Review: Age of Mythology: Retold Explained to Parents

What parents need to know

Age of Mythology: Retold is a real-time strategy game developed by World’s Edge and Forgotten Empires, and published by Xbox Game Studios. This title is a remastered version of the game Age of Mythology, created by Ensemble Studios and launched in 2002. First announced on October 25, 2022, it is expected for September 4, 2024 on Windows and Xbox Series. In Age of Mythology: Retold, players enter a universe where ancient pantheons from various mythological cultures coexist and compete for supremacy. The Greeks, Norse, Egyptians, and Atlanteans are engaged in an endless struggle, wielding their divine powers in a vast arena of conflict. The game’s plot focuses on this cosmic war, with each civilization bringing its own legendary myths and creatures to the battlefield. Players select a pantheon and guide their gods and heroes to victory, influencing the fate of the world through their choices. They control small armies of heroes and mythical creatures and use strategy to lead their troops to victory. Players have the opportunity to choose mythological gods from the Greek, Norse, Egyptian, and Atlantean pantheons, harnessing their powers to summon powerful creatures and cast spells against their opponents. The game features a campaign consisting of 50 missions, exploring mythical worlds such as Troy, Midgard, and Egypt. In addition, a Chinese Pantheon and another Pantheon yet to be revealed will be added after release. Mythical units, inspired by world myths, include creatures such as centaurs, minotaurs, trolls, mummies, and cyclops. Age of Mythology: Retold blends elements of the original game with contemporary design and modernized graphics. Using the Age of Empires III: Definitive Edition graphics engine, all units and animations have been completely recreated. The soundtrack is also completely reorchestrated, making adjustments and updates to offer an enriched experience to players.

SharedScreen AgeofMythologyRetold Screenshot — The hero Arkantos confronts pirates on the shores of Atlantis.

Details

Release date: 4 September 2024

Developer: World's Edge, Forgotten Empires, Tantalus Media, CaptureAge, Virtuos Games

Publisher: Xbox Game Studios

Available on: Steam PC, Xbox Series

Available format: Digital

Version tested: Steam PC

Game genre: Real-time strategy

Themes covered: Mythology, courage, conquest, victory

Duration of a game: 10 minutes

Duration of the main game/story: 10 hours

Total time to complete everything: Avec le mode multijoueur, illimité.

Text languages: German, English, Simplified chinese, Traditional chinese, Korean, Spanish, French, Italian, Japanese, Portuguese, Russian,

Voice languages: German, English, Simplified chinese, Traditional chinese, Korean, Spanish, French, Italian, Japanese, Portuguese,

Number of local players: 8

Number of online players: 8

Level of experience required

Age	3+	7+	12+	16+	18+
Beginners
Intermediate
Experienced

There are battles, but no bloody or morbid details. Everything is quite stylized and seen from afar. We see the armies confronting each other in a very cartoonish way. The game is suitable for an audience of 12 years and older due to the difficulty, but visually, the game does not present anything shocking or scary.

There are several elements on the screen at the same time and it is necessary to know how to read well to progress and understand the game mechanics.
However, there are no very long texts to read and the pace can be controlled during cutscenes.

Players take on the role of heroic characters and armies who defend their territory and ideals.

The difficulty is adjustable, but controlling the camera and developing reflexes with the game mechanics takes a bit of practice.
Some levels are a good challenge.

There are expansions, but for now, no microtransactions in the game itself.

Local game modes

In the single-player campaign mode, players can engage in the game’s main campaign, which features a series of story-driven missions through different mythological worlds, such as Troy, Midgard, and Egypt. Each mission presents specific objectives and narrative challenges, allowing you to experience the game’s story and mechanics as you progress. You have to complete the missions by following the story of the game and completing various objectives to advance in the campaign. It’s also possible to play in teams or compete in split-screen mode (couch co-op), like the good old retro games of yesteryear! There’s also a local multiplayer mode, which allows multiple players to compete against each other or collaborate using machines connected to the same local area network (LAN). Players can choose from different types of games, such as classic matches, scripted battles, or custom challenges. Anyone can create and play custom scenarios using the built-in scenario editor. This mode allows you to design unique missions with specific objectives, custom maps, and game settings tailored to player preferences. The scenarios created can be played solo or shared with other local players for varied play sessions. In addition to the campaign missions, the game features alternative challenges and scenarios that test players’ skills in a variety of settings. These challenges can include special objectives, unique victory conditions, or unusual game situations. The game also incorporates an improved map editor that allows players to design and customize terrains and scenarios. These maps can be used in local games to create unique experiences.

Online Game Modes

The multiplayer system in Age of Mythology: Retold comes with several modes.

Classic Matches : Players can compete in real-time battles where they choose their pantheon and compete against each other in various types of maps and scenarios. These matches can be played solo against other people or in teams.
Co-op Modes : Age of Mythology: Retold also features co-op modes where players can team up to complete common goals, battle enemies, or defend positions against waves of enemies.
Events and Tournaments : Special events and tournaments are held, providing players with unique opportunities for competition and rewards. These events may introduce special rules or challenges.

In addition to the traditional battles, the game offers different modes, such as custom scenarios or community-created maps, allowing for a wide variety of multiplayer experiences.
The multiplayer system incorporates mechanics to balance games and adjust game settings to ensure fair competition.
This includes the management of divine resources, units, and powers.
Players will have access to communication features such as in-game chat and ping systems to coordinate actions with teammates or exchange strategic information with their opponents.

The game features a matchmaking system to balance games based on player skills, as well as leaderboards to track individual and team performance. This allows players to compare their successes and compete against others at their level. Players will have the opportunity to join communities or guilds, making it easier to meet and coordinate with other players who share the same interests. Another aspect that is usually popular among fans: Age of Mythology: Retold will continue to support community-created mods, allowing players to create and share their own maps, scenarios, and even new content for multiplayer modes. The developers also announced that they will continue to support the game after release with updates, gameplay adjustments, and new multiplayer content to keep the gaming community interested and engaged.

Expansions/Add-ons (DLC)

The base game only offers the standard campaign, while the premium version offers 7-day early access, a new god pack added to the Norse pantheon (Freyr), the Legacy Deity Portrait pack, which allows players to use icons and portraits from the original 2002 game, as well as 2 expansions: a brand new Chinese Pantheon, and another pantheon to be announced after the official release. Premium Edition buyers had the opportunity to participate in a beta version of the game, including the gods of the Greek, Egyptian, and Norse civilizations in multiplayer mode, as well as various scenarios from the “Fall of the Trident” campaign, from July 12 to 14, 2024.

Our opinion

ScreenPartrage AgeofMythologyRetold screenshot2 — Athena addresses the Atlantean Arkantos in a dream.

Age of Mythology: Retold is a timeless classic. Fans of the original game seem to be delighted with this remastered version, according to reviews released with Early Access. The complexity is progressive and allows people who are less familiar with this kind of game to learn the mechanics at a pleasant pace. It is also possible to choose from 4 levels of difficulty, which is a positive point and makes the game more accessible to everyone. Real-time strategy games like this are fascinating for several reasons and can be suitable for a fairly young audience. They combine strategic thinking with real-time management, which requires both careful planning and quick responsiveness. In Age of Mythology: Retold, players’ planning and management skills are put to the test. The 50 levels of the single-player campaign allow you to discover how the game works and pave the way for competitive games in multiplayer mode. The various missions are also relatively short (about 10 minutes), which allows you to play small games without having to commit to a very long game session, although the single-player campaign can be completed in 7 to 10 hours, depending on the level of difficulty and the player’s skills. With the multiplayer mode and the various expansions, the game offers many more hours of discovery, and at less than 60 CAD for the full version including the expansions, it’s good value for money, especially for fans of the genre or the original game, who are sure to find something to their liking.