You can now launch age2_x1.exe , queue up some Huns on Arabia, and enjoy the original 2.1 mechanics without a single graphical glitch.
Manually delete the installation directory in Program Files and the app data directory in Documents . Leaving these behind preserves corrupt files.
The most robust version of the "2.1 fix" is actually found within the UserPatch . Download the latest version (1.5 is currently the gold standard), place it in your game folder, and run the installer.
This forces DirectDraw to emulate in software mode, bypassing modern GPU driver bugs.
Significant performance drops in the late-game stages. 2. Essential Stability Fixes