Game Review - by Jeremiah Pratt
Microsoft's at it again introducing to you, Age of Empires: Rise of Rome. AOE owners will be pleased with the new expansion pack. The changes are numerous and well placed.

Not only do you get to experience 4 new civilizations, the Hellenic, Palmyran, Carthaginian, and Roman. But you have new and improved units and technologies. Basically, all aspects have been improved from AOE. So after you're done having fun burning up the competition with your fire galley. You may switch to other areas of combat with a single keystroke.

Features:
One of the greatest features in Rise of Rome is querying units. Allowing you to build any unit as fast as you can. Improved maps show more detailed scenery. The install is flawless, you will be ready to rock ass in no time. The first noticeable change in AOE: Rise of Rome is the addition of 4 new civilizations the Carthaginian, Hellenes, Palmyran, and the Romans. The structures are more representative of each civilization. Although, AOE: Rise of Rome doesn't reinvent AOE, but does have plenty of gameplay additives to keep you busy.

Graphics:
The Graphics in AOE: ROR is well you'll have to see for yourself. Seriously, there are few graphical changes from the original AOE. There are some new terrians to experience but that's about it.

Sound FX:
The sound is catchy keeping you awake amd ready, during those long campaigns. In addition the sound queues are more noticeable alerting you to upgrades and such.

Gameplay:
The brand new units are inventive and quite cool looking. First, are the Armored Elephants; which is equivalent to today's Sherman tank. The Fire Galley is the ultimate warship, which can resist conversion twice as much. The Camel Rider, these guys just look cool and are cheap too. The most impressive unit of them all is the Scythe Chariot. They took a chariot rider and slapped some armor on the horses.

In addition to the Technologies, Logistics - build barracks that holds more, Medicine - helps priests heal more units, Tower Shield - better defense vs. ballistics, last but not least Martydon - which is more or less like "I get the last laugh". It allows a dying priest to convert any enemy unit.

Overall:
AOE: Rise of Rome adds new and larger maps. There are new terrain to explore i.e. Mediterrian, Continental, Narrows and Hill Country. Again you'll experience another quality product made by Microsoft. AOE: ROR takes nothing away from the great AOE. It is a true expansion pack, breathing life into a game in which didn't need it. But it was well deserved.