Shadow of Rome

About Shadow of Rome

Shadow of Rome is an action-adventure game played from a third-person perspective. The game features two forms of combat; close-quarters fighting with melee weapons and vehicular combat in the form of chariot racing. Stealth is also an important mechanic in certain parts of the game.

During combat, the player character is Agrippa, who can use various gladiatorial weapons such as swords, scimitars, maces, spears, halberds, bows, slingshots and flails. If Agrippa has severed the arm of an enemy, he can pick it up and also use it as a weapon. However, weapons can only be used for a certain amount of time before they break; during combat, a meter indicates the remaining vitality of Agrippa's weapon(s) and helmet (if he has one equipped).

Agrippa can attack with his main weapon, his sub-weapon or shield, or with a two-handed weapon. He can also throw weapons, and can fight with his fists, using strong and soft punches, shoulder tackles, and kicks. If timed correctly, Agrippa can also steal weapons from his enemies, or knock weapons out of their hands using a shoulder tackle. He can also attack from the ground by flinging sand into an approaching enemy's face, and he can attack downed enemies by stomping on them or stabbing them. If he stands behind a groggy enemy he can perform a suplex or grab the opponent and use them as a human shield.

By 49 BC, the Roman Republic had become the world's most dominant power, with its vast territory stretching across the Mediterranean. However, under the authority of the Senate, governmental corruption and endless wars had become the norm, with the citizens of Rome on the brink of despair. It was at this point that Julius Caesar openly defied the Senate's authority and marched towards Rome at the head of an army, ultimately acquiring unlimited power and influence. Although the Senate hated and feared Caesar, the citizens embraced their new leader as he vowed to usher in an era of peace and prosperity.

The game begins on March 15, 44 BC, as Caesar is murdered on his way to a Senate meeting. As he dies, he looks at his assailant and says, "Et tu, Brute?"

At Caesar's cremation, the senator Cicero reveals the assassin; a soldier named Vipsanius. As Vipsanius pleads his innocence, Cicero announces Caesar's successor as decreed in his will; Antonius. Listening from the crowd, however, Octavianus, Caesar's nephew, refuses to believe Vipsanius is guilty. Meanwhile, Vipsanius's son, a centurion named Agrippa, receives word of Caesar's death and the accusation against his father and orders a return to Rome.