Age of Mythology: Retold Review: Is It Worth Playing?

What is Age of Mythology: Retold?

Age of Mythology: Retold is a detailed remaster of the 2002 real-time strategy classic, Age of Mythology. Developed by Forgotten Empires, World's Edge, and CaptureAge, it is the latest title in the long-running Age of Empires franchise from Xbox Game Studios.

The premise remains faithful to the original: a blend of historical ancient civilisations and their mythological pantheons. Players guide the Greeks, Egyptians, or Norse, worshipping gods like Zeus, Ra, or Odin, who grant unique mythological units and divine powers to aid in conquest.

The core campaign follows the fictional Atlantean admiral, Arkantos, on a globe-trotting adventure that pits historical armies against monsters from legend. Retold bundles the base game and its expansion, The Titans, into a single, modernised package built on an upgraded version of the engine used for Age of Empires III: Definitive Edition.

Gameplay

The moment-to-moment play will feel immediately familiar to veterans of traditional base-building RTS games. You gather resources - food, wood, gold, and favour - to construct a town, advance through ages, train military units, and defeat your opponent.

The defining twist is the mythology. Choosing a minor god with each age advancement unlocks specific technologies, units, and a one-use 'God Power', such as a lightning strike or a healing spring. Managing these powers and countering your enemy's mythical creatures, like the Egyptian Anubite or the Greek Cyclops, adds a distinct strategic layer not found in purely historical RTS titles.

The learning curve is well-pitched. The campaign serves as an extended, narrative-driven tutorial that gradually introduces mechanics. The UI is cleaner and more informative than the original's, with improved tooltips and a modernised control scheme that includes control groups and hotkeys that align with contemporary expectations.

The depth comes from mastering the asymmetrical design of the civilisations and their associated gods. A Greek player focusing on Zeus will have a different roster and playstyle to one who chooses Hades.

Quality-of-life features streamline macro-management. A global queue for economic units and a dedicated 'Select All Military' hotkey allow players to focus more on army composition and tactical engagements. However, the fundamental pace and rock-paper-scissors unit counter system remain intact, which may feel deliberate compared to faster-paced modern RTS games.

Who is Age of Mythology: Retold for?

This release primarily targets two groups. The first is the existing fanbase of the original game who have longed for a stable, visually updated version with modern online infrastructure. The second is strategy enthusiasts who enjoy the Age of Empires series but missed the mythological entry.

It is a game suited for both solo and multiplayer audiences. The lengthy campaign and updated challenge scenarios provide substantial single-player content, while the rebuilt multiplayer with improved matchmaking caters to competitive and cooperative play.

It is similar in spirit to other 'Definitive Edition' remasters of classic RTS games, such as StarCraft: Remastered or Command & Conquer Remastered, but with more substantial under-the-hood work.

It sits in a comfortable middle ground. It is accessible enough for casual players to enjoy the story on lower difficulties, yet retains the mechanical depth that hardcore players will exploit in ranked matches. If you enjoy the base-building and tech-tree progression of Age of Empires but wish for more dramatic, high-fantasy clashes, this game will likely appeal to you.

Graphics and performance

The visual style walks a careful line between preservation and modernisation. The original game's distinctive, slightly exaggerated art direction is respected, but everything has been rebuilt with higher-resolution models, textures, and animations.

The new water and lighting effects are particularly notable, making naval battles and god power effects more visually impressive. The UI is crisp and scalable, a vital improvement for high-resolution displays.

Performance on PC is generally solid, but not without some early issues as reflected in its initial Steam rating. On a range of tested systems, the game runs smoothly at high settings, maintaining a stable frame rate during large battles.

At launch, some players reported bugs, including pathfinding quirks, occasional crashes, and odd audio mixing. The developers have been active with patches, and the experience has improved since release.

The game requires a persistent online connection even for solo play, which has been a point of criticism. While the presentation is a clear and welcome upgrade, it is a functional modernisation rather than a complete visual overhaul, which may temper expectations for those anticipating a ground-up remake.

Value for money

The package offers significant content. The main campaign alone can take 20-30 hours to complete, and the inclusion of The Titans expansion adds another full storyline and a fourth civilisation.

Beyond that, there are random map modes against AI, various challenge scenarios, and the full suite of multiplayer options. When compared to the cost of many new, full-price releases, the amount of gameplay on offer is substantial.

Whether the price is justified depends heavily on your relationship with the original. For newcomers to Age of Mythology, it represents the definitive and most accessible way to experience a beloved classic with all its content in one place.

For returning players, the value hinges on how much you desire the visual upgrades, quality-of-life features, and a revitalised multiplayer community. The bundle offers fair value, though the asking price may feel steep for those who were hoping for a more budget-friendly 'update' rather than a premium remaster.

Verdict

Age of Mythology: Retold is the best way to play a beloved classic today, warts and all, provided you approach it with an understanding of what a remaster entails.

Age of Mythology: Retold is a competent and faithful remaster that successfully brings a unique classic into the modern era. Its strengths lie in preserving the charming, inventive blend of history and myth that made the original so memorable, while implementing sensible quality-of-life improvements that reduce old frustrations.

You will likely love this game if:

• You are a returning fan seeking nostalgia with a fresh coat of paint.
• You are an RTS player curious about one of the genre's more distinctive titles.
• You want a deep, asymmetrical strategic experience with a lengthy and entertaining solo campaign.

You might not enjoy it if:

• You demand flawless technical performance at launch, or have no tolerance for the occasional legacy-game jank.
• You were expecting a complete reimagining rather than a careful remaster.
• The always-online requirement for solo play is a legitimate drawback for you.

Despite its rocky launch, the core experience of Age of Mythology remains as engaging as ever. Retold is an easy recommendation for strategy fans with an interest in mythology.