Is Age of Empires 1 or 2 better?

As a long-time passionate gamer and content creator, I can confidently say Age of Empires 2 remains unmatched as the best entry in the legendary AoE franchise even 20+ years later. With deeper gameplay, bigger battles, vibrant visuals and an thriving community, AoE2 perfected the pioneering vision of the original game and enriched the historical RTS genre for decades.

Unparalleled Gameplay Variety and Balance

One area AoE2 dramatically improves on its predecessor are more civilizations and units to enjoy. With over 35 unique civs to play, each with distinctive architecture sets, unique units, and asymmetric technologies, the variety makes each match feel fresh. Whether you prefer the brute force Teutonic knights or the stealthy Spanish guerilla raiders, there‘s a civilization to match your strength.

The expanded rock-paper-scissors counter system also creates intricate balance. Every type of unit has an ideal counter, preventing one single dominant tactic and rewarding players who adapt based on their opponent‘s forces. With expansions still adding new civs and challenges like African kingdoms introducing unique building mechanics, gameplay stays exciting and unpredictable to this day.

Resource gathering, technology research and city management also contain far more depth compared to the first title. With additional resources like stone and gold supplementing basic food and wood, map control and economic strategy are vital. This creates a much higher skill ceiling than the original game.

The Definitive Visual Experience

While many classic games have attempted visually "remakes", I believe AoE2 DE achieved the impossible – significantly upgrading graphical quality while retaining the nostalgic charm of the original 2D visuals. Zooming close into the remastered sprites, scenes and vistas are richly detailed with smooth animations. Yet it still feels like the AoE2 veterans cherish rather than a completely new game.

Some may argue AoE 1 Definitive Edition‘s full 3D graphics are more technically impressive. However, I and many other long-time fans believe the classic gameplay and immersive historical aesthetic were lost in the remake. By contrast, AoE2 Definitive Edition manages to feel fresh and cutting edge while transporting me right back to my childhood 20 years ago. That‘s an incredible achievement.

Still Dominating Over Two Decades Later

While many classic games come and go, AoE2 has demonstrated nearly unrivaled longevity in gaming history. As per Steamcharts, Age 2 Definitive Edition in 2022 hit staggering peaks of over 62,000 concurrent players – dwarfing the original AoE Definitive Edition‘s peaks of 8,000 players. And with major tournaments like Red Bull‘s Wololo series drawing 50k+ live viewers, the competitive scene continues thriving.

Beyond raw popularity, Age 2 influenced countless real-time and historical strategy games that emerged later – Empire Earth, Rise of Nations, Cossacks and more owe core design elements to AoE2. Over 20 years later, features like AoE2‘s signature fog of war, expansive tech trees and counter system are still considered gold standards in the RTS genre.

Conclusion – The Definitive RTS Experience

In summary, with exponentially more variety through civilizations, units and technologies, perfected gameplay balance and systems, a visual remaster that retains nostalgic charm, and an incredibly active community still hosting tournaments over 20 years later, Age of Empires 2 Definitive Edition remains the pinnacle entry in the legendary series and gold standard of historic real-time strategy titles. While I highly recommend all RTS fans check out the original AoE as well to appreciate how the revolution began, AoE2 is truly the definitive and immortal experience.