Final weekend, Age of Mythology: Retold made an look on the Xbox Video games Showcase 2024, revealing in-game footage for the very first time, in addition to a launch date of September 4, 2024. As a part of the Official Xbox Podcast’s deep-dive sequence, hosts Malik Prince and Jenn Panattoni sat down with Emma Bridle and Earnest Yuen from World’s Edge to share some perception into this thrilling, trendy reimaging of the 2002 technique traditional.
Watch the complete podcast under – the Age of Mythology: Retold part begins at 25:40:
For these unfamiliar, Age of Mythology: Retold is a devoted retelling of the unique title, a real-time technique recreation the place people reside and struggle alongside monsters and gods. “It’s a fantastical, magical, chaotic world that you just get to regulate,” says Bridle.
Through the trailer, we received a primary have a look at one of many marketing campaign missions, set within the Egyptian Pantheon (the title for the playable factions). Taking part in as Amanra, your major purpose is to destroy the Migdol Stronghold, and to do this, you’ll must amass a military. Right here, we see Amanra accumulating models from temples scattered across the environment, however they’re not your typical sword and bow wielding troopers. We see models of monsters which can be immediately impressed by Egyptian mythology – Petsuchos (or ‘laser crocs as Bridle jovially refers to them), massive, bejeweled crocodiles that fireside devastating long-range beams of daylight at their enemies, in addition to what Yuen calls “Kaiju Scarabs,” dealing close-range injury to buildings.
Theoretically, you’d count on a humongous crocodile with a radiant sniper to outwit any little human charging at it with a sword, however Age of Mythology is finely balanced to make sure people, monsters and gods all share an equal shot at victory. In line with Yuen, there’s a triangle of potential – the mythological models are sometimes excellent towards human models, however then you will have the Hero models, that are particularly good towards mythological enemies.
“As a participant, it actually makes you consider the place to put your models as you progress via the degrees,” Yuen provides.
The backdrop of this motion can be draped in attractive environmental design that matches the setting. Bridle explains that every Pantheon (the title given to playable factions) has its personal distinct biome and structure – golden sands and lightweight, angular buildings grace the Egyptian marketing campaign, whereas a blanket of snow settles on the mountains and thatched huts of the Norse setting. It is a recreation that weaves in parts of magic, however every part seems to be and feels genuine to the interval your Pantheon is enjoying in.
Bridle provides that the entire unique recreation’s artwork has been fully remade, consistent with creating this contemporary, unbelievable trying recreation of the unique title. Through the podcast, this was showcased with pictures and animations evaluating 2002’s Age of Mythology to the upcoming Retold. A screenshot from one of many marketing campaign missions involves life in unbelievable element, and Bridle provides that “the entire world has been redone.” This included seeing unique fashions for 2 Heroes, Arkantos and Athena, each now super-refined and life like, and the Atlantean Titan, now with blazing lava veins woven between scorching rock – fairly actually a “glow-up” for the creature, Bridle provides.
“Once we examine these models, they’re exhibiting extra definition, you may see the particle results, they’re actually coming to life extra,” Bridle says.
One core purpose for Age of Mythology: Retold is that it’s going past the already spectacular blueprint set by the current ‘Definitive Version’ Age of Empires titles. “The purpose for the Definitive Editions is to construct the superior recreation that individuals keep in mind in your head, however not essentially the way it actually was,” Yuen explains.
“With Age of Mythology: Retold, we’re going past that so as to add new options and mechanics to the sport. It’s not nearly preservation, we additionally now have the expertise to do that idea the justice it deserves.”
Yuen particulars one new characteristic coming to the sport, which is that God Powers are actually rechargeable, which means that they can be utilized a number of instances throughout a recreation. Within the unique Age of Mythology, a lot of the God Powers might solely be used as soon as, however Yuen shares perception on why that may not have been the optimum method for Retold.
“Since you might solely use that God Energy as soon as, individuals would attempt to reserve it for the appropriate second, however what truly finally ends up occurring is that the match would finish earlier than they get to make use of it,” Yuen explains. “God Powers are the good factor you are able to do within the recreation, so we’re making it to allow them to be used a number of instances, and you may take into consideration easy methods to do it strategically.”
Even higher, Age of Mythology: Retold contains an extra age on the finish of the sport – the Surprise age. Right here, God Powers are cheaper to make use of, so the choice to make use of them much more is accessible throughout this in-game interval. “It’s simply chaos,” Bridle provides. “You’ll be able to simply unleash every part you’ve received, and it’s a lot enjoyable.”
The pair delved into masses extra matters within the podcast, together with the place to get began in Retold as a brand-new participant, and the way Age of Mythology and Age of Empires’ long-running fanbases have been instrumental to the event of latest entries. You should definitely test it out!
Age of Mythology: Retold launches on September 4, and is accessible day one throughout PC, Xbox Collection X|S and Recreation Move.
