>>2090998
>Brain-dead AI using pre-defined script
>Abysmal campaign that runs on exploits
>Gold adds a so-so world conquest
>It wasn't until 2004 autismos figured a way to auto-gen maps for it, so you were at the mercy of shitty in-game maps and autistic challenge maps (as if AI could handle those anyway)
>The iconic road system, once you look pass the "cool" feature, is pretty shit and very easy to exploit, both against human and AI
People shit on 3 for "dumbing down" the game, but it's the first game in the series that was actually playable and has any kind of replay value other than memorising win moves and then recreating them time and again in the most literal repetition possible. Remember that barracks rush in European map in Gold, so you can knock the "Greek" player from building up into the Illyria? Or those moves for ship so you hit the gold island on the first go?
And the funniest part is that zoomershits that weren't even born until Ubisoft fucked Settlers into oblivion are the main audience defending 2 for "muh iconic classic".