Shadow of Rome: New Details & Media

Updated trailer in direct feed along with game details and screens. This looks great!

One of Capcom's most interesting upcoming titles has to be Shadow of Rome. The game debuted at E3 in May this year and was praised for its relatively original setting, solid visuals and appealing combination of well designed adventure and puzzle solving gameplay.

Today we bring you this updated version of the trailer - it's pretty similar to the one released at E3 2004 (also included below for reference) but still worth a fresh look.

Shadow of Rome transports players to one of the most perilous ages of man, an era when Caesar was hailed as the leader of the Roman Empire and whose sovereignty dominated all of western civilization. Murder, false accusations and blood spilled in gladiatorial battles await those who seek an all encompassing epic when Shadow of Rome is released.

The year is 48 B.C. The grandeur of the Roman Empire has been tarnished by political corruption and society has been overrun by unruliness and violence. Julius Caesar advocates drastic reform to rebuild the republic to its former glory, but is met with opposition. Before changes could be implemented, the enlightened head of state is murdered. The horrific news finds its way onto the battlefield and to the ears of one soldier, Agrippa, who rushes back to Rome only to be confronted with the announcement that his father Uesnius, a close advisor to Caesar, has been accused of the murder.

Unfortunately, time is running out for Agrippa as his father is to be publicly executed by the winner of the next gladiatorial event. Together with the help of his best friend, Octavius, and a freed female gladiator named Claudia, Agrippa embarks on a mission to restore his family's honour and uncover the truth behind Caesar's assassination.

Shadow of Rome has been designed to allow players the opportunity to venture throughout the world of ancient Rome by flawlessly switching between Agrippa and Octavius, each of whom have their own area of expertise. Playing Agrippa lends itself more to action while taking control of Octavius opens up the stealth and adventure elements of the game. To remain true to the Roman era, players will have to use environmental objects and weapons of the day such as stones, slingshots, spears and swords in order to progress through the game. Also, situations will arise when Agrippa or Octavius will rely on nothing but their hands in order to combat those impeding the quest to absolve Uesnius.

The venerable city will be reconstructed in full 3D with startling realism, compelling players to explore ancient Rome. Diverse environments including a bustling market place, vast forests, sea vessels, citadels and the Coliseum will be the stage for the various battles and interrogations, all the while searching for the truth. In addition, a colourful cast of characters including actual historical figures appear throughout the game, deepening the level of realism and making this saga more immersive.

The game blends action and adventure with the use of two different main characters, Agrippa and Octavius. One character lends themselves more to action and the other is crucial for the adventure elements of the game. Switch between the 'brains' and 'brawn' to uncover the truth behind the real murderer of Caesar.

We'll be bringing you more on this potential hit soon.

Adam Doree
Director, Kikizo.com