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Age of Mythology

Ensemble's latest effort is anything but aged, mythologically speaking.

History is a fine thing, and the source of much inspiration in the gaming world. But game designers do not like boundaries on their creativity, and unfortunately history is constrained by that most ubiquitous of kill-joys, reality. Fortunately for us, Ensemble Studios opted to do what is routine for all good storytellers - they stepped out of reality, and decided to make some shit up. Drawing on the well-established mythos of three distinct cultures, Ensemble have created a real-time strategy game that is not too radical a departure for RTS traditionalists, but is at the same time innovative enough to keep things fresh and compete with releases like Warcraft 3.

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There are three main civilizations to choose from - Greek, Egyptian, and Norse. Each of these may pick one major deity from the pantheon as a patron, and this determines certain abilities and units available to the player. Further specialization is achieved through the selection of a new lesser deity to support upon advancement through the tech levels. Control and interface layout is becoming well established in the RTS genres main game franchises, and so those of you who've played previous Ensemble games will immediately come to grips with the controls. It is an intuitive system, and even newcomers will have no problems picking up the basics, although it takes a little bit of perseverance to become familiar with its intricacies. Other features that are similar to previous games include the resource collection, and the basic mission structure - although there is more variety this time round - more later. Necessary resources include gold, wood, food and favour, which replaces stone. Favour is required to perform miracles and summon myth units and heroes, and is gained in different ways depending on your current civilization. The Greeks assign peasants to worship at the temple, the Egyptians build monuments to the gods, while the Norse must gain favour through battle.

A variety of traditional-style units are available to each race, with the addition this time of mythological units and heroes. Mythological units are powerful creatures based on the civilizations respective mythos, and are summoned from the temple. The also differ from normal units in that they incur a favour cost upon summoning. Hero units are more powerful still, and represent something of a halfway house between the all-importance of heroes in Warcraft III, and the situation in previous games where unique units were mere token additions. Hero units in AoM are very powerful, though not battle-turning in their own right. The Greeks can summon a finite number of heroes famous from their mythology, such as Ajax, Jason and Heracles. The Egyptians have two hero varieties - the Pharaoh and the priest. Only one Pharaoh may be summoned at once, and if he dies he is replaced by a successor. Multiple priests may be summoned, and must be replaced at the temple upon death. The Norse can summon innumerable helsirs, spirits of warriors slain in battle and destined to fight forever in Valhalla.

The hero units constitute one of the main differences between the civilizations. The Norse are limited only by their resources in how many heroes to summon, but the helsirs are correspondingly less powerful. The Egyptians' Pharoah is powerful, but only one is available at any time, while the priests are unlimited but are not really an offensive unit. The Greek heroes are all powerful, but each one is unique, and in total they can summon perhaps seven or eight heroes. If killed, the Greek heroes resurrect themselves where they were slain as long as friendly troops are in the area. This does mean, however, that an important hero is effectively stuck in limbo if he dies deep in enemy territory.

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1. This is a sweet little game, full of flare in the graphical touches that abound. From flowing seaweed to sharks and turtles in the sea, to the chipms and chickens that are on the ground. And every time a Minotaur hurls a calvary unit acroos the map a smile still creeps over me face.

   Good review there Nick - if he hasn't convinced you then you must hae RTS games, otherwise help to ensure Santa never wants to see another AoM box in his long life

   Sam Wednesday, 4 December 2002, 21:12:24

2. In AOM all Norse infantry units can build not just the basic unit. Axe-throwers, huskarls and hersirs can all do the same things that the basic unit, the ulfsark, can do. In this game the only things Ensemble screwed up are:

   1. The fixed town center locations (why in the world did they do this?) which limits growth severely, and forces migration into enemy territory.

   2. The pitiful amount of favour that can be earned by the Norse. Forget making a lot of units that need favour unless you are rushing early, which you are forced to do, and can sustain the campaign while building up a decent economy. The only game that this makes sense for is when you are playing Norse and you have a Norse opponent.

   3. I have not been able to figure out how to change the mouse interface. It seems as though a 2 button mouse control is the only option available, and I prefer the one button interface of the previous AOE and AOK.

   I have been playing since the day after this came out and it is really a great game, awesome in fact, the problems I have with it are very minor but annoying. One really nice feature is that the campigns built in are very easy to play so younger players, like my 6 year old son, can play these set on easy and have fun with it. If you really want to see some fun give the cheat code for God powers to a 6 year old and sit back and watch.

   PeteC Wednesday, 12 June 2002, 11:17:26

3. Six year olds and games, an amusing thing to see. My friend's son has been playing CS since he was four, and to be there when such a young person takes out a serious player with a headshot well, it is one of the finer points of gaming for us old-skool types who are advancing thru the years.

   Sam Saturday, 7 December 2002, 00:01:38

4. My little sister who is five once had to carry a real rifle for a picture and pretend she is killing with it. She was four. But a kid playing CS at four, wow! Is he any good at it?

   Good review Nick.

   Emmanuel Sunday, 8 December 2002, 16:46:51

5. Hehe. My 6-year-old is the 1 sam speaks of and yes, sometimes he can be real good (best was 6-1 on dust as T).

   Being an admin on a server ( 62.80.115.242:27015) its great to gloat when he wipes out a small hoard of marauding Ts and then inform them they were aced by a 6-year-old ( was better when he was 4, hehe).

   These kids are gonna kick our asses by the time they are 10.

   Nice review btw.

   MeKaNiK Saturday, 12 October 2002, 10:30:56

6. is very cool and complicate, but i lake the gama. Thaks

   Oliana Friday, 20 December 2002, 14:25:7

7. Am looking foward to giving this to my dad for christmas since he is addicted to Conquerers. Also can't wait to play it myself having caught a glimpse of the massive spell list thingy.

   Juzza Monday, 23 December 2002, 21:26:13

8. SOY UNA EXELENTE JUGADORA DE AGE OF EMPIRES SI TU QUYIERES JUGAR COMNIGO ESTOY A TU DISPOSICION

   IM EXCELENT PLAYER OF AGE OF EMPIRES PRESS MY BUTON

   ALEJANDRA Thursday, 26 December 2002, 12:54:43

9. si aceptas un reto podemos aprender los dos

   juan Sunday, 5 October 2003, 11:28:22

10. IT IS CLASS MAN!

    BEN BOXALL Tuesday, 29 July 2003, 03:52:13

11. If you want to know any facts about how to play this game or strategy then im open i have a 1667 rate but since i got titans it erased my rate on the regular one so i would say have fun gl

    Usa_Marine Thursday, 20 November 2003, 13:01:2

12. ya'll suck

    Anubis Monday, 12 April 2004, 16:35:8

13. Me again, i really do need that key, plz email it to me at love4fun44@yahoo.com a.s.a.p! You'll be my hero!

    Chaw

    Anne Sunday, 4 July 2004, 11:27:32

14. 90% pah more like a google% (1 with 100 noughts on the end)

    aom fan Tuesday, 20 July 2004, 11:27:32

16. whats the hole story of this game i need to no becase iam donig this for school like about greek ppl and he siad i can do this can any one tell meb plz hurry becase i donty have much time plz hurry plzzzzz and i give u a lollie pop lol i got the game as well but it stuffed up and i cant remeber what it exacly about plz write bAK PLLLLLZZZZZZ

    ross Monday, 4 October 2004, 23:31:18

17. estan todos muert

    destructor Wednesday, 22 June 2005, 20:07:6

18. i lost my age of mythology key to, could you send one to ... I got the game age

    of mythology but i lost the box a few days ago. now i dont know the 25 ...

    wasif Thursday, 1 September 2005, 11:16:26

19. perdi mi caja del juego y ahora necesito la key para volverlo a instalar

    IRWIN Sunday, 4 September 2005, 22:04:55

20. QUI SIERA LOS TRUCOS PARA EL AGE OF MITHOLOGY

    DEVILMAN Thursday, 29 September 2005, 17:20:38

21. I lost my key like alot of people, i dont intend to go online so if anyone has a key please email me mike@wigsalon.com

    Rich Tuesday, 18 October 2005, 00:22:55

22. How many more games like age of the empires & age of mythlolgy are going to come out?

    willow Saturday, 22 October 2005, 11:28:57

23. quiero jugar contigo

    leonardo juarez Monday, 24 October 2005, 05:11:30

24. :)

    ola Saturday, 12 November 2005, 20:42:57

25. quisiera los trucos del age of mythology the titans

    thomas Saturday, 17 December 2005, 03:23:48

26. alguien sabe cual es la clave de instalacion de el aom, es que la perdi y ya no puedo instalarlo

    erik Thursday, 22 December 2005, 05:35:12

27. h

    h Monday, 13 March 2006, 10:57:44

28. quiero saber las clabes de age 1

    martin Wednesday, 9 August 2006, 18:14:13

29. please could you send me a producrt key for age of mythology to craig836@msn.com thank you

    craigb836 Sunday, 20 August 2006, 20:04:26

30. gr

    gal Sunday, 27 August 2006, 08:57:11

32. Could you please send the key(or key generator) to Age of Mythology to jot@araratcc.vic.edu.au

    Many thanks,

    Jo

    Jo Monday, 9 October 2006, 03:34:35

33. ACEPTO TU TETO

    RONALD Thursday, 2 November 2006, 15:04:3

34. KIEN ME DICE LA CLAVE DEL AGE OF MYTHOLOGY PARA INSTALARLO PLIZ¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡ MANDEN EL CORREO A mperezmiguel@hotmail.com PLIZ¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡

    MIGUEL Monday, 11 December 2006, 22:07:55

35. oye si lo encuentras o te lo saves me lo mandas pliz ok? xD mperezmiguel@hotmail.com porfis

    miguel Monday, 11 December 2006, 22:18:13

36. me pueden dar la clave de instalacion de age of mithology porfa estoy tratando de hace como una semana

    danita Thursday, 14 December 2006, 02:13:33

37. i've got the trial and it good but can anybody tell me some more control for the camara movement all i no is the

    mouse wheel up

    mouse wheel down

    rowan Saturday, 16 December 2006, 20:13:52

38. moi vous coucher toi

    donvitox Thursday, 21 December 2006, 04:36:12

39. i lost my age of mythology key to, could you send one to jorge4002hotmail.com

    i lost the box now i dont know the 25 letters

    can you send it please

    perdi la key para volverlo a instalar podrian mandarlo porfavor

    jorge Thursday, 22 March 2007, 01:28:31

40. i lost my key

    can sumone send me one??

    lmao Saturday, 2 June 2007, 15:16:37

41. I lost my key 2 (The box doesn't last very long) :( If anyone has a key and/or a working generator plz send it to mattspare@hotmail.com

    KNUZZO Monday, 9 July 2007, 16:22:38

42. este juego esta re vueno loco!!!!!!!!

    federico Wednesday, 29 August 2007, 15:27:41

43. soy mejor de todos y por eso me inscribo para patearle el trasero a ti

    maty_14 Tuesday, 9 October 2007, 12:59:25

44. putos

    aaaaa Friday, 4 January 2008, 03:01:0

45. chupenlaaa manga de piratas!! (se hacia el q no pirateabaaa!!)) jajaj un abrazoo

    yo Tuesday, 18 March 2008, 05:04:0