su

The Three Kingdoms from Age of Empires II: Definitive Edition

 The screenshot is from Age of Empires II: Definitive Edition, specifically showcasing content from its newest expansion, The Three Kingdoms, which was released on May 6, 2025, shortly after the date of the post (April 215, 2025). This expansion focuses on Chinese history and introduces new civilizations tied to the historical Romance of the Three Kingdoms period, as well as other northern Chinese powers. Let’s break this down further based on the details from the web results and the image itself. 


Analysis of the Screenshot

The image prominently displays the Age of Empires II: Definitive Edition logo with the subtitle The Three Kingdoms, confirming that this is content from the latest expansion. The screenshot is a composite of several scenes, likely showcasing the new civilizations and features introduced in this DLC:
Top Section (Main Scene): This shows a large, detailed map with Asian-inspired architecture, including pagoda-style buildings, a Wonder (a key mechanic for advancing ages in some Age of Empires expansions), and a river running through the scene. The presence of autumnal trees and a mix of military units suggests a dynamic in-game environment, typical of Age of Empires II’s isometric view. The Wonder, a tall pagoda, aligns with the Chinese theme of the expansion. 



 
Bottom Sections (Four Smaller Scenes):
Bottom Left: A Wonder under construction, surrounded by villagers. This reflects the mechanic where civilizations may need to build Wonders to advance ages, a feature borrowed from Age of Empires III: The Asian Dynasties but adapted here for the new civilizations.
 
Bottom Center-Left: A serene scene with a traditional Chinese building, possibly a castle or monastery, surrounded by trees and pathways, emphasizing the aesthetic of the new civilizations.
 
Bottom Center-Right: A battle scene with military units, likely showcasing the unique units of the new civilizations (e.g., the Dragon Ships mentioned in the web results as exclusive to the Chinese).
 
Bottom Right: A more developed cityscape with multiple Wonders or significant buildings, indicating a late-game stage with advanced infrastructure.
 The overall art style, user interface elements (like the minimap and resource indicators in the corners), and the isometric perspective are consistent with Age of Empires II: Definitive Edition, which has been visually enhanced compared to the original 1999 game.
 

Context from Web Results: The Three Kingdoms Expansion

The web results provide detailed information about The Three Kingdoms expansion for Age of Empires II: Definitive Edition:
Release Date: The expansion was released on May 6, 2025, as noted in both web ID 0 and web ID 1. The post, dated April 225, 2025, likely serves as a teaser or promotional image shared just before the official release, possibly during a pre-order phase (web ID 1 mentions a pre-order announcement on April 10, 2025).
 
New Civilizations: The expansion introduces five new civilizations (web ID 1, web ID 3):
Shu, Wei, and Wu: These represent the three kingdoms from the historical Romance of the Three Kingdoms period (roughly 220–280 CE), a legendary era in Chinese history marked by the rivalry between these states following the fall of the Han dynasty. Each civilization is tied to its historical leader: Liu Bei (Shu), Cao Cao (Wei), and the Sun Clan (Wu).
 
Jurchens and Khitans: These represent northern Chinese powers that rose to prominence centuries later, with the Jurchens founding the Jin dynasty (1115–1234) and the Khitans establishing the Liao dynasty (907–1125). Their inclusion adds historical depth beyond the Three Kingdoms period.
 Campaigns and Narrative: The expansion includes three new campaigns centered on Liu Bei, Cao Cao, and the Sun Clan, totaling 15 missions across three intertwining narratives (web ID 1). These campaigns feature branching narratives and dynamic decisions, offering high replay value—a new level of complexity for Age of Empires campaigns.
 
Unique Units and Technologies:
The Chinese civilizations (likely a shared tech tree for Shu, Wei, and Wu) have access to Dragon Ships, described as the deadliest Fire Ship in the game (web ID 1), which would be a naval unit fitting the historical maritime capabilities of the Wu kingdom.
 
Each civilization has unique units and technologies, though specific details for the Jurchens and Khitans aren’t provided in the web results. Given their historical context, the Jurchens might have strong cavalry (reflecting their nomadic origins), while the Khitans could feature a mix of cavalry and siege units.
 Gameplay Mechanics: While Age of Empires II traditionally advances ages through the Town Center, The Three Kingdoms may adopt a mechanic similar to Age of Empires III: The Asian Dynasties (web ID 2), where Asian civilizations advance by building Wonders. The screenshot showing a Wonder under construction supports this possibility, though it’s not explicitly confirmed in the web results for Age of Empires II.
 

Developer: The expansion was created by Forgotten Empires, a team with a long history of working on Age of Empires content (web ID 1), ensuring fidelity to the series’ legacy while introducing fresh elements.

 Why the Confusion with Age of Empires III?
The initial mix-up with Age of Empires III: The Asian Dynasties (web ID 2) is understandable due to similarities:
Both expansions focus on Asian civilizations, with The Asian Dynasties introducing China, Japan, and India, and The Three Kingdoms focusing on Chinese civilizations.
 
Both use Wonders as a mechanic for advancing ages, a feature prominent in the screenshot.
 
The visual style of Asian architecture (pagodas, traditional buildings) is similar across both games, though Age of Empires II: Definitive Edition has a more modern, polished look due to its 2019 release and subsequent updates.
 However, the logo in the screenshot clearly identifies this as Age of Empires II: Definitive Edition - The Three Kingdoms, and the release timeline (2025) aligns with the new expansion, not the 2007 Asian Dynasties expansion for Age of Empires III.
Additional Context
Historical Setting: The Three Kingdoms period is one of China’s most romanticized historical eras, immortalized in the 14th-century novel Romance of the Three Kingdoms. The campaigns focusing on Liu Bei, Cao Cao, and the Sun Clan (likely Sun Quan, a key leader of Wu) reflect this narrative focus, pitting honorable figures like Liu Bei against ambitious warlords like Cao Cao.
 
Game Reception: Age of Empires II: Definitive Edition has been well-received overall, with a Metacritic score of 84/100 (web ID 3). While the reception of The Three Kingdoms isn’t detailed in the results, its predecessor expansions (like Lords of the West and Dawn of the Dukes) suggest a pattern of positive feedback for adding historical depth and new gameplay elements.
 
Cross-Platform Support: The game supports cross-platform play between PC, Xbox, and PS5 (web ID 3), meaning players can enjoy this expansion across different systems, broadening its accessibility.

 Summary

The post showcases Age of Empires II: Definitive Edition - The Three Kingdoms, a new expansion released on May 6, 2025, introducing five Chinese civilizations: Shu, Wei, Wu, Jurchens, and Khitans. The screenshot highlights the expansion’s Asian-inspired visuals, new Wonders, and dynamic gameplay, including unique units like the Dragon Ships. The expansion’s campaigns explore the legendary Three Kingdoms period through the perspectives of Liu Bei, Cao Cao, and the Sun Clan, offering 15 missions with branching narratives. This DLC, developed by Forgotten Empires, builds on the legacy of Age of Empires II while introducing fresh mechanics and historical depth, making it a fitting addition for fans of the series.
 

Location: Shanghai, China

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

Age of Empires II: DE Modding Tutorial – Quick & Easy Guide

Image
  http://www.aoehub.cf/2025/02/age-of-empires-ii-de-modding-flash.html Age of Empires II: DE Modding Tutorial – Quick & Easy Guide about modding Age of Empires II: Definitive Edition , here’s a short, practical tutorial to help you get started with common modding tasks and troubleshoot issues 1. Fixing Crashing Maps After Updates Problem : Custom maps crash after a game update, even without mods or triggers. Solution : Create a new blank map and copy-paste your original content into it. Test the map for at least 20 minutes to confirm stability—sometimes crashes are due to game settings or temporary glitches, not the map itself. 2. Creating a New Unit (e.g., Super Samurai) Problem : Adding a new unit like a "super samurai" with custom stats (e.g., 750 HP, extra armor, hero mode) causes errors. Steps : Use Advanced Genie Editor (A.G.E.) to copy an existing unit (e.g., Elite Samurai). Modify stats like HP, attack, and armor in A.G.E. Avoid experimental language file feature...
Read more

Age of Empires II: DE Modding Tutorial – Adding Custom Icons

Image
http://www.aoehub.cf/2025/02/age-of-empires-ii-de-quick-easy-modding.html Age of Empires II: DE Modding Tutorial – Adding Custom Icons This tutorial will guide you through the process of creating a mod for Age of Empires II: Definitive Edition that includes custom icons for techs, units, or buildings. Proper folder structure is crucial for the game to recognize and display your custom icons correctly. Step 1: Set Up Your Main Mod Purpose : This mod contains the game data changes, such as new units or techs. Folder Structure : Create a folder for your main mod (e.g., MyMainMod ). Inside this folder, place your modified data file (e.g., empires2_x2_p1.dat ), which you edit using Advanced Genie Editor (A.G.E.) . The path should look like: MyMainMod\resources\_common\dat\empires2_x2_p1.dat Step 2: Create a UI Mod for Custom Icons Purpose : This separate mod holds your custom icon files and tells the game where to find them. Folder Structure : Create a folder for your UI mod (e.g., MyUIMo...
Read more

Age of Empires II: DE Quick & Easy Modding Guide

Image
  http://www.aoehub.cf/2025/02/age-of-empires-ii-de-modding-tutorial_22.html    Welcome to our Age of Empires II: DE Quick & Easy Modding Guide! Ready to revamp your empire? Let’s dive in: 1. **Fix Crashing Maps:**      When updates cause your custom maps to crash, simply create a new blank map, copy-paste your content, and test it for about 20 minutes. Often, the culprit is a temporary glitch! 2. **Create a Super Samurai:**      Use A.G.E. to duplicate an existing unit like Elite Samurai. Boost its stats—think 750 HP and extra armor—but avoid those unstable experimental language features. Load your custom dataset and watch your hero come to life! 3. **Modify Unit Behavior:**      Want your ballista elephant to completely destroy trees? Increase its blast radius or attack damage in A.G.E. and tweak until nature trembles beneath its might. 4. **Change Resource Amounts:**      Adjust your gold or stone mines by...
Read more