Through the Ages

I loved the board game and I think the app is a great adaptation. Works on both iPhone and my IPad. No complaints at all, if you are used to friendly games where no one uses military you might be in for a surprise, but after a few games you figure out you better keep up especially in the last age. Basically if the other players are not trying to add culture even by age 2 its clear they are waiting for Napoleon. It’s hard once you fall behind on military or government to recover. So if I had a complaint it would be that. However you can find a few friends that all agree not to be obnoxious. Just like anywhere else on the internet. If you don’t know the game there is a steep learning curve. That isn’t new to the app, the game always takes a little to get used to. I found that the first few games I would lose track of certain things that happened previously. But after a while got used to not seeing the score or so the other players screens on a table in front of me. It’s all there you have know where to look. I say get the game and enjoy.

This is a great game themed optimization/luck/strategy game. You can pick it up at any time to continue playing against AI players, then put it down instantly whenever your elevator arrives or whatever, to continue later. There are no additional abilities or DLCs to purchase later - you get the whole game for the original purchase price that is well worth it. The tutorial is outstanding and a lot of fun. There are three levels of AI difficulty - after maybe 100 games I’m still using easy AI but I can tell I’m getting better and will move up soon. You can also play online against human components if you know you’ve got 40+ minutes to kill, and that’s great, too. This is one of the best of the best of the Euro games that have come to the fore in the last 15 years. A beautifully balanced and entertaining game that incorporates the best concepts of modern board games - worker placement, strategy, random elements, extremely high replayability, created by a master board game designer. Truthfully, the digital version is better than the board game it emulates, because the digital game automatically handles housekeeping tasks and allows you the option to play on your own against AI players (which means you’ll be much better prepared when you later play the physical board game with real in-person humans). This has been my main iPhone/iPad game for 3 months now. I highly recommend it!

I was thrilled to find there is an app for this game. The price tag made me hesitate for a moment, but I could not ask for anything better. There is a more streamlined/app friendly version of the rules, but I chose to stick with the tabletop rules, and it is exactly like the game. If, such as is my case, you don't know anybody with the patience for an hours-long game, then this is for you. If you enjoy Through The Ages, then it is definitely worth it! EXPANSION UPDATE: As soon as I discovered there was an expansion released, I bought it immediately. I was very pleased with the new dimensions added by the leaders and wonders, and they make you rethink a go-to strategy, or even take a course you normally would not have taken with just the base cards. I switched to using the digital rules and they are very minor changes but make online games a breeze. I am looking forward to the physical release of the expansion!

I’ve just read a review criticizing this game for being too hard (even on easy level). Well, people have to understand that this game has been around for a while and holds one of the highest complexity rates on he top board games ever created. Even if you are used to gaming, TTA has a lot of depth in it and it takes more than a few plays to get used to its mechanics. It’s a ver rewarding game if you are up for the challenge. This is not a game you will win on your first or second match. The AI, to be honest, is not that strong, but it’s enough to give most people at least some challenge. I’m not a good player at all, but after 20 matches or so I could beat the hardest level heads up. I still occasionally lose as well. This app is very well designed. I can play even on the tiny iPhone screen and keep track of all my stuff and everything the opponents are doing. Also. It runs on my old iPad 2!! To sum up, this app changed my mind about this game. I own a copy since it’s release, but before playing it over 50 times on the app it was just an ok game for me. Now, after so many plays I am able to realize how well designed TTA is and why it does deserve to be on the top board games of all time. Since I’ve played this over 50 times and every match takes about an hour, I’d say my 10 bucks were a very good investment.

This game is a near-perfect implementation of the board game, and just as fun. The AI plays an extremely strong game considering how complex the game is. I usually play a 4P Expert AI game, and I've only won once so far. I love the challenge. Speaking of which, I haven't attempted any of the "challenge" modes in the game. I'm having too much fun trying to beat the AI. Also, I love the async rules for online play. They speed up what would otherwise be a tedious experience. (Note to readers: the online async rules are optional). The only thing that would make this game better is expansion leaders and wonders. Please release them ASAP!!!! I'm kind of tired of Michaelangelo. Oh, and feedback about the game in general. I feel like early Aggressions are almost non-existent in this edition of the game. I don't think the card discard penalty is strong enough to make players think twice about defending. In the old edition, you had to sacrifice soldiers to defend, which was far more difficult a decision. I understand why the change was made, but it's almost too easy to defend when you are 2-3 points back now. Suggestion: If you choose to discard a card to defend, perhaps each card costs you one military action the following round? That would be a much tougher decision for me, and would increase aggressions without forcing unit sacrifices. Keep up the great work!