It has been a while since we discussed which game is better in eksisozluk (a turkish dictionary site) which one of these games is the best strategy game under the topic of Age of Empires 2: The Conquerors. Although the gamers of the losing side will never agree with whatever the desicion is, as someone who has played both of them for many years, I will try to explain why Starcraft: Broodwar is a better strategy game than Age of Empires 2: The Conquerors.

1- Difference Between the Races: Age of Empires 2: The Conquerors as a historical game, depends on real units that previously existed. So there is only one race: Humans. And Nations formed with small modifications on that race: Britons, Aztecs, Huns, Goths, Turks, Byzantines, Chinese etc. Starcraft: Broodwar is based on Wars between the Humans (Terrans), Aliens(Zerg) and Robotic/Psionic Races(Protoss) each with total different units, buildings, specialities and skills.

2- Support Units: Age of Empires 2: The Conquerors have few support units: Like Monk and Missionaire (for healing and converting units only). But in Starcraft: Broodwar each race has multiple support units which are;
For Protoss: Corsair (Disturption Web), Arbieter (Invisibility for nearby units, Statis Field and Recall), Observer (Invisible and Detector), High Tamplar (Psionic Storm, Hallucination), Dark Archon (Maelstorm, Feedback Mind Control);
For Terran: Science Vessel (Defensive Matrix, EMP, Irradiate, Detector), Ghost (Cloak, Lockdown, Nuke), Medic (Heal, Blind, Restoration).
For The Zerg: Ground Units (Burrow), Queen (Parasite, Spawn Broodlings, Infest Terran Command Center), Defiler (Dark Swarm, Consume, Plague), Overlord (Detector)
So, imagine the variations of strategies between these skills in Starcraft: Broodwar. Imagine playing 2v2 games, even imagine more playing 3v3 games.

3- Maps: Cliffs and Narrow Corridors: Will not going to mention this so long; Age of Empires 2: The Conquerors maps have height advantege but does not use the narrow corridors and cliffs so much and it is yet much much easier to get close to the enemy base except for the maps like “Black Forest”. But in Starcraft: Broodwar, nearly all of the maps are built on the purpose of balance(like the game itself) and cliffs and height advantage is more active.

4- Flying units: Well, nothing can fly over the trees, cliff and water in Age of Empires 2: The Conquerors except for the bullets, cannon balls, arrows,  trebuchet and onager stuff; in short words: ammunition.
Let’s go over Starcraft: Broodwar; Wraiths, Science Vessels, Valkyries, Battle Cruisers, Dropships and even buildings for Terran.
Mutualisk, Guardian, Devourer, Scourge and Overlord for Zerg.
Corsair, Carrier (and its Interceptors), Shuttle, Scout and Observer for the Protoss.
So what is that much imortant about flying units ? Of course the variation of strategies they add to the game; like Blitzkriegs, Mineral Line Drops, Hit and Runs and such.

5- Micro Management and Macro Management:

For Macro Management, you have so many options for Starcraft at the beginning on 1 vs 1 game like building a proxy Barracks or Gateway, rush with marines and SCVS, zerglings, cannons or zealots, go for more bases for economical advantage and such. But on Age of Empires 2, you MUST get Huns and go for Skirmisher and Tower rush or you are doomed .

For Micro Management, I am excluding any battle formations and direct attack strategies which are the backbone of both of these games especially. I cannot see anything except that in Age of Empires 2, but the things are different in Starcraft; you have so much different specialities for your units and buildings that you can do anything. Some of my favourite tactics: Hallucination on Arbieters and use the images to recall to enemy base, use medic walls, Irradiate your own flying unit and go over the zerg drones.

Our subject was the best strategy game right ? Not the most entertaining game.
So the strategic capabilities and variation of tactics determine which is the best.

Actually even if it was the best game we were discussing, my vote is for Starcraft: Broodwar.

En Taro Adun

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Tags: Age of Empires 2, Age of Empires 2: The Conquerors, Blizzard, Broodwar, Games, Microsoft, Starcraft