I went behind the scenes at Gamescom to see Age of Empires Cell in-person, getting a hands-on preview of the sport’s newest construct forward of launch later this yr. TiMi Studio’s iOS and Android iteration of the beloved technique sport franchise is already shaping as much as be a winner, but it surely was the sport’s superior extraction mode that has me past excited to revisit Age of Empires Cell at launch.
Bringing an enormous expertise like Age of Empires to cell isn’t any simple feat. Though there are heaps of cell technique video games to get my mitts on nowadays, the Age of Empires franchise has that particular one thing. Throughout my Gamescom unique preview, I’m proven Age of Empires Cell‘s tackle the extraction style in an expansive presentation, and whereas on paper this concept shouldn’t work, TiMi Studio seems to have pulled it off.
Gamers will be capable to drop into the battlefield with their mighty military, conquer enemies and purchase fascinating objects, after which select to extract at any time. It’s a mode that I by no means anticipated to see woven into the Age of Empires method. Nonetheless, simply because it riffs off the extreme method that FPS sport juggernaut Escape from Tarkov has popularized, don’t fear about it feeling alienating.
To make such a predominantly painstaking and calculated mode approachable for iOS and Android gamers, the mode’s magic comes by embracing the character of getting your repair of the greatest cell video games in bite-size bursts. I’m informed by the TiMi Studio group onsite that by specializing in participant habits, like getting in good ten minute chunks of gameplay on public transports or whereas enjoyable on the sofa, the mode is notably simple to dip into everytime you really feel prefer it.
That sentiment echos throughout Age of Empires Cell as an entire, too. Whereas I didn’t get to check out the extraction mode in my hands-on preview as the sport isn’t dwell but, I did get caught into the core of any good Age of Empires expertise: taking a civilization into greatness.
All of it feels splendidly streamlined, whether or not I’m upgrading totally different POIs in my metropolis, or diving into the sport’s complete ability timber, or roster of a historic figures. For those who occur to be a fan of Arthurian lore like me, you then’ll get an enormous kick out of how Age of Empires Cell blends collectively factual figures of historical past with legendary heroes like King Arthur.
When we beforehand spoke to TiMi Studios concerning the sport earlier this yr, producer Robin Xin and normal supervisor Brayden Fan promised a “very totally different” expertise for newcomers and AoE execs alike. That’s actually the large takeaway from my time with Age of Empires Cell. However even in its new handheld dwelling, that distinctive Age of Empires model of spectacle continues to be spectacular.
You’ll be capable to get in on the motion too when the Age of Empires Cell launch date arrives on October 17, 2024. Within the meantime, you may pre-register to play the sport in your iPhone and Android gadgets.
