Welcome to Age of Empires II HD: The African Kingdoms; the second new official expansion for the Age of Empires II universe in over 16 years. Challenge friends with four additional civilizations, new units, ships and technologies. Fight your way through the African continent with four campaigns and obliterate your opponents with a fresh batch of units under your command!
4 New Civilizations
Berbers – Unite the tribes of Northern Africa and set sail for Europe. Can you hold your ground against the scrambled kingdoms of Iberia?
Malians – Follow in the footsteps of the great Mansa Musa and become the greatest king of Western Africa.
Ethiopians – Relive the glory of the once mighty Aksumite empire and rule over the Red Sea.
Portuguese – Set sail for the new world, discover new routes to unknown lands and expand your trade routes to the mighty African empires.
4 New, Fully Voiced Campaigns
Tariq ibn Ziyad: Prepare to lead an army of Berbers and Arabs across the sea to Iberia, to defeat the fearsome Visigoths and bring the banners of war to the powerful Merovingian kingdom.
Sundjata: Said to possess a magical instrument that guarantees victory, Sumanguru, King of the Sosso, is poised to forge a new empire. Can you help Sundjata, the crippled prince of Mali, defy the odds, defeat Sumanguru, and become the most powerful ruler of West Africa?
Francisco de Almeida: Daring Portugese explorers have returned from India and given hope of glories and wealth unachievable in the Old World. Can you lead an armada to the East and forge an empire that spans three continents and two oceans?
Yodit: The beautiful princess Yodit has a promising future at the Aksumite court. But when her jealous nephew accuses her of theft, Yodit is forced to flee her home country. Witness how exile shaped this fallen princess into a mighty queen.
New Generic Units and Technologies
Arrowslits – Increase the power of your Towers and Keeps as they hail arrows down upon your foes.
Arson – Help your infantry units burn enemy buildings to the ground with this new Castle Age research.
Fire Galley – Bring fires to the attack earlier in the game with this new Feudal Age ship.
Siege Tower – Hide units inside the tower and help them scale your opponents walls.
Sudden Death Game Mode
Be prepared to defend your town center in this new game mode. Each player only gets one, and if you lose it, it’s game over!
Improved AI
10 New Special Maps
8 New Real World Maps
5 New Random Maps
10 New terrains
New Scenario Editor Objects
Twitch.tv Streaming Integration
Spectator Mode
Storyline
There are four new campaigns in The African Kingdoms, one for each of the new civilizations.
Tariq ibn Ziyad (Berbers): In the early 8th century, Tariq ibn Ziyad prepares to lead an army of Berbers and Arabs across the sea to Iberia, enthralling his troops with promises of wealth and glory. Will their might be enough to defeat the fearsome infantry of the Visigoths and bring the banners of war to the powerful Merovingian kingdom lying beyond the Pyrenees? Their success–or failure–lies in your hands.
Sundjata (Malians): The once great Ghana empire has fallen and West Africa is in turmoil. Sumanguru, King of the Sosso, is poised to forge a new empire. Said to possess a magical instrument that guarantees victory, he has led his Sosso warriors to conquer old Ghana and a small Mandinkan kingdom called Mali. Can Sundjata, the crippled prince of Mali, defy the odds, defeat Sumanguru, and become the most powerful ruler of West Africa?
Francisco de Almeida (Portuguese): On the fringes of Europe, the Portuguese manage a meager and unsure existence, hardened by centuries of war against the Moors and rival Christian kingdoms. Now, daring explorers have returned from India and given Portugal hope of glories and wealth unachievable in the Old World. Can you lead a Portuguese armada to the East and forge an empire that spans three continents and two oceans? A new world awaits!
Yodit (Ethiopians): The beautiful princess Yodit has a promising future at the Aksumite court. But when her jealous nephew accuses her of theft, Yodit is forced to flee her home country. Witness how exile shaped this fallen princess into a mighty queen. For centuries the story of Yodit’s vengeance would invoke fear in the hearts of all Ethiopians.
Steam
