Age of Mythology: Retold - Worth the Hype?

Age of Mythology, a spin-off of Age of Empires, was released in 2002. The game shares similarities with Age of Empires in terms of gameplay and mechanics but features gods, a key difference. Now, 22 years later, Age of Mythology: Retold, a remastered version of the original, is available.

If you're uncertain about whether Age of Mythology: Retold is the game for you, you've come to the right place. We'll cover whether it's worth playing or not. Ultimately, this comes down to personal preference, but we aim to make the decision easier.

Age of Mythology: Retold is a new take on a classic. TheGamer's executive editor, Ryan Bamsey, rated the game 4.5 out of 5 stars, with the main drawbacks being the poorly-named difficulty options and the lack of new content from the 2002 version of Age of Mythology.

Ryan noted the balancing that Retold has received compared to the original, stating that "while gods keep their identities and general utility levels, some serious effort has gone into making each choice you make feel more impactful".

For those familiar with the original game, you'll be pleased to see an updated tutorial. This section of the game is quicker than the original, but feels more useful, particularly in terms of combat.

In addition, you can expect to see improved graphics for the entire game. Rather than feeling like a dated remaster, Age of Mythology: Retold presents like a modern game that doesn't fall flat. Ryan emphasizes this with Mythic units, which look "far more legendary and awesome".

One notable point that brings down the game is the difficulty settings. Ryan mentioned that the Standard mode "would be better named 'Easy' or 'Child's Play'". While not the biggest drawback, if you are looking to increase the difficulty, then choose something higher than Standard.

Age of Mythology: Retold is an excellent remaster of the original game, even surpassing the Extended Edition in terms of quality.

As a strategy game with countless possibilities, Age of Mythology: Retold offers hundreds of hours of gameplay. Completing the main story campaigns takes approximately 20 to 30 hours, depending on your playstyle.

Each game can be unique, especially when played with others. Custom skirmishes provide endless hours of entertainment.

The standard edition of Age of Mythology: Retold costs $29.99 USD. The premium edition, priced at $49.99 USD, includes additional content such as Freyr and Legacy Deity Portraits and access to two expansion packs.

The premium upgrade can be purchased separately for $24.99 USD if you buy the standard edition. Additionally, the portrait pack and original soundtrack are available for individual purchase at $5.99 USD and $9.99 USD, respectively.

The standard version of Age of Mythology: Retold is included with Game Pass, making it essentially free for subscribers. Game Pass provides access to a wide range of games for a minimum of $11.99 USD per month, with frequent deals like two weeks of Game Pass for $1.

Age of Mythology: Retold is one of the best remasters I've experienced. It successfully updates what needed to be updated while preserving what worked in the original. It's a great entry point into the RTS genre and scales well for experienced players. I recommend this game to anyone who finds its visuals appealing.

While I didn't play Age of Mythology growing up, I was a dedicated Age of Empires player. Even though Retold was my first experience with Age of Mythology, I find it truly embodies the essence of Age of Empires with exciting new features. It's incredibly easy to get lost in the game, telling yourself you'll only play for a little while, only to find several hours have passed.

Personally, I love creating Myth units and marveling at their awesome appearance within my army. Overall, I believe Age of Mythology: Retold is a great strategy game that appeals to both veterans and newcomers.