Age of Mythology: Retold – Review

As a seasoned gamer with over three decades of experience under my belt, I must confess that Age of Mythology: Retold has managed to transport me back to my youth, when RTS games ruled the roost and the world was a simpler place. This remake is a testament to timeless design and enduring appeal, hailing from the same minds that brought us the legendary Age of Empires series.

In this analysis, you’ll notice it’s more concise than typical due to the limited amount of novel aspects in Age of Mythology: Revisited, making an extensive exploration unnecessary.

Genre: Real-Time Strategy
Developer: World’s Edge, Forgotten Empires, Tantalus Media, CaptureAge, Virtuos Games
Publisher: Xbox Game Studios
Release Date: 4th September, 2024
Price: $29.99/ 28,99€/ £22.49
Buy at: Steam
Reviewed On: AMD Ryzen 7 2700X 3.70 GHz, 16GB RAM, NVIDIA GTX 2080

Age of Mythology: Retold is a fresh take on Ensemble Studios’ 2002 classic title, one that continues to be celebrated as a standout in the real-time strategy (RTS) genre. Originating from the creators of Age of Empires, this game maintained a similar gameplay style but introduced mythical units and mechanics such as active unit abilities and God Powers. In essence, it’s a revamped version of an old favorite with a dash of mythology sprinkled in!

Even though the initial game was released more than two decades ago, Age of Mythology: Refreshed in 2024 demonstrates that without altering its gameplay mechanics, the game remains as captivating and impressive as it always was.

After addressing that matter, let’s dive into what Age of Mythology: Retold excels at, which is preserving the core elements. Indeed, the creators of Age of Mythology: Retold recognized that the fundamental mechanics of Age of Mythology are as robust today as they were 22 years ago, so they chose to maintain them largely unchanged. Returning to Age of Mythology and experiencing that sense of nostalgia is truly delightful if you played the original and cherish it fondly.

Age of Mythology: Retold – Review

As a gamer diving into Age of Mythology: Retold, I was anticipating the classic campaign, with additional content released as DLC down the line. However, this game surpassed my expectations by including not only the original Age of Mythology campaign but also the Titans campaign and the Golden Gift – all part of the main package! To top it off, they’ve added the Atlanteans faction, a unique addition that wasn’t present in the base version. These guys play differently compared to other factions, offering an intricate experience for those who enjoy micromanagement. Their villagers are costlier but construct and gather resources at a faster pace. To top it off, they have the ability to transform every unit into a hero unit, making each encounter exciting and dynamic!

Indeed, in terms of gameplay, the single-player content is robust and well-crafted. However, what truly sets Age of Mythology: Retold apart is its impressive graphical overhaul. Every aspect, from unit models to buildings, animations, effects, sound effects, and voice acting, has been meticulously redesigned. I’d say the development team has done an admirable job in this department.

Of course, some of the reworked units look somewhat different from the original Age of Mythology, but other than some models that might strike you as overly cartoonish, like the Hydra, the Leviathan, or the Anubite, all others look incredible. Now, one thing I must say, is that the original pixelated graphics gave the original Age of Mythology a more serious look and feel, while the new, more detailed graphics give a bit of a friendly, more cartoon-like look, and that is something I can imagine will annoy some people. This video might help you have an idea of what I am talking about.

In my next criticism about the game, let me talk about hero units. They aren’t as distinct as they were in Age of Mythology’s original version, and I believe this is due to the fact that the game’s overall colorful art style, which extends to basic units as well, tends to blur their unique designs and abilities.

In the original game, their vibrant design made them stand out among the throng of silver-armored hoplites and toxotes. If Hipolita didn’t possess her distinctive aura, she could be easily mistaken for any archer, and even more prominent figures like Hercules or Arkantos often blend into the tumult of battle. Although this might appear as a minor issue, when you consider that hero units play a significant role in differentiating Age of Mythology from other games, having them mostly overlooked isn’t beneficial at all. I have replayed the main campaign recently and can assure you that my hero units often “fade away” (they don’t actually die, but become temporarily incapacitated) without me even noticing they were present.

Final Score: 8/10

Fundamentally, Age of Mythology: Remastered offers the best experience for fans of this timeless game, whether you’re a returning player or simply an aficionado of real-time strategy games. Overlooking it would be a regretful oversight.

Retold stands out as an exceptional Real-Time Strategy (RTS) game to purchase at present, thanks to its generous content and affordable cost. To put it straightforwardly, it’s one of the finest RTS games in 2024, without a doubt. Age of Mythology: Retold showcases the enduring allure of both the original’s game mechanics and the captivating backdrop of ancient mythology. If you were a fan of the original version, I can assure you that it will not disappoint.

If you’ve never experienced the original version and are eager to explore this game, feel free to jump in! The only reasons I can think of for not buying the game would be if real-time strategy isn’t your thing, which is perfectly fine, or if you find its contemporary artistic style off-putting. However, even with these potential concerns, it might still be worth giving it a shot.

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2024-09-18 11:42

Final Score: 8/10

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