Age of Empires III: The Asian Dynasties is the second expansion pack for the real-time strategy video game Age of Empires III developed through a collaboration between Ensemble Studios and Big Huge Games, and published by Microsoft Game Studios. The Mac version was ported over, developed and published by Destineer's MacSoft. The game is the second expansion pack following The WarChiefs. The game introduces three new civilizations; China, Japan, and India. It also introduced minor people, campaigns, maps, and game modes.
Age of Empires III: The Asian Dynasties for PC was released in North America on October 23, 2007. The Mac version was released on August 5, 2008. The game was generally received well by critics, mostly praising graphics, and sometimes criticizing predictable aspects of the game. It earned a 79% score on GameRankings and an 81% on Metacritic.
Age of Empires III: The Asian Dynasties
Age of Empires III: The Asian Dynasties is a real-time strategy game developed by Ensemble Studios and Big Huge Games, and is published by Microsoft Game Studios. It is the second expansion pack for Age of Empires III, following The WarChiefs.
The game introduces three new civilizations; the Chinese, Indians, and the Japanese, as well as several minor characters, campaigns, maps, and game modes. The Asian Dynasties achieved gold status on September 28, 2007, and was released in North America on October 23, 2007.
New civilizations
The Asian Dynasties adds three new major civilizations:
- Indians
- Chinese
- Japanese
Act I: Japan
This Japanese campaign focuses on the unification of Japan, which was also a minor campaign in Age of Empires II: The Conquerors. It mainly concentrates on the establishment of the Tokugawa Shogunate, which players will control a young general, named Sakuma Kichiro, the "adopted son" of Tokugawa Ieyasu, who leads numerous scenarios before the Battle of Sekigahara. Kichiro eventually learns that Tokugawa destroyed his home when he was a baby and murdered his parents. Despite this, Kichiro continues to follow Tokugawa because he is his master.
Act II: China
This Chinese campaign focuses loosely on the 1421 hypothesis concerning the Chinese discovery of the New World before Christopher Columbus. The story mainly focuses on Huang Jian, a Ming captain who dreamed of seeing the outside world, and his partner, Lao Chen, a powerful sailor and friend of Jian Huang, who are given orders to help expand the Ming Dynasty. But before exploring the New World, Admiral Jinhai, the cold and power-hungry nephew to the Chinese Emperor, hopes to become emperor of the new lands. Interestingly, Jinhai seems to "disappear" upon arrival. However, Jian eventually learns of his treason and defeats him and his supporters. He then returns home to China, hoping that no one knows they were once there.
Act III: India
This Indian campaign is about the Sepoy Rebellion of the 19th Century. The protagonist of the Indian campaign is Nanib Sahir, a member of the Sepoy regiments, who first allied with the British East India Company, but slowly becomes disillusioned from its cruel ways and abuse of the Indian citizens. However, Nanib eventually joins the rebels in the Sepoy rebellion after he and his men are forced by the company to use new Enfield Rifles, despite the cartridges' coverings of beef and pork fat, which was a taboo to Nanib's and the Sepoy's Hindu and Muslim beliefs. Nanib eventually leads his forces in an assault on Colonel Edwardson's stronghold and kills him. He then goes on to continue to fight the Company's other leaders. This campaign is taken from the real life of Nana Sahib in the times of the "Sepoy Rebellion" or "The First War of Independence" occurred in India.