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Everybody remembers the name Benedict Cumberbatch, and not just because it’s pleasantly reminiscent of a character in a Charles Dickens novel.
The star of Sherlock, Dr Strange, and The Wonderful Story of Henry Sugar is one of the most bankable and versatile actors in the world, as comfortable in Hollywood blockbusters as he is in quirky arthouse films and cult TV shows.
Benedict Cumberbatch holds two BAFTAs, an Emmy, a CBE, and in 2015 GQ Magazine named him one of the 50 best dressed British men.
He’s kind of a big deal, in other words, and so his endorsement carries a lot of weight.
All of which tells you something about Age of Conquest, an open-world strategy MMO that has just launched in mobile app stores around the world.
Developed by 4399 Games, Age of Conquest is already a hit in China, where it has spent the last couple of years building a loyal audience. On October 27th it added gamers in 83 different countries to that fanbase.
Benedict Cumberbatch is the official spokesperson for Age of Conquest and its international release, playing the role in the trailer below of a mysterious time traveller aiming to bring order to the game’s fictional continent of Terra.
What his involvement tells you about the game is that it’s something pretty special.
The basic premise of Age of Conquest is comfortingly familiar. It sees you picking a civilization—Germany, France, China, Japan, Korea, Britain, Rome, the Arabs, and the Vikings are all available—and then setting out to survive and thrive in a war torn world.
Along with the civilizations, there are historical figures to choose from, including Julius Caesar, King Richard I, Emperor Qin Shihuang, and Queen Seondeok. Wherever you’re playing you’ll find some familiar legends, and you’ll learn about some unfamiliar ones too.
In terms of both gameplay and presentation, Age of Conquest benefits from some seriously high tech features.
SRP technology allows for every inch of the vast, 120x120km 3D gameworld to pop with color and detail, while the new DOTS technology makes it possible for up to 6,000 players to inhabit the battlefield at the same time.
As you can well imagine, this is a pretty spectacular sight, while the sheer number of units at your command gives you endless tactical opportunities—and endless challenges.
But this is only part of what has made Age of Conquest such a hit in China. It’s also scrupulously fair, with absolutely no pay-to-win mechanics or shortcuts.
The only way to come out on top in this game is by playing well, which means making and maintaining alliances, devising and executing strategies, and deploying the right skills at the right times.
It’s reassuring to know that the playing field is level given the number of humans charging around on it. In addition to the millions already playing Age of Conquest in China, a further 5 million players pre-registered for it during the recent campaign.
Now that Age of Conquest has launched globally, with Benedict Cumberbatch cheering it on, you can expect that number to go from huge to astronomical in short order.
That would make this the ideal moment to stake your claim in Terra and start building up your civilization in preparation for the wars to come.
Age of Conquest is available for free right now on the App Store, the Google Play Store, the App Gallery, and PC.
