PlayStation 2 User Reviews

Horrid stealth segments, horrible, buggy combat. The only redeemable thing about this 'game' is the storyline and the boss fights, shockingly enough.

Decent story, **** stealth, jarringly, jaw-droppingly infuriating combat. Downright rotten Ai, poor excuses of 'team battles', and buggy unbalanced combat make the combat segments unplayable.

un gioco parecchio sottovalutato che pero è coraggioso in quello che fa,belli idue **** anche se i controlli sono pessimi

[ENG] ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Capcom’s Shadow of Rome stands as one of the PS2’s most ambitious blends of brutal combat and stealth-driven intrigue. Its dual gameplay system alternating between Agrippa’s visceral gladiatorial battles and Octavianus’s infiltration missions provides a refreshing contrast that keeps the experience varied and unpredictable. The arena combat is intense and satisfying, offering multiple modes, destructible weapons, and a strong sense of impact. However, repetitive encounters and AI inconsistencies occasionally dull the excitement. Stealth sections, while conceptually interesting, suffer from clunky mechanics and frustrating level design. Narratively, the game delivers an engaging mix of historical drama and fictional twists, even if some liberties with Roman history strain believability. Strong art direction and atmosphere elevate the setting, though outdated animations and minor bugs remind players of the game’s age. Verdict: A bold and distinctive PS2 title that balances brutal spectacle with political intrigue. Despite its flaws, Shadow of Rome remains an underrated gem for fans of historical action adventures. Score: 7.4 / 10 ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- [ITALIANO] ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Shadow of Rome di Capcom è uno dei progetti più ambiziosi della PS2, capace di fondere combattimenti brutali e sezioni stealth con una narrazione ricca di intrighi. L’alternanza tra Agrippa, protagonista delle arene, e Ottaviano, impegnato in missioni d’infiltrazione, offre un ritmo dinamico e una varietà **** battaglie gladiatorie sono spettacolari e soddisfacenti, grazie alla varietà di armi, modalità e all’impatto visivo delle arene. Tuttavia, la ripetitività di alcune fasi e l’AI non sempre all’altezza possono ridurre il divertimento. Le sezioni stealth risultano meno rifinite, con momenti frustranti dovuti a un design impreciso. Dal punto di vista narrativo, la trama è coinvolgente e mischia in modo efficace realtà storica e finzione, anche se alcune libertà creative creano discrepanze con la storia di Roma. L’atmosfera e la direzione artistica restano di livello, nonostante bug minori e animazioni datate. Verdetto: Un titolo coraggioso e originale, capace di unire spettacolo e intrigo. Pur con i suoi difetti, Shadow of Rome resta un’esperienza sottovalutata per chi ama l’azione storica. Voto: 7.4 / 10

The game's story is decent; I don't think it's crazy, but it's not bad either. It has some interesting plot twists, but not much more. There are parts that, at least for me, I didn't fully understand or that had some gaps (for example, why the hell Octavio and Agrippa listen to Claudia at the beginning, having no idea who she is). I think the two "modes" the game offers are a very good idea, but they're poorly executed in some cases. Starting with Agrippa's part, it's quite entertaining to fight and destroy enemies, but there are times when the game frustrates you because of its difficulty, which rises and falls without any sense, which makes the gameplay significantly worse. Octavio's parts are entertaining at first, but by the end, it doesn't make sense how strange some parts are. Another very low point is the AI, at times it makes no sense, how can it be that **** sees you and chases you, but you lose him for 10 seconds, he completely forgets about you and returns to being normal.

And bold and brave game. Disruptive and unique. I miss how developers used to explore so many different formulas in the PS2 era. Yep, it is and action/stealth adventure, but on its own way. Bloody, brutal, with coherente mechanics... A masterpiece of the 2º Sony console.

I played This game when I was little, but now that I played it Again, I can Write A review About it. Shadow Of Rome of course It's based on the Film "The Gladiator", That Time in fact The Culture was Discovering again The Classic World, and Capcom decided to make a game based on the Ancient Rome. The Story and The characters of course are ispired From the Ones from the film but not so much, they have A soul, and they have their motivation. The Gameplay is full of problems unfortunately, the IA is one of them. The IA especially in the Stealth part is just tedious and punish the player for just one Mistake,I could have Understood it if this was a "Try and Error" game, But it's Not and this make feel Bored for all the Ottaviano's Parts. The Fights are the thing that save the game, they are done Properly, The mechanics are Simple and even original in my opinion, even if sometimes they can Be a Pain in the back (The Fact that Weapons Can break for example). The IA In the fights is not so broken as it is in the Stealth part and this make them funnier play. Sometimes they can be repetitive but the existence of some unique weapon and The No-sense Gore make this Game funny. Even the story, especially in the Middle/Last Part of the Game become more interesting

A game that fell behind already when it was released. Only managed to do about two thirds of the game, but this was already way to much, as it seems it is like 10 hours long. Great, some would say, seems like a lot content in here, but what is the quality you get? To start with the not so important things: It sounds god damn annoying. Always the same nerve wrecking and completely unfitting background music and small variety of good enough ambient sounds. The cutscenes, protagonists(that damn sneaky sunny boy straight outta Final Fantasy) and storytelling is the typical late 90s/early 2000s Capcom stuff, cringy and very japanese. Not the best initial situation for Shadow of Rome, but lets talk about the game itself. The better half is the fighting. Very straight forward, simple and quick to learn, but also very repetitive and fighting multiple enemies is more a fight against the lock on function and sometimes the camera. All in all good enough for hack and slay enthusiats, but everyone else will be bored out pretty quick. It does not help that the weapons are brittle as hell. You will have to look or ask the crowd for new one after a handful of hits. At least there is a variation of weapons that behave very differently. The whole fighting is based on this wear and tear of weapons. Kind of ok, but in 2005 God of War was released and showed how a hack and slay has to be on the PS2, this game is definitely not of the same quality. The other half of the game, oh lord, the stealth levels. It is comically idiotic. Imagine yourself sneaking around and getting caught while strangling a guard putting on his clothes. To get out of this precarious situation you run around just one corner, jump into a giant vase and only have to wait a few seconds until the guards will go away and say they must have imagined this. After that you stick you head out of the vase while the same guards walk five meters away looking directly at you and the start the chase again. If you duck fast enough they will lose your trace again afterjust some seconds. In the next moment you climb out of the vase and walk past the guards in your freshly stolen clothes. Hilariously bad AI. The hole stealth movement consists of running, walking, crouched walking and pressing the action button. The game was released in the same year as Splinter Cell Chaos Theory and Capcom delivers this atrocity. The leveldesign in general is just primitve. You play all scenarios in very limited space, either a small arena or claustrophobic tight corridors. If the graphic quality was stunningly good to justify those smal areas, connected via short loading screens, this might be ok, but it is barely the PS2 average. There is no reason to play this game but o see the massive difference of quality in games released in 2005 for PS2

Yall still spleeping on this title one of the best capcom games wish they make a remastered

Aaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaa. Laverdad horrible.

[SPOILER ALERT: This review contains spoilers.]

It is a weird game. The combat gameplay is awesome, but the stealth sections are so bad, broken and frustrating that I almost quit the game many, many times.

Decent game. The story is so --so, scoring is great, visual is decent, and the voice is also great

One of the best games on Ps2, only those who play it understand, the combat is responsive, easy to learn and also brutal, the story is good and the only downside for some people might be the stealth portions of the gameplay.

The game is good but the part that has to control the blond and crap boy was very boring Because it totally took away the desire to play

Cool af , didn't expect this from a PS2 game , but It's Capcom , and Capcom 2000s is Gold

They don't make games like this anymore. Loved that game, which actually consists of two games. In one part you play Octavianus who looks like Raiden from Metal Gear Solid 2: Sons of Liberty and use all the stealth techniques. In the second part you play as Agrippa a former soldier now fighting its way through the arenas as a Gladiator. That last last one is bloody as it gets. You dismantle your opponents and hit them with their own arm while they are peeing their self and the crowd will give you an extra applause. I haven't seen this kind of game anywhere else. But it's not just a stupid fighting game. It has good mechanics, nice looks and with the two parts it's well balanced so it will not bore you and its all packed in a good interesting story (which reminds me to Ridley Scoots "Gladiator) in a not worn out scenario. For myself it's an insider's tip and I never understood why it's so underrated and no one talked about it.

very realistic ancient Rome, recommended to you, graphics, radgol, phisics, store campain its beautiful

For anyone who is a fan of the Roman theme, this game is a full plate. Undoubtedly one of the best games I've ever played and that certainly deserve a remake or continuation.

The combat is fun at times and very frustrating. The story is good but a little slow at times.

well, the combat system, the graphics and the music were awesome. but there its BIG problem. the stealth missions (which are a big part of the **** so hard. they are just horrible. using rope and ... jag to take out beastly Roman Legionaries. so fake... and the artificial intelligence, is so badly done. this game is a big Capcom's disappointment. the stealth experiment in a solid hack & slash game just didn't worked out. a waste of time and money. I you want an epic hack & slash gem for ps2 go for Maximo: Ghosts To Glory. And Maximo vs. Army Of Zin. if you want stealth gaming re-play Hitman games._

This is a master piece, please, play it..........................................................................................................................

its an amazing game no **** a little hard but all **** no worry,story's good.characters good.both of them are **** i got it for 5$ so it was a pretty steal

This game, like a star wars sith, deals in absolutes. It has 2 modes, one of which is amazing, the other is abysmal. The combat in this game, while seemingly wonky, is very, very cool. It's second only to the criminally overlooked Gladius in terms of Gladitorial Combat Games, and manages to mix smartness with 300-style gore. It's good stuff. Too bad everything is thrown out of the window once you get to the stealth missions. Either you do exactly as the game tells you or you die in one hit. The ideas used here are nice, don't get me wrong, but it's sloppily thrown together and ultimately ruined the game for me. Shadow of Rome gets a 5, as it combines the best of the hack-and-slash genre with the absolute worst of stealth missions.

a really amazing and underrated game this game has one of the most interesting and amazing plot in games and it is so bloody specially in the arena sections and it has some nice stealth game play in the end a really good interesting game

Regardless its flaws, Shadow of Rome is a solid game and ensure entertainment with its brutal combats, versatile gameplay and mildly challenging stealth sequences.

I am not a big blood fan. but this game inspite of violence was amazing. the puzzles are fun and challenging. sneaking around and straggling people to avoid being killed. then you switch sides to your partner and beat the **** out of another guy! duel play for 2 completely different gameplays. i would reccomend thi8s game to ANYONE.

The scores for this were way undeserved. Definitely one of the PS2's excellent titles. The story is well implemented, personally I thought the Stealth was well done and the arena fighting is brilliant, especially the feeling of having a giant Halbard to swing around and around while the crowd cheer on. Also I like the way the game is split into two different characters for the Stealth and Action. One of the PS2's excellent underated gems which is definitely worth picking up.