This really is an excellent game. It stands out from the crowd and impliments some brilliant subtle changes to the genre
As with Age of Empires and Empire Earth the main objectives of the game are resource gathering and strategic combat. As mentioned before the combat benefits from the inclusion of myth units and clearly defined civilisations with unique units, however the resource gathering portion of the game has also been vastly improved to its predessesors (in my opinion). Gone is stone (and iron) and in is 'favour' from the Gods. Favour can be accumulated in a different way for each of the three main civilisations. The Norse gain favour by fighting, the Egyptians by building monuments and the Greeks by praying at temples. This favour, once gathered can be used to create mythical beasts or for improvements in the armory that make use of the Gods' wisdom.
Like many other RTS titles in 'Age of Mythology' you gain technological improvements and stronger units by advancing in 'ages', however in AOM these advancements have a twist. When you advance to the next age you select one of two minor god's, depending on what God you choose you gain different improvements such as Myth units or armor upgrades. And each time youselect a God you gain one of 35 'one-shot' God powers such as meteors, lightning bolts of a plague of locusts. These powers can have a devastating effect on your emeny and really help individualise the game.
I think that AOM is an excellent game that deserves all the praise it gets. I would advise anyone who is going to buy the game to get te gold edition or get the expansion pack if you already have the original; and i eagerly await the release of a sequel to the game