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Age of Empires is a legendary video game series; Microsoft knows this very well, so it is slowly remastering all the old chapters to ensure that new generations and longtime fans can enjoy them in the best possible way. A year and a half after the debut of Age of Empires 2 Definitive Edition, it is now the turn of the spin-off that, unlike the other iterations, abandons historical fidelity in Favor of gods, special powers and mythological beings: we are talking about Age of Mythology, which in its Retold version returns to the scenes in better shape than ever.
As much as the Age of Mythology Retold is part of the path taken by Microsoft with the various chapters in the series, it would be wrong to put it on the same level as its predecessors. The title, after all, has not been called "Age of Mythology Definitive Edition," and this is no accident since it is a project closer to a remake than a remaster.
The work done on Age of Mythology Retold goes far beyond a mere revamp of the graphics. The developers have meticulously intervened in various aspects of the real-time strategy, built based on the Bang Engine that we already enjoyed in Age of Empires 3 Definitive Edition. The change of graphics engine meant that units and related animations had to be recreated from scratch, in a complex process that paid off, showcasing the team's dedication to delivering a high-quality gaming experience.
Of course, it is not only the troops that have received a facelift but also all the buildings and scenery, which look better than ever and boast better rendering of materials such as terrain and rock, not to mention the presence of far more believable bodies of water. It is enough to watch a few video comparisons between the original and Retold to visually notice the gulf between the two versions. No comma has remained the same as the original version, and the result is a product with a technical compartment close to that of today's real-time strategists.
The technological interventions represent only part of the work done by World's Edge and the other collectives involved in the project. Many changes are made to gameplay, and many are microscopic in terms of balancing, behavior, and even unit names.
Alongside these changes that only the most attentive fans will notice, there are more substantial interventions, which even a distracted eye would see, as in the case of how divine abilities work. In the original, the player had to use the power related to the selected deity very carefully since he had one and only one chance. To revitalize the experience a bit and make everything more fun, things have changed in the Age of Mythology Retold, and powers can be employed multiple times. Still, under one condition: after each activation, their cost increases, and it is necessary to accumulate Favor to spend on subsequent uses. Noticeable changes can also be seen in the final stages of matches, sections that have gone through a minor revolution. In Retold, putting on the Wonder no longer represents the moment of ultimate victory: only the event that allows one to reach the Age of Wonder. This new evolutionary step makes the match much more frenetic thanks to boosts involving Favor and the power of special units. In other words, matches end in spectacular fashion with these additions amid fierce fighting and frequent use of divine abilities.
Another notable addition concerns the screen's ability to automate specific actions of the inhabitants. More specifically, when using a controller, it is possible to access a menu to make the base units proceed autonomously with resource extraction, organizing themselves according to our preferences: we can then decide to have everything collected in equal parts or prioritize specific materials so that we do not have to stand behind our subordinates all the time.
This is a great addition that, along with all the other arrangements for those playing with a pad, makes the experience smoother. As it is evident, the mouse and keyboard remain the best control methods for enjoying such a product, yet even with a pad, one can enjoy it smoothly on both PC and Xbox.
You may be wondering what the contents of the Age of Mythology Retold starter pack are, which did not disappoint. The title offers the entire offering of the original, except for Tale of the Dragon, the Chinese-themed expansion that will arrive only later. Instead, The Titans, dedicated to the Atlantean people, is present: we can then play several campaigns right away and access Greek, Norse, Egyptian, and Atlantean deities. In this regard, among the choices related to the Norse gods, there is also a brand new one: Freyr. This is a welcome extra because of the variety added to the gameplay. Still, at the same time, it is relegated to a limited number of users (it is exclusively part of the most expensive editions of Retold).
Also to be considered is the presence of at least 40 maps for multiplayer and skirmishes, as well as official support for mods, which we know how good it can do for a title of this type. We have already told you about the excellent technical compartment of Age of Mythology Retold, which also boasts a more than good level of optimization, albeit net of the lack of support for Nvidia's DLSS (for now, there is only that to AMD's FSR,). The options for accessibility are numerous and allow for customization of the gameplay experience and enhancement with minor additions, such as one that prevents you from selecting residents who find themselves amid militias.
So, is everything perfect? Not really, since some minor bugs are present, and sometimes, some character gets stuck in the scenario or, as in the most classic Age of Empires, suffers from pathfinding problems, getting lost on the way compared to all his companions. On the other hand, excellent work has been done on the audio compartment, which includes the same songs from the original but repurposed in a slightly different way to be perfectly recognizable by fans and simultaneously "refreshed."
In its day, the Age of Mythology introduced some compelling new ideas into the real-time strategy genre. While I think it’s overdue for a complete remake, Age of Mythology: Retold is an excellent way to reacquaint players with a genuine classic and a perfect introduction for gamers new to the title.