THQ has announced Age of Empires: Mythologies, a new addition to the long-running RTS franchise designed exclusively for the Nintendo DS.
The new game is being developed specifically to take advantage of the capabilities of Nintendo’s handheld gaming system. Mythologies will let players take control of one of three storied civilizations – the Greeks, the Egyptians and the Norse – each with its own individual campaign. Players will employ great heroes and mighty armies, monsters of legend and even the divine powers of the Gods themselves in a brand-new “active combat system” as they strive to dominate the ancient world. Multiplayer support is also included, featuring unique maps, customizable rules, a new skirmish mode and single-cart game sharing.
In an interview with IGN, Age of Empires: Mythologies Senior Producer Dan McAuliffe and Producer Wendy Wallace said units in the game are much more detailed than in previous releases, making them simpler to differentiate from each other, and that new multiplayer options will allow for either local wireless play or online competition around the world via Nintendo Wi-Fi.
“Age of Empires: Mythologies features beautifully rendered graphics, a wild variety of new units, awesome heroes, relics and four completely unique environments for player. Not to mention three totally distinctive companies,” they said. “Focusing on the epic myths of the ancient world rather than the histories of Europe and Asia has allowed Mythologies to bring the heroes of the past alive on the battlefields of Greece, Egypt and the frozen north.”
The game is being developed by Griptonite Games, whose previous DS releases include Pirates of the Caribbean, The Sims 2, Lego Star Wars II: The Original Trilogy and The Chronicles of Narnia. Age of Empires: Mythologies is currently scheduled for release in Fall 2008.
