I first discovered Age of Empires in the Xmas 1997 issue of PC Zone. It was on the demo disc (where I also discovered Grand Theft Auto) it wasn't a timed demo, just a restricted one, and it played the hell out of it all the way up to October 1998 when I finally caved and bought the full game. It was naturally usurped by AOE2, which I've sank many days into over the years. In doing so, the original was forgotten. I was hoping that this "Definitive Edition" would reignite my love. It didn't.
They've got some nerve calling this a definitive edition as there are numerous problems, not the least of which is the game suddenly cutting off and returning you to the desktop, and there's nothing you can do about it. Sometimes you'll get lucky and manage to finish a game, other times you won't! The interface is more detailed and user-friendly, but the controls feel clunkier and, compared to AOE2, you'll have no order over your armies, who just go off to do what they want instead of lining up in formations.
With less technology than the sequel, there's not much incentive to go back to the original Age of Empires outside of the nice visuals and orchestral soundtrack (assuming that you are not driven mad by the game just cutting you off as soon as you get going). Microsoft Games R-E-A-L-L-Y need to patch the hell out of this. But they won't.
Achievements and trading cards are included.