Shadow of Rome Critic Reviews

I figure in about five years, Shadow of Rome will start showing up in magazine articles about “cult” games, or the best-kept secrets on the PS2.

A game that reaches into your primal thirst for violence with no restraint... A bold, fantastic experiment.

Shadow of Rome's gameplay glistens, but its presentation is somewhat lackluster.

It's a blast, and the combat is a great balance between a wrestling and a fighting game, but I felt like a terrible human being. I guess that's the price you pay for being a gladiator.

Playing Shadow of Rome has made me more sympathetic to people who argue that killing fake people can lead to killing real ones. I came to accept Shadow of Rome's violence fully.

Every time the action has you hooked, the intertwined, mediocre-at-best stealth missions suck away a lot of the fun and detract from what could have been one of the best action adventure titles of this year.

Not only is the atmosphere of this one second to none, the game that it surrounds is massively rewarding and challenging in equal measures.

The meaty parts make it worth getting through the leaner parts, and for fans with interest in the period or graphic action, it's a keeper.

8 / 8 / 9 / 8 - gold

Packs some of the most brutal hand-to-hand combat ever, and there's plenty of story and intrigue to conveniently justify all the gory violence.

As these concepts are nothing new and have been integrated better (way better) with bigger games already (e.g., the Metal Gear Solid series), and with a singular character to boot, Shadow of Rome isn't nearly as great as some other big guns it may be trying to imitate.

The combat sequences are the undisputed highlight, and much of the game puts on a great show...just be prepared for stretches of frustration while sneaking around.

It's sad that some of the best pure action on the PS2 is paired with such amateurish stealth.

There really isn't another game like Shadow of Rome, let alone one of similar quality and polish.

It doesn't require superhuman skill but it will pose a challenge to all that play. Above all else, it's fun and there's nothing that beats that.

While the idea of mixing weapons based brutality with careful tiptoeing stealth may have been the result of having one too many at the pub, it certainly comes off much better than expected. Well worth a look.

There is an awful lot of game here... Another schizophrenic winner from the Japanese masters of action/adventure.

The stealth levels are the only other chink in the game's chain mail. Just when you finish turning arenas into butcher shops, who's in the mood for a little Metal Gear-style stealth? Answer: not us.

It efficiently captures the mood and spirit of ancient Rome through bloody battles, exhilarating chariot races, and a few minor stealth sequences, all intertwined with a good moving story and impressive (for the most part) gameplay.

The boss fights are supremely challenging and satisfying, and you’ll earn totally bitchin’ sets of armor as you accumulate bloody victories. There’s even a very enjoyable chariot race section.