- Publisher: Microsoft Game Studios
- Release Date: Apr 27, 2004
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It’s the added complexity and context garnered from these new campaigns that keeps us coming back for more. Thrones and Patriots is a must-have expansion pack for every single person who owns Rise of Nations.
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This game hits the nail right on the head. The first release was near perfection, and the expansion only makes it better. The biggest hurdle to overcome with Thrones and Patriots is the fact it is like a can of Pringles. Once you start playing, you just can’t stop.
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netjakThrones and Patriots manages to double the immense amount of replay in the original Rise of Nations with the addition of six new civilizations and four new campaigns.
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From the moment I got Thrones and Patriots, I have been playing it at 5 hours at a clip – so let me reiterate that this is a fine game.
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Rise of Nations: Thrones & Patriots blends so perfectly with the original game that it's hard to tell that you're even playing it.
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One of the best RTS experiences you can find!
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Sure the expansion could have been used to fix a few minor bugs, but Big Huge Games obviously focused on new features and campaigns, rather than building a "patch you have to pay for."
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Deepening the strategic possibilities is key to making a strategy title more fun, and T&P goes the extra mile to make sure that it delivers a more engaging experience than is possible without the expansion installed. [July 2004, p.121]
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The beauty of all these additions is how utterly natural they feel in the context of the game.
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Each of the other nations has some new wonderful advantages in line with their own historical value. Most new units are actually replacements of old units, but the Indians (India), for example, have elephants in addition to their horse units.
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PC GamerBoth single-player and multiplayer RTS buffs will find plenty of utterly fantastic content here. Thrones is a must-buy expansion for owners of "Rise of Nations." [July 2004, p.60]
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The new units are awesome...At a retail of $30 USD, Thrones and Patriots is a sweet deal for anybody that even remotely enjoyed the original game.
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The new nations offer up interesting variety and gameplay styles, while the new campaigns introduce the narrative drive and focus that the original campaign lacked. Thrones and Patriots is a highly enjoyable experience and an excellent expansion to an already outstanding game.
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While the gameplay experience is now more varied and focused, it remains largely unchanged from the original game.
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If Rise is a game you still play, suffice it to say Thrones and Patriots makes the experience much richer and more satisfying.
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What makes the campaigns such a joy are the masses of scenarios they contain - some 130 in all. Practically every individual territory now has its own associated mission, giving each game a unique flavour.
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The new campaigns and the new government system actually change (or at least reorient) the gameplay in some interesting ways, allowing gamers to shift the focus of their society and take on meaningful challenges that offer a stronger sense of direction.
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A solid foundation of accessible gameplay with a number of new features that helps to invigorate the entire gaming experience.
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A welcome extension of Rise of Nations, a near-perfect mesh of the familiar oblique-overhead map "real time" tactics and turn-based strategy.
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Unlike many expansion packs it offers a solid amount of additional content that enhances the overall game without breaking anything in the process -- a rare feat indeed.
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A great addition to one of the best RTS style games currently out there, and if you never got into the original, now would be the time to pick it up with the expansion – you won’t be disappointed.
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Cheat Code CentralWith some new features and a shift in focus, I think that Thrones and Patriots has earned its place under the category of "Darn Good Expansion Pack."
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Honestly expands upon the original with four new campaigns that provide the absorbing single-player experience the original lacked. Unfortunately, some stability problems keep it from being perfect.
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GMR MagazineThere's almost enough new gameplay in Rise of Nations: Thrones & Patriots for a full-fledged sequel instead of an expansion pack. [July 2004, p.86]
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The retractable library research toolbar notwithstanding, there’s no single feature that makes Thrones and Patriots a must have, but if you enjoyed the original title, the precise strokes in this expansion only add to the enjoyment of an already superlative RTS experience.
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Computer Games MagazineWith multiple playable sides in each campaign, and an option to completely randomize the world history campaign, there's single-player gaming galore in here. [July 2004, p.63]
Awards & Rankings
User score distribution:
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Positive: 101 out of 117
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Mixed: 12 out of 117
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Negative: 4 out of 117
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Oct 3, 2013
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[Anonymous]Dec 19, 2004
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SteveJul 9, 2004Excellent Game, with some new features that really took me into the story.