Key Benefits

• Battle alongside heroes of the day - Strive with one of following heroes to victory: Joan of Arc, William Wallace, Genghis Khan, Saladin, and Barbarossa.
• Command one of 13 mighty civilizations - Includes the Franks, Japanese, Byzantines, Vikings, Mongols, and Celts. Each with unique attributes, buildings, technologies, and specific combat units based on its historical counterpart.
• Choose the path to greatness - Will it be an economic path created out of craftsmanship, trade and diplomacy? Or a military route of siege and naval warfare? Or by building a Wonder of the World that will stand the test of time? 
• Conquer a worthy opponent - Over the MSN Gaming Zone, LAN or modem. Or a nearly human artificial intelligence opponent in single player mode.
• Lead swiftly and with ease - A comprehensive learning campaign helps you to get easily into the game. Production queues, gathering points and customizable hot-keys make it fast and simple to manage your forces and plan battles.
• Build a rich empire - A market-based economy gives you new options to buy, sell, and speculate on resources or trade with allies.
• Lead with cunning and might - Place your military units in formation or give them intelligent stances and commands to add interesting tactical choices.
• Create your own scenario - The Map Editor allows you to build your own massive campaigns.
• New and bigger lands - With the random map generator you will always have new lands to explore and conquer, no matter how many times you play.

Product Features

In addition to all the features found in the original Age of Empires, Age of Empires II enhances game play in the following areas:

New Combat Options
Players can use garrisoning and military formations that add interesting tactical choices. Units are also smarter, with new artificial intelligence (AI) options like Guard, Patrol and Follow as well as multiple aggression levels.

Alternatives to Combat
Players can improve the economy of their civilization through trade and diplomacy options. In addition to gathering resources, they can trade at their own market or use trading routes with their allies. A market-based economy gives new options for players to buy, sell, and speculate on resources.

Diverse Cultures
Gamers command one of 13 mighty civilizations. These include the Franks, Japanese, Byzantines, Vikings, Mongols and Celts civilizations. Each civilization has unique attributes, buildings and technologies as well as a unique combat unit based on its historical counterpart.

Ease of Use
The William Wallace learning campaign makes it incredibly easy for new users to get started. The new two-layer interface lets players select the level of command buttons displayed based on their needs. Additionally, the game also includes production queues, rally points, customizable hot-key system, as well as expanded rollover help.

Achieve Victory in Many Ways
In contrast to the linear game play found in other real-time games, Age of Empires II lets gamers choose one of several ways to achieve world domination and ultimate victory:

• Domination of enemy civilizations
• Economic victory through accumulation of wealth
• Building and defending wonders of the world

Choose a Technology Path
Age of Empires II lets gamers choose from numerous technological paths to help lead their civilization to greatness. From an economic path of farming and craftsmanship to a military route of siege and naval warfare, the game comes with a technology tree that has more than 100 nodes, larger than one player could possibly complete in just one game.

Experience Intense Single and Multiplayer Game Play

• Story based campaigns focus on historical figures and their struggles like William Wallace, Joan of Arc, Genghis Khan, Barbarossa and Saladin bring the player much deeper into the game as they strive with the hero to victory.
• A new expert system driven computer player with artificial intelligence providing a solitaire opponent who seems human.
• Maps are larger which adds to the sense of exploration and allows more options for extended play particularly in multiplayer.
• The very popular Random map generator brings unlimited replay value for both multiplayer and single player.
• In addition to the traditional Deathmatch option, there is a new gameplay mode: Regicide, where players have to protect their Queen or King while they try to assassinate the enemy one.
• A Map editor extends also the game play by allowing users to create and exchange scenarios or link them into campaigns.

Multiplayer Game Support
Internet play for up to eight players via the MSN Gaming Zone, over a LAN or modem to modem.

System Requirements

• Windows 95, 98, Me, NT 4.0 with Service Pack 5, XP
• Multimedia PC with Pentium 166MHz or higher processor.
• 32 MB of RAM
• 200 MB of hard disk space; additional 100 MB of hard disk space for swap file.
• Super VGA monitor supporting 800x600 resolution.
• Local bus video card that supports 800x600, 256 color resolution and 2 MB of VRAM
• Quad-speed CD-ROM drive.
• Microsoft Mouse or compatible pointing device.
• 28.8Kbps modem (or higher recommended) for internet or head-to-head play.
• Audio board with speakers or headphones.
• To access the MSN Gaming Zone you need Internet Explorer 3.02 or later software or Netscape Communicator 4.0 or later.