80
Rise of Nations’ biggest weakness—lack of variety—becomes obvious. Every nation is the same, except for some bonus modifiers; there really aren’t that many units; and in the end, you wind up wielding them as a jumbled horde.
90
A towering aggregation of everything that's good about strategy gaming.
82
A game that borrows extensively but cautiously from the TBS genre, doing what it does extremely well but offering next to nothing which is new.
10
I don't know where Microsoft get of being the patrons of two game series like Age and Rise but you got to give them props for the way they pulled it of. Sick gameplay and sick ideas. Thanks for the fun.
8
This feels like several RTS games within one and I love it for it. The inevitable consequences is that each of them is not deeply fleshed out, but it mostly works. Feels great to cause a nuclear apocalypse.
10
This games deserves a 10 just for it's soundtrack.
Rise of Nations (2003)
Released On:
May 20, 2003
Metascore
Generally Favorable
89
User score
Generally Favorable
8.7
My Score
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Metascore
Generally Favorable
100% Positive
30 Reviews
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100
Hidden beneath that glossy surface is a game that takes almost everything that's annoying with real-time strategy titles and fixes it. It's deep, yet accessible. It's action-packed, yet manageable. In short, it's everything you could ask for in a real-time strategy game.
94
A worthy product with far more assets than shortcomings and a campaign game that will keep you playing.
User score
Generally Favorable
84% Positive
368 Ratings
368 Ratings
14% Mixed
63 Ratings
63 Ratings
2% Negative
8 Ratings
8 Ratings
Dec 7, 2023
10
I don't know where Microsoft get of being the patrons of two game series like Age and Rise but you got to give them props for the way they pulled it of. Sick gameplay and sick ideas. Thanks for the fun.
92
No current strategy title can give you the clash between horseback cavalry and industrial age tanks and howitzers as compelling as what Rise of Nations brings to the table.
90
Animation of the beautifully rendered characters and unit models particularly livens up the screen, and the attention to detail is often quite remarkable.
90
The second, more significant disappoint that RON inflicts upon the gamer is the mind numbing singularity of the conquest battles. As much as I love toasting the opposition into roasted marshmallow oblivion, doing so 22 times in a row gets a little old.
82
A game that borrows extensively but cautiously from the TBS genre, doing what it does extremely well but offering next to nothing which is new.
80
Rise of Nations’ biggest weakness—lack of variety—becomes obvious. Every nation is the same, except for some bonus modifiers; there really aren’t that many units; and in the end, you wind up wielding them as a jumbled horde.
Jun 9, 2023
7
A strong RTS entry in the vein of AoE or AoM, but with a niche of modern day development. It does a great job introducing increasingly modern units and having them feel like distinct improvements. Unique wonders and tech levels also add to the equation. A lot of fun and worth your time, but not much faction diversity to speak of.
Apr 2, 2023
7
For old pals. Pros.: - Mix of Civilization and Age of Empires. - Can play multiplayer. - No bugs. - Some lags if played multiplayer but still fine. - Dynamic. - Easy to learn. Cons.: - Super outdated. - Need particular vibe to play it.
Dec 7, 2020
0
Possibly the best RTS ever made. Reaction from Microsoft for a sequel: Crickets
SummaryDominate 6,000 years of history from the Ancient Age to the Information Age. Which forces will you deploy to lead your nation to global prominence? Trade, espionage, diplomacy?war? Whichever path you choose, you?ll experience the pulse pounding thrill and speed of real-time gaming combined with the epic scope and depth of turn-based stra... Read More
Rated Tfor Teen
Platforms:
- PC
Initial Release Date:May 20, 2003
Developer:
- Big Huge Games
Publisher:
