For the past few years there has been a tradition with every popular Real Time Strategy game. This tradition goes as follows: around one year after the release of a new RTS game, there shall be an expansion pack, which has many things that the original did not include. It is almost like an unwritten commandment, but this is a very good thing, since it gives new life to your favorite games, and the expansions are usually cheaper than if you purchased a separate game. Sometimes the expansion packs just add new races, units, and new areas to do battle in, while some others bring in a little bit more. Read on to find out what new things are added in this game!

There are four brand new single player campaigns that span through the stream of time. Players will be able to take part in: The Cold War, Conquest of the New World (America), Rise and Fall of Alexander the Great, and Napoleon’s quest to dominate Europe. Each of these campaigns will take you throughout history so you can feel what it is like to live back then, and see if you can try to turn the tide of history. You can second guess generals, attack someone before they attack you, and try to prevent some of histories greatest mistakes!

These campaigns not only bring in a more story element to the game, but these new campaigns will also last a long time. These campaigns offer way more replay value, because players will have the ability to play as many different factions in each campaign, so you can play a campaign many different times before you get the entire story.

Just like all expansion packs, Rise of Nations: Thrones and Patriots includes a slew of new nations. These new nations give players a chance to find a nation that is more suitable to their playing style, since each has their own subtle differences. The new nations are: the Dutch, Iroquois, Lakota, American, Persian, and Indian. Each of these nations has their own specialty units and different bonuses that make them irresistible to play with.

Just like in real life the Dutch in this game are seafaring people, so their bonuses come in handy, especially when the game is taken place in more of an “aquatic” world. This civilization gets free boats after building a dock, a free commerce development, and armed units protect all of their caravans.

The Iroquois allow players to get access to governments earlier, gather wood faster, and each time you build a barracks you will get a scout unit. One of the biggest advantages to using this race is that the military units will be invisible to the enemies (if they are in their own territory) until they are attacked.

If you like to keep your border hidden from the enemy nations, and then have a surprise raid against the enemy then the Lakota’s are your people. What is really helpful is that they receive food bonuses, which is good when you are starting to get a thriving nation. Another good thing about this civilization is that they get free upgrades to all of their Calvary units, which can be very helpful, especially if you like to use these units a lot.

The Americans will give you a run for your money because the advantages that their nation brings to the game. The best one is that the first wonder that they decide to build is built instantaneously. This can really help players while in the game, because some of the wonders are more “valuable” than others. Also all of their military upgrades are cheaper, so while other nations are busy loading their muskets after each volley, the Americans will fire back with their semi-automatic weapons.

One of the toughest nations in the game to beat is the Persians, since they get two capitals, and compound that with the fact that they get elephant units. Also they get taxation upgrades for free, which is always a good thing. These are one of the most formidable units that you will face in the game, and make them a blast to play with.

Last but not least are the Indians (from India). Just like the Persians they get the power elephant units that cause much devastation to their enemies. One of the biggest benefits is that all the building costs stay the same all throughout time, so it saves your precious resources to create more military units, to conquer the world!

One of the biggest things that this game introduces is the ability for each nation to choose between different forms of governments, and they are either military or economic based. As in real life, players are not committed to use one government style all throughout the ages; they will be able to change it at certain intervals. As soon as you choose a government, you will be given a special “patriot unit”, that has special powers derived from which government you choose. As you go throughout each government style the patriot unit will carry over all its learned abilities.

Being an expansion pack, the game is built off the graphics engine that the previous game had, with minor improvements. It is a good thing that the previous game was gorgeous and this expansion pack shows that the graphics have stood the test of time over this past year! The new units look great and have the same feel as the rest of the game, and the wonders will blow you away with how realistic they look!

The music in Rise of Nations is pretty well varied depending on the situation that the gamers are in. If they are in the heat of battle, the music will pick up and the opposite happens when it is a time of peace. Also each of the units has their own sounds, so they are easily recognizable.

Rise of Nations: Thrones and Patriots is rated T for Teen.

Gameplay: 9.2
Rise of Nations: Thrones and Patriots plays exactly like its predecessor, which is a good thing because the first Rise of Nations game was a blast to play. This expansion continues the tradition with more improvements that will keep you up gaming late at night.

Graphics: 8.8
This is not the best looking RTS game on the market, but it surely comes really close to it. Everything in this game is highly detailed and has great animation sets.

Sound: 8.9
The music used in this game is also really good because it will move you to continue to play, with its light hearted melodies, and soft spoken beats.

Difficulty: Medium
It is always difficult to judge this area, because it all depends on the skill set of the player. This game has adjustable difficulty levels so each player can get the right amount of challenge that they can handle.

Concept: 9.0
I still think that this is one of the most unique Real Time Strategy games that I have played. Who else lets you combine RTS and TBS games, and make it as enthralling as this game?

Multiplayer: 9.1
The multiplayer aspect of this game is really good, it is really easy to get online and start playing your heart out within minutes.

Overall: 9.1
Even after a year I still recommend that you purchase the original game, and really have to stress that if you want to get the full experience that you have to purchase this game, Rise of Nations: Thrones and Patriots. You will not regret this purchase, because it is one of the best RTS experiences you can find!