# The curious case of AoE 4 graphics (lots of screenshots) **URL:** \ **Category:** IV - Discussion\ **Created:** [August 17, 2022, 11:16pm UTC](https://forums.ageofempires.com/t/the-curious-case-of-aoe-4-graphics-lots-of-screenshots/211488 "2022-08-17T23:16:53Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 46
**Author:** ![jimmy19846071](https://forums.ageofempires.com/user_avatar/forums.ageofempires.com/jimmy19846071/32/27612_2.png) [@jimmy19846071](https://forums.ageofempires.com/u/jimmy19846071)\ **Post date:** [April 29, 2026, 8:17pm UTC](https://forums.ageofempires.com/t/the-curious-case-of-aoe-4-graphics-lots-of-screenshots/211488/927 "2026-04-29T20:17:53Z")
I think that HD textures would require too much compromise between graphic and performance. And It would need big efforts by Relic. So, i don’t think so bu i will happy yo to be wrong, in this case. Essence Engine is not the tight Engine for AOE, imho. It has been developer for different type of RTS ---
**Author:** ![Broscarmania](https://forums.ageofempires.com/user_avatar/forums.ageofempires.com/broscarmania/32/74537_2.png) [@Broscarmania](https://forums.ageofempires.com/u/Broscarmania)\ **Post date:** [April 30, 2026, 2:30pm UTC](https://forums.ageofempires.com/t/the-curious-case-of-aoe-4-graphics-lots-of-screenshots/211488/928 "2026-04-30T14:30:44Z")
The units will remain dropping their torches in a 90° angle, will continue to look plastic, the buildings will continue to look smaller than they should and…well, ya’ll already know the rest So much potential and so little polygons ---
**Author:** ![VanDeep4109](https://forums.ageofempires.com/user_avatar/forums.ageofempires.com/vandeep4109/32/80413_2.png) [@VanDeep4109](https://forums.ageofempires.com/u/VanDeep4109)\ **Post date:** [May 13, 2026, 4:10pm UTC](https://forums.ageofempires.com/t/the-curious-case-of-aoe-4-graphics-lots-of-screenshots/211488/929 "2026-05-13T16:10:03Z")
![Gemini_Generated_Image_oz68bloz68bloz68](https://forums.ageofempires.com/uploads/default/original/3X/3/0/30a9720bcb850e2203c75f00881d310643bcc095.jpeg) i reimagined aoe4 with ai. and look how simple and awesome you could improve the graphics with adding a water like aoe3 or aom retold. its readable but looks so much better. ---
**Author:** ![GorbMort](https://forums.ageofempires.com/user_avatar/forums.ageofempires.com/gorbmort/32/29103_2.png) [@GorbMort](https://forums.ageofempires.com/u/GorbMort)\ **Post date:** [May 13, 2026, 5:01pm UTC](https://forums.ageofempires.com/t/the-curious-case-of-aoe-4-graphics-lots-of-screenshots/211488/930 "2026-05-13T17:01:13Z")
Unfortunately, video game developers have to actually develop this, instead of relying on magically Photos hopping a static image. Personally, I think the improved water in Sultan’s was a massive step up. I don’t think it needs redoing again, or copy-pasting from a game with a different visual style (also ignoring how these things aren’t copy-pastable). ---
**Author:** ![VanDeep4109](https://forums.ageofempires.com/user_avatar/forums.ageofempires.com/vandeep4109/32/80413_2.png) [@VanDeep4109](https://forums.ageofempires.com/u/VanDeep4109)\ **Post date:** [May 13, 2026, 6:48pm UTC](https://forums.ageofempires.com/t/the-curious-case-of-aoe-4-graphics-lots-of-screenshots/211488/931 "2026-05-13T18:48:12Z")
but the reflections are missing. on the rivers there are reflection (weak ones, but they are there). so in my opinion, the engine can do this very well ---
**Author:** ![TheLiberator236](https://forums.ageofempires.com/user_avatar/forums.ageofempires.com/theliberator236/32/179247_2.png) [@TheLiberator236](https://forums.ageofempires.com/u/TheLiberator236)\ **Post date:** [May 13, 2026, 7:24pm UTC](https://forums.ageofempires.com/t/the-curious-case-of-aoe-4-graphics-lots-of-screenshots/211488/932 "2026-05-13T19:24:33Z")
I think is for Esports/Performance setting You know thats why DOTA or LOL do not have the most impresive graphics out there but they are pretty readable, fast, reliable and optimized for the largest amount of players ---
**Author:** ![jimmy19846071](https://forums.ageofempires.com/user_avatar/forums.ageofempires.com/jimmy19846071/32/27612_2.png) [@jimmy19846071](https://forums.ageofempires.com/u/jimmy19846071)\ **Post date:** [May 13, 2026, 7:55pm UTC](https://forums.ageofempires.com/t/the-curious-case-of-aoe-4-graphics-lots-of-screenshots/211488/933 "2026-05-13T19:55:33Z")
Just for fun, could you try to the same with units? ---
**Author:** ![KG19991380](https://forums.ageofempires.com/user_avatar/forums.ageofempires.com/kg19991380/32/65260_2.png) [@KG19991380](https://forums.ageofempires.com/u/KG19991380)\ **Post date:** [May 13, 2026, 8:30pm UTC](https://forums.ageofempires.com/t/the-curious-case-of-aoe-4-graphics-lots-of-screenshots/211488/934 "2026-05-13T20:30:18Z")
that i’d like to see how it handles, even tho it cannot adjust animations ---
**Author:** ![Talion](https://forums.ageofempires.com/user_avatar/forums.ageofempires.com/talion/32/213614_2.png) [@Talion](https://forums.ageofempires.com/u/Talion)\ **Post date:** [May 13, 2026, 9:29pm UTC](https://forums.ageofempires.com/t/the-curious-case-of-aoe-4-graphics-lots-of-screenshots/211488/935 "2026-05-13T21:29:56Z")
While on the subject of graphics and visual fidelity, I would like to point out a discrepancy with Elzbach Palace. There is a balcony with no notable way to access it. ![Elzbach Palace 2](https://forums.ageofempires.com/uploads/default/original/3X/2/3/23a424d28688dcfe9d380f07062dbb5bba2b3811.jpeg) ---
**Author:** ![Darkness01101](https://forums.ageofempires.com/user_avatar/forums.ageofempires.com/darkness01101/32/214966_2.png) [@Darkness01101](https://forums.ageofempires.com/u/Darkness01101)\ **Post date:** [May 14, 2026, 12:02am UTC](https://forums.ageofempires.com/t/the-curious-case-of-aoe-4-graphics-lots-of-screenshots/211488/936 "2026-05-14T00:02:57Z")
I don’t have the exact human-to-building proportions in front of me, but I’m guessing it’s similar to this. In which case, the best way to access it is for units to just easily climb over the wall onto the balcony 🙂 ![image](https://forums.ageofempires.com/uploads/default/original/3X/7/c/7c0c43ef8196b2f2187885c4024771f77555d9aa.jpeg) ---
**Author:** ![Talion](https://forums.ageofempires.com/user_avatar/forums.ageofempires.com/talion/32/213614_2.png) [@Talion](https://forums.ageofempires.com/u/Talion)\ **Post date:** [May 14, 2026, 11:56am UTC](https://forums.ageofempires.com/t/the-curious-case-of-aoe-4-graphics-lots-of-screenshots/211488/937 "2026-05-14T11:56:42Z")
Maybe they could just add water to it and make it some kind of random pond or flower garden. Not sure that would make sense on a defensive structure though. I’m thinking just adding a door would be best, or maybe stairs from inside and remove the inner walled portion. ---
**Author:** ![VanDeep4109](https://forums.ageofempires.com/user_avatar/forums.ageofempires.com/vandeep4109/32/80413_2.png) [@VanDeep4109](https://forums.ageofempires.com/u/VanDeep4109)\ **Post date:** [May 14, 2026, 7:40pm UTC](https://forums.ageofempires.com/t/the-curious-case-of-aoe-4-graphics-lots-of-screenshots/211488/938 "2026-05-14T19:40:09Z")
i tried, but it wasnt that impressive. try yourself with gemini - it does a few pics at the without paying. 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![Croissantini](https://forums.ageofempires.com/user_avatar/forums.ageofempires.com/croissantini/32/178092_2.png) [@Croissantini](https://forums.ageofempires.com/u/Croissantini)\ **Post date:** [May 22, 2026, 1:20pm UTC](https://forums.ageofempires.com/t/the-curious-case-of-aoe-4-graphics-lots-of-screenshots/211488/939 "2026-05-22T13:20:45Z")
Water in AoE4 currently looks amazing. What doesn’t look amazing are rivers, which are still utilizing the same old style from before the visual rework to water. Your suggestion is obviously better, but it needs to actually be made in-engine with materials, textures and competence to be animated and work during real-time rendering in the game engine. All this is to say, I obviously want them to update the rivers too, have had this opinion since the visual water rework itself. But, they deserve only praise for having done that initial rework at all and I can only hope rivers are in the pipeline somewhere too. ---
**Author:** ![MatM1996](https://forums.ageofempires.com/user_avatar/forums.ageofempires.com/matm1996/32/29566_2.png) [@MatM1996](https://forums.ageofempires.com/u/MatM1996)\ **Post date:** [May 22, 2026, 11:24pm UTC](https://forums.ageofempires.com/t/the-curious-case-of-aoe-4-graphics-lots-of-screenshots/211488/940 "2026-05-22T23:24:28Z")
Yes, they must be waiting for the right moment to do it… ---
**Author:** ![XNosDyenX](https://forums.ageofempires.com/user_avatar/forums.ageofempires.com/xnosdyenx/32/66360_2.png) [@XNosDyenX](https://forums.ageofempires.com/u/XNosDyenX)\ **Post date:** [May 30, 2026, 8:22am UTC](https://forums.ageofempires.com/t/the-curious-case-of-aoe-4-graphics-lots-of-screenshots/211488/941 "2026-05-30T08:22:50Z")
This made me curious so asked gpt how units would look like with more realistical environment and more details: ![image](https://forums.ageofempires.com/uploads/default/original/3X/c/a/caa0407b19f8622a03461a5e5e26834548301be4.jpeg) ![image](https://forums.ageofempires.com/uploads/default/original/3X/2/f/2ff73e8c36a31aee9b209280dbbdf2de97a39558.jpeg) ![image](https://forums.ageofempires.com/uploads/default/original/3X/8/a/8ae47d77476aef5b272b974e4e2b3d683af259a2.jpeg) ![image](https://forums.ageofempires.com/uploads/default/original/3X/6/f/6f1506dd94af0e3d584d6d42738f37871e2a4dfa.jpeg) * * * ![image](https://forums.ageofempires.com/uploads/default/original/3X/0/5/0590bdae682dda64802b469396e0289fcbb9f982.jpeg) ![image](https://forums.ageofempires.com/uploads/default/original/3X/a/6/a65b6954e386cac2685aa06e0c3784fce04fa52b.jpeg) ---
**Author:** ![MatM1996](https://forums.ageofempires.com/user_avatar/forums.ageofempires.com/matm1996/32/29566_2.png) [@MatM1996](https://forums.ageofempires.com/u/MatM1996)\ **Post date:** [May 30, 2026, 11:13am UTC](https://forums.ageofempires.com/t/the-curious-case-of-aoe-4-graphics-lots-of-screenshots/211488/942 "2026-05-30T11:13:36Z")
It looks really good…it resembles Ancestors Legacy, or if they switched from the Essence Engine to the Unreal Engine…is this what an AoE 4 remaster would look like? ---
**Author:** ![jimmy19846071](https://forums.ageofempires.com/user_avatar/forums.ageofempires.com/jimmy19846071/32/27612_2.png) [@jimmy19846071](https://forums.ageofempires.com/u/jimmy19846071)\ **Post date:** [May 31, 2026, 3:40pm UTC](https://forums.ageofempires.com/t/the-curious-case-of-aoe-4-graphics-lots-of-screenshots/211488/943 "2026-05-31T15:40:29Z")
It seems beatiful and realistic. Units are very good too. ---
**Author:** ![jimmy19846071](https://forums.ageofempires.com/user_avatar/forums.ageofempires.com/jimmy19846071/32/27612_2.png) [@jimmy19846071](https://forums.ageofempires.com/u/jimmy19846071)\ **Post date:** [May 31, 2026, 3:41pm UTC](https://forums.ageofempires.com/t/the-curious-case-of-aoe-4-graphics-lots-of-screenshots/211488/944 "2026-05-31T15:41:23Z")
Probably but a bit more brillante and colourful ---
**Author:** ![GorbMort](https://forums.ageofempires.com/user_avatar/forums.ageofempires.com/gorbmort/32/29103_2.png) [@GorbMort](https://forums.ageofempires.com/u/GorbMort)\ **Post date:** [June 1, 2026, 10:54pm UTC](https://forums.ageofempires.com/t/the-curious-case-of-aoe-4-graphics-lots-of-screenshots/211488/945 "2026-06-01T22:54:46Z")
I don’t get how making everything look less saturated and more brown (via the magic hallucination machine) is beautiful, but each to their own. ---
**Author:** ![MatM1996](https://forums.ageofempires.com/user_avatar/forums.ageofempires.com/matm1996/32/29566_2.png) [@MatM1996](https://forums.ageofempires.com/u/MatM1996)\ **Post date:** [June 2, 2026, 6:04am UTC](https://forums.ageofempires.com/t/the-curious-case-of-aoe-4-graphics-lots-of-screenshots/211488/946 "2026-06-02T06:04:20Z")
Because feeling dirtier, browner, and more worn feels more realistic… the fact that everything feels so clean and pristine feels strange in the context of the Middle Ages… [Previous page](https://forums.ageofempires.com/t/the-curious-case-of-aoe-4-graphics-lots-of-screenshots/211488.md?page=45) [Next page](https://forums.ageofempires.com/t/the-curious-case-of-aoe-4-graphics-lots-of-screenshots/211488.md?page=47)