Age of Empires II: HD Edition - The Forgotten

What New Civilizations and Campaigns are Included?

The expansion integrates five distinct new civilizations into the roster, expanding tactical possibilities for players: the Incas, Indians, Italians, Magyars, and Slavs. Each civilization comes equipped with unique units and technological advancements designed to alter standard build orders and late-game strategies. The single-player experience is enriched by seven additional campaigns, many of which draw from lesser-known historical figures and conflicts:

• Alaric I: Focuses on the Gothic king navigating the decline of the Roman Empire.
• Sforza: Chronicles the career of a 15th-century Italian mercenary captain.
• Bari: Relates the story of a Byzantine family striving for nobility in Southern Italy centuries after Rome's fall.
• Dracula: Centers on the mid-15th century ruler of Wallachia and his defense against the Ottoman Empire.
• El Dorado: Follows the expedition into the Amazon rainforest in search of the legendary Lost City of Gold.
• Prithviraj: Details the efforts of the Chauhan king to unite rival Rajput clans while facing an invasion from the west.
• Battles of the Forgotten: A collection of scenarios highlighting other pivotal historical leaders such as Richard the Lionheart and Minamoto no Yoritomo.

How Does This Expansion Enhance Core Gameplay?

Beyond the new civilizations and campaigns, this content pack introduces several technical and mechanical improvements to the base game experience. A notable feature is the higher population limit, allowing for larger-scale engagements on the battlefield. The developers also implemented enhancements to the on-screen rendering capabilities and provided numerous bug fixes and balance tweaks to existing units and technologies to refine overall gameplay parity. The AI has also been noted as enhanced.

What Modern Features Does This Content Add to the HD Experience?

This expansion was developed exclusively for the Age of Empires II: HD Edition platform, integrating features specific to that version. These additions include support for the Steam Workshop, allowing players to access community-created content, and the introduction of expansion-specific rankings and Steam Trading Cards. Furthermore, the expansion allows for integrated streaming and shoutcasting capabilities via Twitch.tv, facilitating competitive viewing.

Are There New Game Modes or Map Options?

The expansion introduces new game modes and supports the use of massive maps, providing fresh environments for skirmishes against AI opponents or human players within the established Real Time Strategy framework.