Product Description

Inspired by the hit PC title and built on the game engine behind the critically acclaimed Age of Empires: Age of Kings, Age of Empires: Mythologies will be the ultimate portable tactical strategy game with its refined gameplay, inspired design, fantastic multiplayer, and extensive replay value. Age of Empires: Mythologies for the Nintendo DS is a compelling, turn-based strategy game that challenges players to shape the destiny of three unique cultures in a fantasy world filled with mighty heroes, legendary monsters, and powerful gods. Players will lead their Egyptian, Greek, and Norse heroes to victory by raising massive armies, waging war, exploring new frontiers, and advancing through three distinct ages that offer fantastic new units, abilities, and god powers like lighting storms, earthquakes, and devastating plagues that players can call on to smite their enemies.

• Three Unique Playable Civilizations: Command Greek, Egyptian, and Norse armies in an epic struggle for supremacy.
• Three Unique Single-Player Campaigns: Players will besiege the ancient city of Troy, battle amongst the pyramids of Egypt, and explore the snow covered mountains of the North.
• Divine Powers: By choosing specific gods to worship and satisfy, players can tailor their powers and explore a variety of strategies and play styles.
• Expanded Multiplayer Experience: Supports four player battles via local connection or Nintendo Wi-Fi and offers more maps, customizable rules, and a new Skirmish Mode lets players build their own custom starting armies.

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #2159 in Computer & Video Games
• Brand: THQ
• Released on: 2009-02-06
• Platform: Nintendo DS
• Format: Unknown format

Product Features
Three Unique Playable Civilizations: Command Greek, Egyptian, and Norse armies in an epic struggle for supremacy.

Three Unique Single-Player Campaigns: Players will besiege the ancient city of Troy, battle amongst the pyramids of Egypt, and explore the snow covered mountains of the North.

Divine Powers: By choosing specific gods to worship and satisfy, players can tailor their powers and explore a variety of strategies and play styles.

Expanded Multiplayer Experience: Supports four player battles via local connection or Nintendo Wi-Fi and offers more maps, customizable rules, and a new Skirmish Mode lets players build their own custom starting armies.

Manufacturer's Description
Inspired by the hit PC title and built on the game engine behind the critically acclaimed Age of Empires: Age of Kings, Age of Empires:Mythologies will be the ultimate portable tactical strategy game with its refined gameplay, inspired design, fantastic multiplayer, and extensive replay value.

Age of Empires: Mythologies for the Nintendo DS is a compelling new turn-based strategy game that challenges players to shape the destiny of three unique cultures in a fantasy world filled with mighty heroes, legendary monsters, and powerful gods. Players will lead their Egyptian, Greek, and Norse heroes to victory by raising massive armies, waging war, exploring new frontiers, and advancing through three distinct ages that offer fantastic new units, abilities, and god powers like lighting storms, earthquakes, and devastating plagues that players can call on to smite their enemies.

Customer Reviews

Unique Layout
This game is brilliant. Yet i was surprised to find, when i first played on it, that it was layed out and arranged like a boardgame. You only get to move each unit once every turn!

But i was amazed at how good the cutscenes were, you get to see both teams rushing towards eachother and fighting.

This game is definitely worth the money.

Brilliant game
This game is a "turn based" version of the PC game(which I havn't played and so won't compare). It offers you 3 campaigns for the three civilisations (Greek, Egyptian and Norse), with 8 missions each. Rather annoyingly you must play them in sequence (i.e. you must complete all 8 egyptian missions before the greek ones become available, etc) which means if you get stuck on an egyptian mission the greek and norse campaigns are not available to you at all.

Other than that small gripe the game is amazing. As well as the campaigns there are over 15 one off "scenarios" which can be played in any order. Additional to this is an almost unlimited variety of "skirmish" games, where you choose your civilisation and play against computer enemies (or human enemies if you want to play multiplayer).

Throughout all this you collect "myth points" for winning games etc, which can be used to unlock additional units, gods, maps and relics. All in all its a highly engaging game and the format works really well. It is very similar to Civilisation Revolution (which is also a great DS game).

The only thing I would say is that it isnt the sort of game which you can play for very short bursts - the game deserves your full attention!

One of the better DS games out there in my opinion

A Must Have For 2009!!
(The following review was made after playing an American release of the game)

Two years ago, Ensemble Studios released Age of Empires: Age of Kings for the DS, based on the PC game of the same name. Unlike it's predecessor, the game was a TBS (Turn Based Strategy) not an RTS and saw several omissions including certain factions, naval units/ battles and a several other things present in the original. Never the less, the game was still a fine remake and one of the best TBS of 2006.

Two years on and ES are back with the follow up to AoK, Age of Empires: Mythologies. Like it's predecessor, this is based on a classic PC title, the combat system is turn based with you building up your income and your army, researching techs, aging up and crushing your opponents. You play as either the Egyptians, Greeks or Norse through 3 lengthy campaigns all of which present varying challenges with increasing difficulty. In addition to the conventional units, there are now Myth and Hero units, these are specialised units which are summoned via specially built structures (temples, shrines etc.), also as you age up you will align yourself with various Gods and Goddesses such as Anubis, Hathor, Thor, Athena etc. who will grant you special bonuses and powers to use on the battlefield.

These powers include Locust Swarm where you devastate the enemies food production for several turns, Deluge which floods the River Nile damaging all enemies on the battlefield or Eclipse which shrouds the battlefield in darkness and increases the strength of your Myth units, these powers are available plus many more. In addition to the three campaigns, there are also options for Skirmish mode, Multiplayer wireless, wi-fi and hot seat matches, DS Download and Play and Scenario mode featuring set piece battles for each civilization. There are also the usual unlockables with the new addition of an achievement system similar to the one used on the 360 and Ps3. Oddly however, the game lacks the library from AoK.

The game itself doesn't make drastic changes to the series, take away the God abilities and Myth and Hero units and you essentially have a game very similar to Age of Kings in terms of the gaming mechanics. Combat hasn't changed, each turn you move your units around, construct unit/ resource production buildings, research technologies to improve your military and help you advance to the next age and finally defeating your enemy by conquering their city. Unlike in AoK, simply destroying the Town Centre isn't enough, you have to capture it with one of your own villagers which is a nice twist. Attacking the enemy is very much a sort of rock, paper, scissors set up (e.g. Spears are good against Cavalry but week against Heavy Infantry etc.). But there are enough changes to make the game seem refreshing and not just "another sequel".

There are some minor flaws, the above mentioned lack of a library which is disappointing, the stylus controls can be a little clumsy at times, especially in big battles when there are lots of units on screen, the battle effects also seem to have been toned down a little. None of these flaws however are truly game destroying, they are in fact relatively minor.

While the game itself isn't due for release in the UK until February, it is worth the wait, and while it doesn't reinvent the wheel, it doesn't break it either. If you played and enjoyed AoK DS or loved the originals this is a must buy for 2009. A lengthy, in depth and thoroughly addicting TBS with plenty of re-playability potential.

9/10