Within the Chaos of Nature Comes Order

My first true strategy game for DS, Age of Empires was one game that I didn’t think I’d enjoy. When playing on a small screen, having to think while distinguishing characters seemed a good strategy for a headache. I didn’t play it for several weeks after I got it.

When I finally decided to play it, I realized I couldn’t have been more wrong.

I’ve never rated a game as highly as this one before. As it stood strong through deep critical analysis, I encourage you to verify my findings and find yourself impressed.

My primary goal is to provide detailed analysis to help you decide whether this game is right for you.

Released in 2010, Age of Empires: Mythologies provides a strategy-intensive experience, where you’re in control of your nation and can face AI and other players. With many complex game modes, you’ll find yourself hooked.

So without further ado, let’s jump in!

Graphics: 9 / 10

A strength to the game, the stunning graphics are based on 3D models. With fine detail on even the smallest of buildings, the quality is apparent.

Only parts of the HUD are flat pictures. When units attacks each other or structures, a 3D animation shows the battle in detail. One of the screens shows the characters, zoomed in, rushing at each other from opposite ends of a battlefield. Without any control by the user, clear green health bars at the top shows how much damage each unit received. The worlds are naturally 3D, filled with trees and / or rocks.

Despite the zoomed out viewpoint, the characters and buildings are easily to recognize and differentiate. While I occasionally miss a close enemy, the third person perspective allows you to control your civilization like an omnipotent ruler. My only wish is view rotation, which would have allowed me to truly appreciate the graphics from above.

Clear text allows for easy reading and option choosing. The simple HUD makes checking units and stats easy. With few words and mainly symbols and numbers, it conveys large amounts of information concisely and quickly.

With only negligible problems, the graphics near perfection.

9 / 10.

Sound / Music: 10 / 10

From the first time you open the game, you’ll hear a beautiful title song that conveys the multicultural nature of the game. With how many NDS games have horrendous music, these songs provide a nice reprieve. While some of the tracks sound heavy and somber, many are exciting and adds thrill to the game when you’re preparing your forces to attack.

The sound effects play slightly softer than the music and the combination works well. While they are heard in almost any action you do, they aren’t excessive. Specifically, their subtlety and smoothness is what make the sound effects great.

Character voices, spoken in different dialects, play slightly louder than the music. A great addition to the game, they make the characters more life-like and immerse you into the game.

While the bulk of the game is strategy, I always enjoy keeping the sound on while playing. With very little to criticize, the music / sound scores 10 / 10.

Addictiveness: 8 / 10

As with other games with similar premises, the increasing amount of materials you earn per turn allows for larger battles and complex strategies the further the game progresses. I found myself playing for hours on end, often during long car trips.

With several options for multiplayer play, you don’t need to buy multiple versions of the same game to play with family. Hotseat multiplayer, where you both play on your own, but hand off the DS between Player 1 and Player 2 turns, allows for hours of addicting fun when you play against friends. Up to four players can join the hotseat, leading to alliances, betrayals, and a lot of fun.

Unfortunately, as the game progresses, turns get longer and longer, making four player hotseat boring if the other three members just wait for their turns. If you’re looking for a long, complex game, the option is most feasible for two players.

With the option to change the difficulty of the AIs, you can easily make several at different difficulty levels, leading to complex games and different strategies.

As you increase your number of settlements, you’ll quickly be facing numerous factors: limited resources, the military necessity of “aging up”, and hostile AI units.

With several options for play and long fun for both single and multiplayer, addictiveness rates 8 / 10.

Story: N / A

Without a true story, scenario-based single player modes are a combination of given missions and the gameplay needed to solve them. With several ways to approach the game, no two worlds will be the same. You can play defensive and focusing on expanding your territory without confronting AIs or play offensively and try to knock out opponents early on in the game. And, of course, there are many plans in between these two.

Depth: 9 / 10

With four different options for single player and a multiplayer mode, the game has impressive depth. Each of the options has its own customization from AI level to mission to select.

With different ways to play the game, there’s no one right way to win. That makes Empires a sandbox game, a categorically that usually implies depth. With complete control over various characters, buildings and units constructed, and enemies targeted, you can formulate complex strategies to win.

My only complaint would be the small size of the map. Although larger maps would take longer to simulate AI actions, I would love to have the option to wait a few extra seconds but have a playing field several times as large.

As an option filled strategy game, it comes as no surprise that depth scores near perfection.

9 / 10.

Difficulty: 7 / 10

With customizable options for opponent difficulty, you get to choose how hard you make the game. However, the large number of options makes the gameplay complex, so it takes a few practice games to learn the ropes.

Luckily, the arrow keys can substitute for the stylus on several occasions, such as menus and character moving. I’ve used the stylus and have felt the pain of continually moving a character to a wrong spot and having to undo it. The text of the menus is small and on numerous occasions I clicked the option below the one I wanted. While it may take some time to realize that the problem can be bypassed by using the alternate controls, the problem only causes negligible difficulty.

While you’ll be challenged in single-player, competitive multiplayer may lead you to think and rethink strategies. Since you’re prone to over-think your options to choose the best one, the game is clearly not meant for mindless play. The required concentration and effort increases the difficulty. ?

While the difficulty of AIs are adjustable, the complexity of the game requires concentration. Without a doubt, the game has decent difficulty.

7 / 10.

Overall: 8.9 / 10

Graphics : 9 * ?25% = 2.25

Sound / Music : 10 * ?20% = 2

Addictiveness : 8 * 25% = 2

Story : N/A * 0% = 0

Depth : 9 * 25% = 2.25

Difficulty : 7 * 5% = 0.35

Sum = Overall Score = 8.85 / 10

This mathematical comparison of important categories leads to an astounding overall score of 8.9 / 10!

While there was very little to criticize, the strengths of the game are very pronounced, leading to high ratings across the board. While the game is incredible, I would only recommend it to those interested in true strategy. If you’re looking for mindless play, you’ll get bored.

You’re likely to buy the game if you:

1. love thinking and strategy games

2. want a strategy game that has great graphics and music, a rare combination

3. want long term enjoyment versus instant gratification

I really enjoyed re-examining and playing AoE:Mythologies. If you’ve had experiences with it, please share! Any comments are appreciated, too!

Thank you for reading!