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New Age of Empires 4 DLC Knights of Cross and Rose has a date, as developer World’s Edge unveils the latest expansion for its iconic RTS game. The pack introduces two variant civilizations that transform their respective factions dramatically, ten more maps to ramp up variety, and a new game mode focused around key historical battles. Arriving in just a few weeks, you can grab Knights of Cross and Rose at a discount ahead of launch, and even get the base game at its lowest price yet on Steam if you’re fast.
The team at World’s Edge has expanded the variant civilizations concept that it introduced in Sultans Ascend with Knights of Cross and Rose. The new Age of Empires 4 expansion includes two iconic forces – the House of Lancaster (an alternative version of the English) and the Knights Templar (an adaptation of the French). The pair bring unique buildings, units, and upgrades to the RTS game, making them feel dramatically different from their base-game counterparts.
Key participants in both the War of the Roses and the Hundred Years War, the Lancasters were known for unparalleled long-range tactics and a passionate support of the arts and sciences. This translates in game to their unique building, the Manor, a powerful resource-generation tool, and a combat ability called Synchronized Shot that delivers wide-ranging volleys upon their foes. Utilize their thriving economy well, and you’ll be able to push ahead of your foes and employ resolute defenses to hold onto that advantage.
The Knights Templar, meanwhile, remain one of the most iconic military orders in history. To represent their broad reach and influence, a new feature called the Commanderie Age Up system allows you to select an ally in each Age to afford you a permanent bonus and a new unit. The wide range of unique forces at their disposal is bolstered by their unique keep, the Fortress.
Rather than following traditional narrative-led campaigns, new game mode ‘Historical Battles’ attempted to deliver a broader summation of both armies’ accomplishments across the years. It focuses on pivotal battles and key moments, challenging you to meet tough objectives and supplementing that storytelling with cinematics and voice acting.
Designed for replayability, these historical battles award you a rating based on a medal system, with secrets, traps, and more hidden across the maps and the ability to unlock an extra-tough ‘Conqueror mode’ if you perform well enough. Rounding out the Knights of Cross and Rose DLC are ten new map types: Relic River, Mountain Lakes, Waterlanes, Wasteland, Shadow Lake, Rugged, Highwoods, Hedgemaze, Flankwoods, and Enlightened Horizon.
Age of Empires 4 Knights of Cross and Rose launches Tuesday April 8, priced at $14.99 / £12.49. You can pre-order it at a 15% discount, meaning you’ll pay $12.74 / £10.62. The base game is also 60% off through Thursday March 20, marking its lowest price yet at just $15.99 / £11.99. Take a look here if you want to grab a copy in anticipation.
Explore more history among the best strategy games until then, or take a flick through the best war games if you want to focus on conflict.
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