Final weekend, Age of Mythology: Retold made an look at 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 half of the Official Xbox Podcast’s deep-dive collection, 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, fashionable reimaging of the 2002 technique basic.
Watch the full podcast under – the Age of Mythology: Retold part begins at 25:40:
For these unfamiliar, Age of Mythology: Retold is a trustworthy retelling of the unique title, a real-time technique recreation the place people stay and combat alongside monsters and gods. “It’s a fantastical, magical, chaotic world that you just get to regulate,” says Bridle.
Throughout the trailer, we acquired a primary have a look at one of the marketing campaign missions, set in the Egyptian Pantheon (the title for the playable factions). Taking part in as Amanra, your major objective is to destroy the Migdol Stronghold, and to try this, you’ll must amass a military. Right here, we see Amanra amassing models from temples scattered round the environment, however they’re not your typical sword and bow wielding troopers. We see models of monsters which can be instantly impressed by Egyptian mythology – Petsuchos (or ‘laser crocs as Bridle jovially refers to them), giant, bejeweled crocodiles that fireplace devastating long-range beams of daylight at their enemies, in addition to what Yuen calls “Kaiju Scarabs,” dealing close-range injury to constructions.
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 skill – the mythological models are sometimes excellent in opposition to human models, however then you have got the Hero models, that are particularly good in opposition to mythological enemies.
“As a participant, it actually makes you consider the place to position your models as you progress by means of the ranges,” Yuen provides.
The backdrop of this motion can be draped in beautiful 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 gentle, 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 components of magic, however all the pieces seems to be and feels genuine to the interval your Pantheon is taking part in in.
Bridle provides that each one of the unique recreation’s artwork has been fully remade, consistent with creating this contemporary, improbable trying recreation of the unique title. Throughout the podcast, this was showcased with photos and animations evaluating 2002’s Age of Mythology to the upcoming Retold. A screenshot from one of the marketing campaign missions involves life in unimaginable element, and Bridle provides that “the complete 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 evaluate these models, they’re exhibiting extra definition, you possibly can see the particle results, they’re actually coming to life extra,” Bridle says.
One core objective for Age of Mythology: Retold is that it’s going past the already spectacular blueprint set by the latest ‘Definitive Version’ Age of Empires titles. “The objective 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 recreation. It’s not nearly preservation, we additionally now have the know-how to do that idea the justice it deserves.”
Yuen particulars one new function coming to the recreation, which is that God Powers at the moment are rechargeable, which means that they can be utilized a number of occasions throughout a recreation. In the unique Age of Mythology, most of the God Powers might solely be used as soon as, however Yuen shares perception on why which may not have been the optimum method for Retold.
“Since you might solely use that God Energy as soon as, folks would attempt to put it aside for the proper second, however what really finally ends up taking place is that the match would finish earlier than they get to make use of it,” Yuen explains. “God Powers are the coolest factor you are able to do in the recreation, so we’re making it to allow them to be used a number of occasions, and you possibly can take into consideration tips on how to do it strategically.”
Even higher, Age of Mythology: Retold consists of a further age at the finish of the recreation – the Marvel age. Right here, God Powers are cheaper to make use of, so the possibility to make use of them much more is obtainable throughout this in-game interval. “It’s simply chaos,” Bridle provides. “You possibly can simply unleash all the pieces you’ve acquired, and it’s a lot enjoyable.”
The pair delved into hundreds extra matters in the podcast, together with the place to get began in Retold as a brand-new participant, and how Age of Mythology and Age of Empires’ long-running fanbases have been instrumental to the improvement of new entries. Be sure you test it out!
Age of Mythology: Retold launches on September 4, and is obtainable day one throughout PC, Xbox Sequence X|S and Recreation Cross.