The newest game in the 'Age Series' is a bit different than its predecessors.
Although it does make a return to the ancient world first visited in the
original Age of Empires game, it adds a new twist. The premise of Age of
Mythology is that in a time when people believed in myths, those myths were
reality to those people. Thus, each civilization can bring its creatures of
legend into battle - frost giants, minotaurs, and sphinxes, to name a few.
Age of Mythology also adds heroes from the different cultures. You'll be able
to recruit the likes of Beowulf or Hercules to aid in your cause.
Some elements from the prior games will be instantly recognizable - using
peasants to collect food, wood, and gold, for example. However, the team at
Ensemble has completely overhauled the game's graphics engine and brought it
into the world of 3D. You'll now be able to zoom in or pull-back the camera.
Those of you who don't enjoy wrestling with camera angles don't need to worry,
though, because the camera can be locked into the traditional position used by
prior Age games. The new engine also allows for dynamic time-of-day lighting
effects, so missions can now take place at dusk or at night (see the
screenshots). There will also be new and more complex unit animations - units
will have a variety of combat moves and will no longer just stand and poke their
swords back and forth.
Players will be able to call upon their civilization's gods to perform
miracles on their behalf. These miracles will reflect the game's interpretation
of the origin of myths as an explanation of natural phenomenon. Lightning
strikes, meteorites, and snowstorms are a few of the miracles which appear in
the game.
Some of the game's features include:
- The cultural history of Greece, Scandinavia, and Egypt will appear in the
game and will be divided across nine different, detailed civilizations.
- In game cinematics will be seamless, directly using the player's units and
structures.
- Armor and weapons advances occur on the fly, and these advances are
represented visually on the units themselves.
- All of the mythological creatures will have special attacks. For example,
the cyclops will be able to pick up units and hurl them across the map and
medusas will turn enemies to stone.
- The game will feature more than 20 artificial intelligence opponents, 15
map types, 13 game variants, and five starting conditions in its multiplayer
lineup.
Age of Mythology is due in the Spring of 2002.
