Age of Mythology: Retold

90%
Game Brain Score Based on 5,427 reviews
  • graphics
  • gameplay
  • story
Age of Mythology: Retold Game Cover
Age of Mythology: Retold is a masterful blend of nostalgia and innovation that fans and newcomers will both cherish.
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"Age of Mythology: Retold" is a real-time strategy game that takes players to a mythical age of gods, monsters, and humans. Choose your gods from pantheons such as Greek, Norse, Egyptian, and Atlantean, and harness their powers to summon lightning storms, quakes, and even mythical creatures to aid you in battle. Unleash an army of centaurs, trolls, mummies, and more to defeat your enemies and expand your domain. This game is a stunning update to the beloved Age of Mythology, offering modern visuals and innovative gameplay design. Will you become a mythic leader?

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Reviews

90%
Audience ScoreBased on 5,427 reviews
graphics393 positive mentions
stability74 negative mentions
  • The game successfully captures the nostalgia of the original while enhancing graphics and gameplay mechanics.
  • The addition of reusable god powers and the Wonder Age adds depth and excitement to the gameplay.
  • The campaign is engaging and offers a mix of challenging missions that keep players invested.
  • Multiplayer is plagued with desync issues, making it nearly unplayable for many players.
  • The new voice acting is often criticized for lacking the charm and emotion of the original.
  • Pathfinding and AI behavior can be frustrating, with units getting stuck and not responding as expected.
  • graphics895 mentions

    The graphics in "Age of Mythology: Retold" have received widespread acclaim for their stunning visual upgrades that maintain the essence of the original game while enhancing detail and vibrancy. Players appreciate the modernized art style, improved animations, and overall aesthetic appeal, which breathe new life into the beloved classic. However, some critiques mention that while the graphics are better, they may not meet the high expectations set by contemporary titles, and a few players express nostalgia for the original's style.

    • “The updated graphics breathe new life into the mythological world, making every battle and landscape more vibrant and detailed.”
    • “The graphics are stunning, bringing the mythical world to life like never before.”
    • “The graphics are amazing, the story that is presented in the retold version is done so much right and the gameplay is addicting.”
    • “The graphics upgrade isn't much.”
    • “Apart from the slightly better graphics, this game brings nothing new to Age of Mythology, and even those graphics look horribly outdated.”
    • “I expected updated gameplay, mechanics, and controls (like in Age of Empires 4) but received a mediocre graphics mod for the price of a full game.”
  • gameplay548 mentions

    The gameplay of "Age of Mythology: Retold" has been widely praised for successfully blending nostalgia with modern enhancements, retaining the core mechanics that made the original beloved while introducing new features like reusable god powers and improved unit management. Players appreciate the strategic depth, engaging campaigns, and quality-of-life improvements that streamline gameplay, although some have noted balance issues and minor bugs. Overall, the remaster is seen as a significant upgrade, making it accessible for both newcomers and veterans of the series.

    • “Every mission is a 'boss fight' in the sense that it is all of the usual game mechanics but in specific scenarios, testing your knowledge and mastery of the game's workings to complete various goals with various tools at your disposal.”
    • “The gameplay is addictive and unique for the genre, albeit nostalgic.”
    • “The gameplay feels exactly the same as it did before, but with the difference that units behave slightly smarter than back in the days.”
    • “The gameplay is slow, it's hard to read the mini map, unit selection is tedious, and the graphics are poor.”
    • “Gameplay is mostly unchanged; some units have their stats and/or costs changed for balance reasons.”
    • “The actual gameplay isn't much better than the original, and to top it off, it has already crashed in the middle of a 3 player (me against the ai).”
  • story341 mentions

    The story in "Age of Mythology: Retold" retains the classic narrative from the original game, weaving together elements from Greek, Egyptian, and Norse mythologies through a series of engaging missions. While the campaign offers a nostalgic experience with improved graphics and varied mission designs, some players feel that the new voice acting detracts from the charm of the original. Overall, the campaign is praised for its length and depth, though inconsistencies in mission difficulty and pacing have been noted.

    • “The remastered Age of Mythology brings back the nostalgic charm of the classic strategy game with updated graphics, engaging gameplay, and a captivating storyline that draws from various mythologies.”
    • “The campaign's missions are consistently fun, well-designed, and on titan difficulty, quite a challenge.”
    • “The main story campaign is a globe-trotting epic that effectively retells common myths of Greek, Egyptian, and Norse mythologies while tying it all together neatly into an odyssey-esque grand adventure narrative.”
    • “The story itself isn't like Warcraft 3 levels of good, but it is fine.”
    • “It's a toilet paper-thin story chaining together boring, repetitive macro missions where you spend 15+ minutes building up a base, again and again, before steamrolling the enemy.”
    • “The campaign is way overlong, with way too many missions, and in the end, the story is unbelievably shallow compared to Age of Empires 3 or Warcraft 3.”
  • music165 mentions

    The music in the game has received mixed reviews, with many praising the remastered soundtrack for its nostalgic value and modern enhancements, while others express disappointment over the changes from the original compositions. Some players appreciate the blend of familiar themes with new arrangements, though a significant number long for the option to revert to the classic soundtrack. Overall, the sound design is noted as a strong aspect, contributing to the game's immersive experience, despite some critiques regarding voice acting and specific remixed tracks.

    • “The enhanced soundtrack, with its sweeping orchestral scores and atmospheric sound effects, perfectly complements the on-screen action.”
    • “The remastered soundtrack is another highlight, blending nostalgic themes with fresh compositions that complement the game's atmosphere perfectly.”
    • “The soundtrack is as epic as ever, masterfully remastered to evoke the grandeur of the ancient world.”
    • “The music and narration is jarringly bad, a definite step down from the original.”
    • “For the game that has my favorite soundtrack of all time, which is hailed as one of the best video game soundtracks of all time, the strictly electronic cover of the organic, natural music of Age of Mythology, with no option to switch to the original soundtrack, is the biggest sin of all.”
    • “Some tracks are straight up off key and jarring to listen to, at least as someone who remembers the original OST so fondly.”
  • optimization87 mentions

    Overall, the optimization of the game has received mixed reviews. While many players report significantly improved performance compared to previous editions, with smooth gameplay and good graphics even on lower-end systems, some users still experience issues like stuttering, long loading times, and pathfinding problems. Despite these occasional hiccups, the general consensus leans towards a well-optimized experience that enhances the nostalgic gameplay.

    • “The optimization lets me enjoy it in a way I genuinely couldn't before.”
    • “The game runs smoothly on multiplayer and campaign.”
    • “To sum up, the game is good and seems to be optimized and stable.”
    • “Considering the substantial price I paid for this remastered game, I'm really disappointed with the quality and performance.”
    • “This game is terrible: pathing issues, crashes, has bricked my PC multiple times, cheating AI, performance issues, etc.”
    • “Game flat out feels unoptimized.”
  • stability84 mentions

    Overall, the game's stability has received mixed reviews, with many players reporting significant bugs and glitches that affect gameplay, particularly in multiplayer modes. While some users noted that the game runs smoothly on their systems, others experienced frequent crashes, AI pathfinding issues, and connectivity problems. Despite these challenges, a portion of the player base remains optimistic about future patches to address these stability concerns.

    • “AOM retold strikes a perfect balance - extremely faithful while still updating and improving the feel of combat, economy, myth units, etc. Runs great, nice and stable on my fairly dated laptop.”
    • “It's the price of a half-off modern 2024 game, and it should be since AOM is an older game, but the new modern remastered features and the fact it isn't buggy make it especially worth it.”
    • “Runs great, feels faithful to the original while changing enough to feel fresh and new, and overall feels like a love letter to AOM.”
    • “The problem is that the game is outrageously buggy right now.”
    • “Unfortunately it is unbearably buggy.”
    • “Horrendously buggy - most multiplayer matches are unjoinable.”
  • monetization29 mentions

    The monetization aspect of the game has received mixed reviews, with many players labeling it a "cash grab" that capitalizes on nostalgia without offering substantial improvements or value. Critics point to the lack of included DLC from previous versions and the presence of microtransactions as signs of predatory marketing practices. However, some users acknowledge the developers' efforts and express appreciation for the game's quality, despite its monetization strategy feeling exploitative.

    • “Microtransactions - in-game purchases.”
    • “Microtransactions - in-game purchases.”
    • “Microtransactions - in-game purchases.”
    • “This game is just a cash grab designed to prey on the nostalgia of millennials... sad.”
    • “Pretty much a reskin of the old game... 20 years later and they clearly just want a cash grab, pretty sad with such an amazing IP.”
    • “The fact that legacy god portraits are considered DLC is bad enough of a cash grab, to be honest.”
  • humor19 mentions

    The humor in the game is a standout feature, with players noting a mix of charming and hilarious moments, particularly in character interactions and physics-based antics. Many find the nostalgic visual style amusing, especially given its resemblance to the original game from over 20 years ago. While some aspects, like the campaign difficulty, are criticized, the overall comedic elements contribute to an entertaining experience that resonates well with both new and returning players.

    • “There's plenty of humor, high stakes, and interesting characters to go around.”
    • “The story actually has some charming humor to it which I never would have thought.”
    • “The physics are hilarious, dudes flying in the air with their horses are just priceless 👌”
  • grinding17 mentions

    Reviews indicate that grinding in the game can be tedious and frustrating, with players noting slow gameplay, poor graphics, and cumbersome unit selection. However, some improvements, such as auto-queuing units and enhanced quality of life features, have made the experience less grind-heavy compared to other real-time strategy games. Overall, while grinding remains a significant aspect, recent updates have aimed to streamline and enhance gameplay enjoyment.

    • “You'll need a second life for grinding.”
    • “You'll need a second life for grinding.”
    • “You'll need a second life for grinding.”
    • “The gameplay is slow, it's hard to read the mini map, unit selection is tedious, and the graphics are poor.”
    • “Once the designer team fixes these issues I'll be happy to return to it, but until then it is far too tedious to play to be worth your while.”
    • “The 'clean up' process near to victory is just as tedious.”
  • atmosphere16 mentions

    The atmosphere of the game is described as a blend of nostalgia and modern enhancements, with a remastered soundtrack that enriches the experience. While many appreciate the immersive environments and the retention of the original's tone, some feel that certain areas lack the intended ambiance, leading to a less captivating experience overall. Overall, the game successfully balances atmospheric elements with engaging gameplay, though opinions vary on the effectiveness of its modernized visuals.

    • “The enhanced soundtrack, with its sweeping orchestral scores and atmospheric sound effects, perfectly complements the on-screen action.”
    • “The buildings and characters have their models completely redesigned, and the overall atmosphere is enhanced by a new soundtrack with instruments typical of the cultures you are currently playing.”
    • “The remastered soundtrack is another highlight, blending nostalgic themes with fresh compositions that complement the game's atmosphere perfectly.”
    • “Also, the game seems more like a mobile game or application and doesn't have the original taste and atmosphere.”
    • “The graphics, while sharper, lack the atmosphere that the previous game had.”
    • “For example, it doesn't feel spooky in a spooky map or hot in a desert map; it's the same atmosphere everywhere.”
  • replayability15 mentions

    The game boasts high replayability due to its engaging campaign, diverse multiplayer options, and the addition of new content like campaigns, units, and gods. Players appreciate the variety and accessibility, making it appealing for both newcomers and veterans of real-time strategy games. While some desire more playable factions, the overall consensus is that the game offers significant longevity and replay value, especially with anticipated future DLCs.

    • “Even if you are not interested in multiplayer, the replayability this game offers can't be passed up.”
    • “The inclusion of new content, such as additional campaigns and updated multiplayer features, adds significant replay value.”
    • “It’s got a solid campaign, plenty of multiplayer options, and tons of replay value, especially if you’re into real-time strategy games.”
    • “I was hoping for more playable factions, but that isn't a complaint about the quality of the game.”
    • “The upgrade is good, but it's still rough around the edges; I'll wait for more patches so it's smooth and more playable, and the voice acting can be a bit monotone sometimes.”
    • “One of the highlights of Age of Mythology is its timeless visuals and replayability.”
  • emotional8 mentions

    Players express a mix of nostalgia and emotional connection to the game, highlighting its wholesome success and beautiful graphics that evoke strong feelings. However, some reviewers feel disappointed by the voice acting, which they perceive as less refined compared to the original, impacting the overall emotional experience. Despite these critiques, the game successfully rekindles childhood memories and joy for many players.

    • “The developers have done an incredible job bringing this game new life and amazing gameplay; it almost makes me emotional because this was the first PC game I ever played and has stuck with me for 16 years.”
    • “The game is so pretty now it makes me want to cry.”
    • “Made me feel like a kid again, like playing the original for the first time.”
  • character development2 mentions

    Character development in the game is noted for its passion-driven approach, featuring a new mission that enhances a previously underdeveloped fan-favorite character. However, some users feel that the character designs lack distinctiveness, leading to a sense of blending among them.

    • “The character designs all blend together a bit too much.”
    • “You can tell this is a passion project and less of a money grab (cough cough WC III Reforged) as they have included a new mission that explores a fan-favorite character who was neglected in the original game when it came to character development.”
Positive mentions (%)Positive
Neutral mentions (%)Neutral
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Critic Reviews

57% average critic score

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Play time

14hMedian play time
46hAverage play time
5-55hSpent by most gamers
*Based on 20 analyzed playthroughs

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