A little off subject of the q/a but I found that this little game might be of interest to the peeps of this thread.
From happypuppy.com:
Preview
06/18/2001
Age of Mythology
Previewed by Avi Fryman
This is the dawning of the Age of Mythology.
One of the most promising PC titles on display at E3 was Ensemble Studios\' Age of Mythology, a real-time strategy game that will transport players to that groovy time when heroes battled with monsters and gods intervened in mortal men\'s affairs. Featuring an impressive 3D graphics engine, rich, detailed environments, a unique blend of Greek, Nordic, and Egyptian mythologies, and a vast array of game options, this title has plenty going for it, even in its unfinished state.
Aside from the much-heralded presence of the minotaur (you go, minotaur!), the game features a slew of AI options, map types, game variations, story-based campaigns, detailed civilizations, multiplayer modes, and a variety of settings geared towards suiting the needs of novice players and experienced fans of the RTS genre. A random map generator ensures massive replayability, though the initial modes will keep you plenty busy.
If you heed the wishes of the gods (get the groceries, massage my feet, build an empire), you may successfully petition them for favors. For example, persuade Ra to strike the center of an enemy\'s city with a meteor, or convince Thor or Hercules to strut their stuff in classic bad boy style.
If only this sort of thing worked in the real world. I\'d enlist Zeus to zap Mariah Carey with a hearty bolt of lightning for the cultural sin of mutilating Phil Collins\' Against All Odds theme song. Bad Mariah! Bad!
Alas, such joys are limited to the game realm, but pelting a village of enemies with comets always makes for a good time, so who\'s complaining? Reinforcing your human army with griffins, giants, cyclops, and at least 20 other uniquely talented mythological creatures, is also good for kicks. As if that\'s not enough, you can also seek out hidden treasures, such as the Golden Fleece and Hade\'s Helm of Invisibility while traveling across vast terrain, over rough seas, or through creepy underworld domains, all of which look amazing.
The animation and graphic effects are impressive, and the strategic elements of the game are considerably deep, though not daunting. The game\'s extreme attention to detail will be familiar to fans of the Age of Empires series, upon which this title builds its many strengths. Though I must reserve final judgement until a complete version of the game is in my hands, the time I spent with it at E3 certainly piqued my interest. Keep an eye out for Age of Mythology in spring 2002.
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I hope it does justice!
