Age of Mythology: Retold is a remastered version of Ensemble Studio’s hugely influential 2002 original. With a fresh coat of HD paint, a visual overhaul for every game unit, and brand new animations, Retold is a nostalgic jaunt for seasoned veterans and an excellent jumping-on point for interested newcomers.
Broadly speaking, Age of Mythology differs from the standard, historical Age of Empires series, in that it focuses on fewer civilisations with more significant gameplay variance between each. Add in gods, monsters, and powers drawn from myth and legend, from cultures like the Chinese, Greeks, Egyptians, Norse, and even the Atlanteans, and we think it’s the series at its very best.
Perhaps the most groundbreaking thing Retold does is chart a bold new course for isometric real-time strategy games on PS5. Mouse and keyboard have long been the favoured implements for this admittedly niche genre; a clever, initially overwhelming control scheme and slew of gameplay options offers a different, more streamlined way of playing. Once it clicks, it works well, but you do have to get past what might seem like sacrilege at first blush.
For example, rather than madly issuing orders to the swarm of villagers required to support the economy and army needed to overcome opponents, the entire process can be automated, with the AI taking away the busywork (and thousands of clicks) required to keep them on task. A variety of preset percentages will keep your economy chugging along while you focus on construction and conquest. Add to that recurring build orders, command groups, and attack moves, and we’re pleasantly surprised at how straightforward playing on a controller has been made.
Retold includes expansion content players of the base game might have missed, such as the Atlantean and Chinese factions. All told, there are now four single-player campaigns to play through. Add to that the endlessly replayable skirmish mode, Mythical Battles, daily challenges to complete, and online multiplayer, and you’re getting quite a bit of bang for your buck.
There are a few downsides, of course. Learning how to implement all the above involves some trial and error. While there are tutorials that teach players the specifics of how each faction works, we feel like one specifically for console controllers would have been useful. It took us about a half dozen hours to really become comfortable and competent, which might be asking a bit much for a casual player.
This next one is more for hardened veterans, and even then your mileage may vary; nearly a quarter of a century on, strategy games have come a pretty long way, and there’s no denying that Age of Mythology’s gameplay can feel simplistic, which is ironic, considering how influential the series has been. Having played a bunch back in the day, the missed campaigns are appreciated, but we can’t see ourselves regularly returning to the well.
