviroment and buildings (WTF they're really good), or the units to buildings relation, know jack shit about RTS games.
Name me a single one RTS game where units to buildings scale is 1:1 and the game having great world wide success. I'll wait here.... forever maybe, because there's none! And btw, the Total War saga is not RTS, get your shit together.
Poor Relic, they have to be juggling between people talking out of their asses, the people that want gameplay over graphics, the people that want graphics over gameplay, the people that want new innovative and totally different gameplay, the people that want the saga to not change that much, etc etc etc.
Impossible to cater to all people. But to the only ones they shouldn't put a single ounce of attention are the people that pull things out of their asses (like scale) and talk like they knew jack shit about RTS. People that even don't know what an RTS is and start comparing RTS to TTS, TBS, etc.
I hope the best for the game.
Name me a single one RTS game where units to buildings scale is 1:1 and the game having great world wide success. I'll wait here.... forever maybe, because there's none! And btw, the Total War saga is not RTS, get your shit together.
Poor Relic, they have to be juggling between people talking out of their asses, the people that want gameplay over graphics, the people that want graphics over gameplay, the people that want new innovative and totally different gameplay, the people that want the saga to not change that much, etc etc etc.
Impossible to cater to all people. But to the only ones they shouldn't put a single ounce of attention are the people that pull things out of their asses (like scale) and talk like they knew jack shit about RTS. People that even don't know what an RTS is and start comparing RTS to TTS, TBS, etc.
I hope the best for the game.
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Soulblighter31
Banned
Command&Conquer was released on consoles back then, Warcraft as well because they gave 0 fucks if it works or not. Its hilarious watching a console session on youtube where the player just strugles to frame a single peon by moving the entire fucking screenspace to center it on what he wants to select. That type of dumpster fire would never make 10 minutes through QA today. Youre watching those 90s console ports of PC strategy games and you're almost waiting for ashton kutcher to jump out of the closset and say you're punked.
The reeera poeople also keep babling on about them releasing console ports for this, with less than zero understanding of how an RTS works. Oh, its easy, you just do this and that, so easy. Oh, its just gatekeeping. Reeeera guys and also some from here, you only believe you get how an RTS works. You dont. RTS games dont work in a way that makes sense on a controller. Period. If you want to play an RTS, do it on PC. If not, never play them. That simple.
Alright
Banned
C and C worked fine on console, did it have limitations? Sure but that doesn't mean it wasn't fun to play with. I played RTS games on PC and know the advantages of M+KB but to outright say RTS shouldn't be on console is plain stupid.
BFME2 on xbox 360 worked very well, as did Halo Wars and Red Alert 3. Why not release it on consoles, on GP and let the players decide how they want to play?
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Soulblighter31
Banned
They didnt work and werent fun. They were ridiculous. It boggles the mind that grown men thought those sorry excuses of games made any sense to exist and be released on consoles. I dont even know why this is a discussion. Did RTS games traditionally came out on consoles ? Does it make any sense to ask for it now ? Do you think there would be more than 5 people playing it there ? XCom back in 2012 failed so hard on consoles that they released the sequel on pc only for a fucking year. Age of Empires 4 will not come out on consoles. EVER. As it should be. Whats going on here ?
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fatmarco
Member
I'm genuinely surprised at how poor this looks graphically. Unless it's maybe being built with porting to low end devices, phones, Xbox One etc. in mind?
In any event it comes across as rather cheap looking with it's near textureless art style. Especially if you compare it to both 2 and 3 with their HD re-releases/remasters.
In any event it comes across as rather cheap looking with it's near textureless art style. Especially if you compare it to both 2 and 3 with their HD re-releases/remasters.
Alright
Banned
I thought they were ridiculous fun. I wasn't a grown man at the time, i was a kid/teen/adolescent who enjoyed RA on PSX, BFME2 on Xbox 360 and Halo wars on whatever console that came out on (360?).
In a world where people want to play fortnite on a smartphone, it's not out of the realm of possibility that people want to play RTS games on console
As for what's going on, PC gaming sucks and has done for a long time. Apart from the odd games, like AoE4, most PC games are ports of console games and a billion indie sprite-shites. Long gone are the days of being up to your eyeballs in decent RTS and RPG's.
.Pennywise
Banned
Stop port begging, it won't come to consoles.
Soulblighter31
Banned
I thought they were ridiculous fun. I wasn't a grown man at the time, i was a kid/teen/adolescent who enjoyed RA on PSX, BFME2 on Xbox 360 and Halo wars on whatever console that came out on (360?).
In a world where people want to play fortnite on a smartphone, it's not out of the realm of possibility that people want to play RTS games on console
As for what's going on, PC gaming sucks and has done for a long time. Apart from the odd games, like AoE4, most PC games are ports of console games and a billion indie sprite-shites. Long gone are the days of being up to your eyeballs in decent RTS and RPG's.
You enjoyed them because you didnt know any better. Since you now do, theres no need to want this game to ever come on consoles. No, its console gaming that was always complete and utter shit. Thats why we're having this conversation, in the hopes they dont fuck up the game by neutering it per the norm for a console game
Alright
Banned
Thanks for telling me what I enjoyed. I put a lot of hours in to C&C RA2, Yuri's revenge and Generals. Tiberium wars was aight. I played all of them and still enjoyed Halo Wars and BFME2 for what it was.
Neuter it per the norm for a console game? What year is this, 2006? The last few nights I've booted steam up, I've been met with indie game sales, Xbox game sales and a plethora of other console games. I don't agree with it, but hey, those are the times we live in. PC is now a console box and console gaming is mobile gaming on the big screen. We've all been fucked over
And Relic has been blundering since CoH 2, what's that? like seven years or so, Age IV for example runs on Age III DE engine, now sure enough, that doesn't mean shit, but the assets quality are really that remaster tier which is very low poly for today. The original Age III had an impressive tech back in 2005.
While obviously I hope gameplay to be good, the presentation falls flat that it makes you worried about what may be in, just like Halo Infinite has a troubled developement, its fanbase hate the developer and wasn't even shocked at this point, even Brad Sams spilled up about what's going on, the focus on E-sports is the red flag of a developer that doesn't give a shit about its franchise community but attract people who aren't interested and throw the fans under the bus.