Shadow of Rome succeeds at combining great fighting and tense stealth moments.

User Rating: 9 | Shadow of Rome PS2
Shadow of Rome is a original title developed and produced by Capcom. The same team that developed the Onimusha series is responsible for Shadow of Rome and they do not disappoint. Highly under-rated by the gaming media, Shadow of Rome succeeds at combining tense stealth sequences and incredibly fluid and gory fighting. You take the role of two separate characters, Agripa the fighter, and Octavianus the weak nephew of Cesar. You control Agripa while in fighting sequences, and control Octavianus during the stealth bits. There is a good 20 + hours of game play to be had and the variety helps move the story along without getting stale. Game play: The fighting is top-notch and is as gory as any game to date. Arms and heads are severed and blood spurts all over the screen and anything nearby. You can use your opponents weapons and even disarm them if need be. The controls while fighting are fluid and precise. Agripa controls very easily and the fighting is easy to pick up and play. It will take you a while to master the more complex moves, but you are eased into them. The stealth segments are not as exciting as the fighting, but still serve a quite enjoyable experience. Octavianus is a intriguing character and fits into the game perfectly. Control wise he is easy to control and there aren't any hiccups. My only complaint is that he lacks any ability to attack with any weapons (just jars, ropes, etc.) which hopefully will be addressed in a much deserved sequel. Graphics: Everything from the beautiful FMV to the cut scenes and game play is top-notch. Lighting is realistic and accurately cast on the environments and characters. Character models are painstakingly rendered and lifelike in their animations. Everything here is classic Capcom polish and graphically it shows. Sound: A epic soundtrack will have you breathless and the clang of metal against shields sounds accurate. If you have a Dolby Pro Logic II system you'll be treated to a wonderful sound execution that rivals anything in the Onimusha series. Value: With two difficulty levels (initially) and tons of extras, Shadow of Rome is worth every penny of $50. Bottom Line: Shadow of Rome is horrendously underrated by the gaming press. We all complain of not having any original titles and just a flood of sequels, but yet when something innovative and new comes, the gaming media shuns it. Support original titles and buy Shadow of Rome, you'll not regret it.