Age of Mythology was originally released in 2002, and now you can return to this real-time strategy classic with the fully remastered Age of Mythology: Retold.
Not only has the development team provided a thorough graphical update to the game, but there are multiple modern gameplay tweaks for point-and-click fans and several modern features that make small changes to an already excellent finished product.
If you’ve been waiting for this remastered version, you certainly don’t want to miss out on the chance to play, and for anyone who never picked it up, it’s a good time to check it out over 20 years later.
A remaster through and through
Akin to other real-time strategy games of the early 2000s, Age of Mythology is eerily similar to the Age of Empires, Warcraft, and Star Wars: Battlegrounds titles of point-and-click strategy games. You build your base from the ground up on a section of the map, cultivating precious resources scattered across the map using workers to build a robust army before sending it out to besiege your enemy. Your armies are made of individual units with distinct stat and health bars, carefully controlled with the mastery of your mouse and keyboard controls.
As someone who grew up on Age of Empires II and immensely enjoyed the return to this gameplay approach with Age of Empires IV, Age of Mythology: Retold is a delightful throwback. Although the core gameplay is similar to the Age of Empires formula, adding mythical creatures and focusing on historical epics allow it to stand out. These epic creatures come from Greek, Norse, and Egyptian myths, empowering your armies to play out epic battles against your enemy. What faction and god you select remarkably changes the gameplay, giving you distinct playstyles you can choose for any situation.
The tedious part comes from the engrained nature of the Age of Mythology: Retold’s mechanics, like gathering resources and tirelessly caring for every unit. Those who enjoy micromanaging these careful details are in for a treat, but someone who might grow tired of the build-up can find themselves pulled down and restrained by it. There was a formula to the early 2000s strategy game; it was the norm, and Age of Empires IV did prove you could return to these roots successfully alongside modern titles—but it’s not for everyone, even if you enjoy strategy games.
Robust unit and tactical control
The natural ebb and flow of Age of Mythology: Retold is figuring out how to craft your army and what units you include, as everything has a weakness. You want to protect your ranged units from enemy melee units and provide a solid frontline to protect your slower siege units when attacking large bases.
There’s nothing better than creating a small army of foot soldiers led by a gigantic Troll or a powerful Scorpion Man to help bring down an enemy’s wall. It’s a satisfying combination, and the updated models of Age of Mythology: Retold make the entire experience satisfying to watch as an enemy building crumbles down.
Still, the overall gameplay and how specific units dominate others could prove problematic for those new to the series. Age of Mythology: Retold is undoubtedly a game made for diehard community fans waiting for a fresh remaster. However, those new to the game could find it difficult, at least without investing time with a hefty learning curve.
Revamped for modern audiences
Age of Mythology: Retold is full of small, carefully layered quality-of-life features, making it a fantastic experience for players of any real-time strategy skill type. The primary campaign is where you can pick up the majority of the basics of the game, giving you a chance to try out nearly all factions for a hands-on experience before taking your talents to custom matches. The campaign is a hefty 50-mission-long story, with three unique campaigns and a Mythical Stories section for standalone scenarios.
There are also multiplayer and custom games available where you can fight alongside your friends, fight against them, or battle against the AI to try your hand in open games. You can choose from various maps and factions to play. Your vast number of choices allows you to explore multiple scenarios with your friends or to battle against an AI endlessly. I’ve only played a handful of games in this mode, but they were an excellent way to flex what I learned from my campaign games.
The developer also went beyond merely updating the graphics for the core gameplay. The models of the units and characters have been revamped, making them pop on screen during cutscenes and hectic battles. Don’t expect hefty cutscenes or dramatic, redone story beats. Age of Mythology: Retold still feels lifted from the early 2000s.
I did not have a chance to try an online multiplayer game, so I can’t speak to how smooth or polished the connections are for this game. If multiplayer games are fluid and easy to create, Age of Mythology players have a new space to play with Retold.
If you haven’t had the chance to play Age of Mythology before, or you’re a fan who’s played the original for hundreds of hours, Age of Mythology: Retold offers the perfect opportunity to jump into the game. The core campaign and overall gameplay haven’t been adjusted much, but that’s not bad. As someone who immensely enjoyed Age of Empires IV when it came out, this is an excellent reminder of why these games remain popular.
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Age of Mythology: Retold
If you haven’t had the chance to play Age of Mythology before, or you’re a fan who’s played the original for hundreds of hours, Age of Mythology: Retold offers the perfect opportunity to jump into the game.
Pros
- Thorough graphics update
- Smooth gameplay and quality-of-life updates
- Adjustable AI difficulty for all skill levels
Cons
- Challenging entry game beyond diehard fans
- Hefty learning curve
A copy of this game was provided by Xbox for review. Reviewed on PC.
