The rather extensive pantheon of Norse gods and goddesses has received countless different portrayals in the world of entertainment over the last few centuries. Of course, some of the most memorable and widely recognized depictions of Norse gods come from their more recent portrayals, such as those in games likeGod of Warandmovie franchises like the Marvel Cinematic Universe. Now,Age of Mythology: Retoldhas just thrown its hat in the ring.
One of the four pantheons in the remake,Age of Mythology: Retoldallows players to embody three Major Gods of the Norse pantheon, each one equipped with a unique set of traits and special abilities that encourage distinct playstyles and strategies. Along with these three Major Gods,Age of Mythology: Retoldbrings nine Minor Gods to the table as well. Naturally, there’s quite a bit of crossover betweenAge of Mythology: Retold’s Norse pantheon and the one found in the Marvel Cinematic Universe.
The Similarities and Differences Between Age of Mythology: Retold and the MCU’s Norse Gods
Comparing The Visual Design of Age of Mythology: Retold and The MCU’s Norse Gods
Coming just four movies into the Marvel Cinematic Universe,2011’sThorthrust a handful of Norse gods, goddesses, and heroes into the mainstream spotlight. While the titular god of thunder took center stage, his half-brother Loki and father Odin were main players as well. As the MCU continued, more and more Norse characters started to pop up, withThor Ragnarokintroducing Hela as a primary antagonist.
Generally speaking, there are quite a few similarities betweenAge of Mythology: Retold’s Norse godsand the ones that appear in the MCU, especially when it comes to visual design. It’s clear that bothAge of Mythologyand the MCU took inspiration from traditional depictions of the Norse gods, with Loki wearing his horned helmet in both iterations, and both versions of Odin being dripped out in the finest silver and gold armor.
But a key difference between the visual design ofAge of Mythology: Retoldandthe MCU’s Norse godsis that the latter’s are a bit brighter and more colorful to better fit with their comic inspirations. Thor, for instance, wears a similar set of armor in both depictions, but the MCU’s version features a bright red cape, and in later iterations, often has colored highlights on his chestpiece. Loki’s MCU design follows a similar trend, embracing the character’s penchant for green, while hisAge of Mythologycounterpart wears a simple, dark fur tunic.
Comparing The Powers of Age of Mythology: Retold and The MCU’s Norse Gods
InAge of Mythology: Retold, each Major God and Minor God grants the player a special ability known simply as a God Power. While Thor and Odin’s God Powers don’t bear any strong similarities with their MCU counterparts, Loki’s does seem like an ability the MCU iteration would have.
Simply named “Spy,” Loki’s God Power lets players see the line of sight of any enemy unit they select. Unlike the otherGod Powers inAge of Mythology: Retold, Loki’s Spy ability isn’t announced to the other players in the game upon activation. This ability feels in line with the MCU’s Loki, with the villain-turned-hero often using illusory magic to gain the upper hand.
