Age of War 2 game design challenges and opportunities for innovation. It takes the familiar base-defense model and turns it into something bigger, faster and more strategically engaging than the initial design would suggest. In a match, there are two competing interests (and ultimately, two competitive objectives) going at each other simultaneously. There is one objective that is asking you to simply make it through to the next attack; meanwhile, there is another objective that is telling you to be forward thinking, get your units ready to go, and put yourself in a position to have a lasting advantage. That's why it has such great replayability. A game can change on just one decision. It could be one strategic shift in evolving, making the correct selection of turrets, or having a unit that gets to the enemy base before they are prepared. On Rocket Games, it really fits the player who enjoys playing side view strategy games with enough complexity to reward better decisions without becoming too difficult to read during the course of the match.
Key Controls
- MOUSE and LEFT-CLICK
Game overview
Age of War 2 is a side-scrolling strategy defense game where you defend your base, deploy units into battle, collect gold and experience points, and progress through seven ages before you run out of options to keep the enemy off your back. From start to finish, the primary objective remains the same: maintain your line of defense, generate momentum, and take down the enemy base. The objective changes as soon as you get access to new age levels that provide greater army capabilities. Your primitive troop force will eventually give way to a superior armed force. Each level that you advance through adds to the tempo of the battle.
Age of War 2 does not require a complex system of mechanics to become a deep game. Rather, it is the timing of your moves that provides the necessary depth to the game. Spending too quickly may cost you dearly in the later stages of the match. However, if you save too long, you may allow the opponent to gain control of the lane. This balance between defending against an attacker, generating enough pressure to force him to move, and advancing to new age levels is what allows the game to remain enjoyable for many matches.
Key Features
- Side-scroller style strategy gameplay based upon base defense and lane control
- Seven distinct ages that progressively increase the quality of your army and impact the tempo of combat
- Many unique unit types that offer varying degrees of excitement throughout your advancement
- turret systems that allow for both defensive strategies and timing-based strategies
- Special attacks that can either salvage a poor performance or enhance a successful one
- Quick, single-player matches with high replay value
Beginner tips
- Protect your base first. Losing control early in a match will make every subsequent choice more difficult.
- Don't waste basic units. Plan your deployments.
- Only place turrets when your lane begins to slip away.
- Track your experience bar to know exactly when to advance to the next age.
- Spend your gold wisely. Don't purchase every minor upgrade as soon as possible.
- Allow your defense to establish some stability before attempting to make a major assault on your opponents.
Advanced tips
- Timing is everything when it comes to evolving. Ensure that your new units arrive before your opponent progresses.
- Use turrets to occupy space while you save for an improved unit type.
- Consider wave timing when deploying your units. Having a solid sequence of deployment will often outweigh sheer numbers.
- Save special attacks for large waves of enemy units or instances where momentum is about to shift.
- Only apply pressure on your opponents when you believe that their base is stable.
- In longer matches, efficiency will typically win out over aggression.
Common mistakes
- Spending too heavily on weak early units and limiting your future potential.
- Waiting too late to utilize turrets in defense.
- Evolve at a time that leaves your base vulnerable to attack.
- Utilize special attacks for minimal gains.
- Play primarily for offense and forget that survival should be your top priority.
- React hastily after one enemy rush rather than establishing control again incrementally.
FAQ
What is the Age of War 2?
Age of War 2 is a single-player strategy defense game where you defend your base, send units into battle, acquire gold and experience points, and progress through multiple age levels prior to being defeated by an opponent.
How do I play Age of War 2?
You employ the MOUSE button to dispatch troops, buy defenses, and activate improvements while the battle plays out automatically within the lane. Ultimately success will depend upon maintaining a proper balance between defense, offense and age progression at optimal times.
What distinguishes the Age of War 2 from the Age of War?
The age of war series' second installment introduces additional progression structures by including more ages, providing greater diversity in unit types and increasing the cadence of combat within each stage creating longer and more fluid battles compared to the first title.
Is the Age of War 2 a strategy game or a defense game?
It is both. The defensive aspect maintains the integrity of your base while the strategic component revolves around managing gold effectively, selecting when to evolve and determining whether or not to apply pressure on your opponent.
What is the most effective method for improving my skills in Age of War 2?
The most effective method for improvement is spending money efficiently, selecting the ideal time to evolve, and employing defenses to manage control over the lane rather than relying solely on continually producing unit after unit.
Final thoughts
One key reason why Age of War 2 continues to be effective lies in its ability to consistently adhere to its core loop. Protect your base. Upgrade. Advance. Strike at the optimal time. The simplicity of this core loop lends itself easily to learning however, the timing associated with it creates enjoyment in repeated engagements. If you find satisfaction in enjoying traditional strategy games that reward clarity in decision-making and visual development of those decisions, then Age of War 2 should prove suitable for Rocket Games.
Similar games
If you enjoy strategy games with base-pressure/lanes, unit progression, etc., consider continuing with Bloons Tower Defense 4 for a slightly more challenging defensive approach or try Stick War Saga for larger scale army movements/tactical maneuvers or jump into Stick Battle: Fight for Freedom for another timed-based strategy engagement focused on pressure.