Unfortunately, AOE3's ship has sailed for most folks, and this just isn't exciting enough to quite justify also splashing out on the original game if you don't already own it. If The Asian Dynasties had taken a leaf from THQ's current clever Big Book O' RTS Marketing, it would be standalone (as demonstrated with Company of Heroes, Dawn of War and Supreme Commander) and not an add-on. I know it's unfair to expect a publisher to copy another (although hell, they do that all the time anyway), but we're now reaching the point where an expansion disc feels a bit Dark Ages. It's a barrier to new players, and especially a shame when, like this, the add-on makes a pretty good game, because most people simply won't see it.
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