Divinity, destruction and death are just some of the major themes that appear in this game.
Age of Mythology is dynamic, fun to play, immersive and overall addicting! We get drawn into the story of the Atlantean Admiral (Arkantos) who has been drawn into a war of the Gods, and without him the planet as we know it would crack into a battlefield...
The game itself is not majorly different from most real time strategies, but it presents the best of what the genre has to offer... it allows us to see that RTS is built up of different mechanics that truly brings the player into the universe. This is a game that you just don't want to put down, not because you want to see the ending, but due to the pleasure you get when playing the game!
Another amazing aspect that is presented before us is the three different civilizations you can play as: The Greeks, The Egyptians and The Norse. Every group is different in major ways, and they present us with new God powers to choose from - which will make or break a battle with an NPC or another person.
The Greek are the first civilization we are allowed to play as in the main campaign, and ever single detail is there, from the magnificent temples of the main Gods, to the upgrades at an armoury - it is all there. Such Heroes as Odysseus, Perseus, Hercules etc. are made playable and aid in different situations from a battle at Troy to solving the problems of an evil witch that turns people into pigs. The best part is that every single item within the game has a description that has been thought out by the writers, and it makes it enjoyable to read!
The Egyptians are the second playable civilization we see after escaping from the Underworld of Hades with two new main Heroes: Ajax and Chiron - these two help Arkantos considerably throughout the game, and Amanra joins the team after the evil worshippers of Set are trying to recover an ancient artifact which is pivotal in the game! This civilization is completely different to the Greek, and this diversity makes this game a true wonder to play!
The Norse is the final civilization we come across in the frozen homelands of Midgard! The area is torn between conflicts which will soon bring about Ragnarok (the end of life as we know it), and the Heroes must fight to prevent this disaster from happening, with the help of a Valkyrie and some dwarves of course!
Each civilization has many differences, from the God powers you receive, the way you gain favour with the Gods to the building and the builders. Age of Mythology is truly a wonder to play for any RTS buffs. If you don't like RTS games... well, I think that this one will definitely change your mind!
Pro's:
- Amazing gameplay
- Detailed descriptions
- Well thought out story
- Great voice acting
- Imaginative God Powers
- Fantastic mythological beasts
- Evil, tough and daring enemies
Con's:
- Game graphics change greatly from cutscene to gameplay
- Not much replay value