LogFAQs > #944862544

108. Age of Empires 2 - Raka_Putra
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ow4cC-Cz5l8

This entire sequence is built up around the theme of two kings playing a game of chess as a representation of the battle actually being waged with real soldiers. And as if the overused metaphor wasnt obvious enough already, we see at the end the soldier dropping the king piece to signify one side has lost the war. The concept of war being a game of chess could have perhaps worked for a brief sequence, but thats all this intro has to offer over the span of nearly two minutes.

The graphics have that awkward look of the early to mid 90s CD-ROM era, and I was surprised to see this game came out as late as 1999. In fact, the animation looked so stilted that I couldnt help but chuckle at the way the knight got hit by the arrow and fell off the horse at around 1:09.

So this intro is a dud for me. But judging from the comments on YouTube (I know I shouldnt read them, but sometimes I do anyway), it seems plenty of people feel differently. Most surprising to me was some guy who wrote I cried when he dropped the chess piece at the end. I dont think Ive ever cried over anything in a video game before, but if I did, it probably wouldnt be over hackneyed symbolism.