Microsoft Age of Empires II: Age of Kings : Inside Moves (Eu-Inside Moves) (Paperback)

by Mark H. Walker (Author)

Editorial Reviews

Product Description
Survive and thrive 1000 years from the fall of Rome through the Middle Ages! This action-packed addition to the Microsoft Press(r) INSIDE MOVES series gives generals and empire builders of all skill levels all the strategy gambits and tricks they need for winning Microsoft Age of Empires II. A historical real-time strategy game, Age of Empires II is the sequel to one of the best-selling strategy games. In this riveting guide, readers learn tips and tricks for assembling troops, leading them to victory in battle, building towns and fiefdoms, and succeeding economically and socially. Included are the key strategies for both solo and multiplayer games, so you can succeed whatever your preferred style of play. And, like other titles in the INSIDE MOVES series, this book even includes tips on selecting the appropriate hardware for the most rewarding game play.

Product Details

• Paperback: 257 pages
• Publisher: Microsoft Press (September 1999)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0735605130
• ISBN-13: 978-0735605138
• Product Dimensions: 9 x 7.4 x 1 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.4 pounds
• Average Customer Review: 2.5 out of 5 stars See all reviews (19 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #858,838 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

14 of 14 people found the following review helpful:

2.0 out of 5 stars Book does not add much value for experienced player, February 12, 2000

By	Edmund Murphy (Toronto, Canada) - See all my reviews

I bought this book along with the game itself, so I read it from a beginner perspective. I would say that a novice would get some value out of it, but it would be of very little help to a player with any experience.

My main criticism is that about half the book is devoted to descriptions of how to play the various civilizations. The author went into far too much detail on this. It would have been much better to talk about general strategies that apply to all the civilizations, and then maybe devote 10% of the book on some of the unique features of each civilization.

I spend a few days going through this book while learning how to play the game. Afterwards, I bought the Prima's Unauthorized Strategy Guide and found it to be much more useful. I find myself referring to the Prima guide all the time to refresh my memory on certain aspects of the game (eg. before I play a civilization for the first time). I never refer to Walker's book.

I got a sense that the author did not play Age of Kings thoroughly and in depth, and that the book was written too quickly.

12 of 12 people found the following review helpful:

1.0 out of 5 stars God bless those who buy this book., December 3, 1999

By A Customer

This book definitely DOES NOT provide players with decent tactics/strategies. All it does is just make a few common sense statements a 100 times over. Among several weak points, here are a few:

What kind of an advise is it to have an economy of 13/19/25 villagers in Feudal/Castle/Imperial Age ? Even for beginners ? This technique would take the player back to the literal DARK Ages !

I doubt if anyone who uses the tactics/strategies mentioned in this book could finish a regular multiplayer game under 4 hours.

The tips/tricks mentioned in this book is nothing more than the Info sheet provided with the game and what a player couldn't find out for himself/herself in the 1st hour of the game.

Sheer waste of money & time !

I recommend Ensemble's book which costs the same and is good for even the average player. Compared to this one, that book is a BIBLE.

6 of 6 people found the following review helpful:

1.0 out of 5 stars What a waste, November 10, 1999

By A Customer

You'd think this could have some original strategies or SOMETHING useful. This is like the manual with a walkthrough thrown in. Don't waste your time on this book.