Shadow of Rome is dull, uninspired, and a far cry from the potential that is inherent to the premise.
While the story is the anticipated mix of intrigue, deception, and murder, the gameplay is where Shadow of Rome truly falls apart. I bought the game based solely on GameSpot's review, but instead of the visceral, immersive experience I expected, I found the equivalent of Roman knitting.
Combat consists of locking on to a target, then repeatedly mashing your attack buttons and occasionally blocking. When you're locked on, your character hunches down slightly and begins moving at a slower pace, enabling you to encircle them, but not move about freely. While you can attack enemies without targeting them, it is virtually impossible to do so effectively, as your attacks are slow-moving and methodical, leaving you open for a moment after every strike. While it's initially thrilling to dismember portions of your opponent or grab their weapon out of their hands, it's only a brief moment of excitement in the midst of an otherwise tedious, unexciting process. Even more disappointing is that much of the game isn't even spent in the arena, but as a member of the Roman army, whom you'll guide through several brief, linear campaigns. Combat is largely the same as it was in the arena, the only difference being that you're a soldier rather than a gladiator, and you're fighting Germans and other enemies of the Empire.
Stealth is also an important aspect of the game, but if you're expecting something with the depth of Metal Gear Solid, this isn't it. This isn't even Stolen or Spy Fiction. Playing as Octavianus, you'll search for clues using various disguises and haircuts. Once in awhile, you can grab a pot and smash it over a guard's head or use a loop of rope to strangle them. Apart from that, you'll be spending a lot of time re-doing the same dull sequences, as you have no basic attacks and can only be struck once before being forced to start the sequence over again.
If the gladiatorial aspects had been the dominant focus, I might have been able to look past some of the flaws. As it stands, you'll begin the game by playing for about 5-10 minutes in the arena, following by a few hours slogging through dull action-adventure areas and sneaking around as a little boy. The constant change of characters and gameplay leaves for a remarkably overrated game that is among the most unimaginative, lifeless games i've ever played. I wish I could say that i'd at least had the will to complete the game, but even I have limits as to how much time i'm willing to waste on a bad game.