Age of Mythology: Retold
" Faithful strategy remaster with deep content and tactical god powers but plagued by performance issues "
Age of Mythology: Retold Review
Age of Mythology: Retold is a well-received remaster of the classic RTS, praised for its faithful recreation of the original experience with modern enhancements. The campaign and gameplay mechanics, including the favor system and god powers, have been thoughtfully updated, providing both nostalgia and fresh strategic depth. The introduction of new civilizations, especially the Chinese, and additional gods and myth units expand the game's content significantly. Visuals have been revamped with improved graphics, though some players note the style leans towards a mobile-game aesthetic rather than the original's charm.
Despite its strengths, the game faces criticism for technical issues such as crashes, graphical bugs, and performance problems even on high-end hardware. Some players find the AI lacking in challenge, and certain new game modes and DLC management are viewed as unbalanced or overly monetized. Voice acting and campaign storylines, particularly in the new Chinese campaign, receive mixed feedback. Overall, Retold offers a rich RTS experience with room for improvement in polish and balance.
Highlights
Players especially praise the refined gameplay mechanics like reusable god powers and the rock-paper-scissors unit dynamics. The updated graphics enhance the visual appeal while maintaining the original's spirit. The storyline, particularly the classic campaigns and the improved Chinese campaign, adds engaging content. New civilizations and gods broaden strategic options, and quality-of-life improvements such as autoscouting and hotkey customization are appreciated. The game retains a strong nostalgic value for longtime fans and introduces accessible RTS gameplay for newcomers.
Criticisms
Common criticisms include technical issues such as crashes, GPU optimization problems, and performance drops during large battles. The AI is often described as cheating or lacking genuine challenge. Some players dislike the new game modes like Arena of the Gods for being unbalanced. The Chinese campaign story and voice acting are seen as weak or poorly executed. Monetization strategies involving DLC and daily incentives frustrate parts of the community. Additionally, UI elements like the mini-map and unit pathing occasionally hinder gameplay experience.
Pros
- • Faithful remaster with solid gameplay improvements and strategic depth.
- • Expanded content with new civilizations, gods, and myth units.
- • Improved graphics that modernize the classic visual style.
- • Engaging campaigns including a revamped Chinese storyline.
- • Reusable god powers add fresh tactical options.
- • Quality-of-life features like autoscouting and hotkey customization.
- • Strong nostalgic appeal for fans of the original game.
Cons
- • Performance issues and crashes even on high-end hardware.
- • Graphical bugs and optimization problems frustrate players.
- • AI often uses cheating mechanics instead of true challenge.
- • New game modes can feel unbalanced or poorly designed.
- • Chinese campaign story and voice acting receive mixed reviews.
- • Monetization of DLC and daily rewards seen as money-grabby.
- • UI elements like mini-map and pathing sometimes hinder play.
Rating Criteria
From the creators of the award-winning Age of Empires franchise, Age of Mythology: Retold goes beyond history to a mythical age where gods, monsters, and humans collide.
