Imperium Romanum (PC) Review
Posted by Ty Huston on 05.16.2008
Vitals
Genre
Simulation
System
WIndows PC
Release Date
03/18/2008
Build. Reign. Defend. Sort of.
Game: Imperium Romanum
System: PC
Developer: Haemimont Games AD
Publisher: SouthPeak Interactive/Kalypso Media
Welcome ladies and gentlemen back to the days of the Roman Empire. Back in 2006, Haemimont Games AD released a precursor to today’s feature – Glory of the Roman Empire. Imperium Romanum is also all about the glory of Rome, but the two games are not associated with one another beyond being in the same genre, with the same subject, using the same engine – just updated.
The interesting thing about Imperium Romanum, and even Glory of the Roman Empire, are that they are both games built in a genre with stiff competition. With that being said, it is very difficult to be a breakout game and bring something new and fresh to the table.
Unfortunately for Imperium Romanum, it fails in that area.
Gameplay
The gameplay in this game is what both make it good and bad. Right from the get-go, you can choose between four menu options – Tutorial, Scenario, History and Rome. Each category gives you a full level of depth with the game from the bare basics (Tutorial) to individual achievements (Scenario) to total domination (Rome) and even nostalgia (History).
In the Tutorial, it actually does a very good job of delivering what you need to know to begin playing the game. Imperium Romanum, like those before it, feeds on a technology tree of sorts – yet is also runs on the basis that you are providing the citizens of your empire (which happens to be basically one city on a map) with services and necessities. You’ll learn through the Tutorial that you have to add houses to gain workers, wheat and pig farms for food, a bakery and butcher shop to process those items, a tailor for clothes, a blacksmith for armor, barracks for soldiers and it goes on and on – showing you how the game works. What is nice about the Tutorial is that you learn right away that this game is very easy to pick up. In fact, you could probably skip the Tutorial altogether and not be bothered one bit.
The Scenario feature provides you with a certain preset map and difficult to work from. You can choose from easy to crazy and your goal is to build your empire up with everything from total harmony at the easiest level to invasions, plagues, riots and natural disasters at the most challenging.
In the History section, you get to choose scenarios based on maps based on historically accurate information to relive those moments in Roman history.
Finally, with the Rome option – the empire is handed to you and it’s your job to build it to the magnificence that it can be. It’s the most challenging of all the features because it combines all of the elements from the previous features and drops an empire in your lap to begin commanding.
And really, that’s all there is to do in the game – rule an empire. You’re given a plethora of choices on how to do it, but that’s it. It is basically a SimCity version of Rome or even, Caesar for that matter.
There are battles and combat in the game, but along with the lack of depth in the game, the combat mechanics in the game are just horrible. You’re given three types of units – Infantry, Archery and Cavalry. However, beyond assigning them a battle formation and telling them to move, attack or retreat, your army is pretty weak.
For each unit, you have to have a building to support them. Archery ranges for archers, stables for cavalry and barracks for infantry are necessary to build and resupply each unit. If you want more than one of a certain type of unit, you have to add a building for them. What happens when your infantry actually lose a battle? Your combat related buildings have to supply them all over again and it’s a real drag.
Well, not that you’ll have a hard time defeating the moronic barbarian tribes. They don’t really attack and only defend when you attack them. Plus, unless you’re outnumbered by quite a bit, you can squash them with ease.
Rome: Total War, this is not.
Again, the meat of the game is running the city and keeping the citizens happy. They love to bitch and complain and sometimes they are just plain stupid and can’t find the services they need even if they are right next door.
Graphics
The game that first used this engine – Glory of the Roman Empire – had some pretty decent graphics. They’ve been upgraded even more with Imperium Romanum and this is truly one area where the game really does shine. The colors, textures and details are done very well and the little animations of the people working and such are really fun to watch.
The game also scales in between day and night which is cool in one way and bizarre at the same time. Am I to believe that these people built 4-8 buildings in a single day? The day and night rotation doesn’t seem to coincide with the timeline in the game. It’s just odd.
Sound
The music is nice, and the little voice acting that is there is well done. It doesn’t have a Grammy winning soundtrack or anything, but the mood and feel of the music fits with the game and the sound effects are crisp.
One thing I did notice, however, is that although my personal computer’s specifications are over twice what the game requires, I did have some issues with the voice work lagging and repeating itself. It happened quite frequently along with some visual lagging and made me wonder what kind of a game it would be on a computer with the basic requirements.
Lasting Appeal
Imperium Romanum is not going to win any awards. It is simply nothing new for the genre. The game’s lack of depth in areas such as combat, when other games that focus on combat, such as the entire Total War series for example, dominate the market seem to keep this game from really getting off the ground.
Fun Factor
Honestly, I can’t help but have fun playing the game. It’s not filled with limitless options of impressive warfare, but it has the same appeal that SimCity has – build a city and see if you can keep it from total disaster.
The 411
For what it is, Imperium Romanum is indeed a fun game. I’ve enjoyed playing it and will keep it around to play again once in a while. It is very simple to delve right in and play and at the end of the day that makes the game a good one. It is no open designed game with limitless options by any means – but, when a person who doesn’t play real time strategy games wants to get their feet wet, it’s good to know that a game like this is out there for them to get their feet wet.
Graphics
8.0
The true high point of the game, smooth and beautiful visual effects fill this game with a breathe of life.
Gameplay
6.0
What it does right, it does well. What it does wrong or not at all really hold this game back.
Sound
7.0
Beyond the voice lagging, the sound had no problems and gave the game some real feel to it.
Lasting Appeal
5.0
After you beat a few scenarios, you probably won't go much farther. The options are there, but every map is going to feel the same. In that aspect, the game feels very short.
Fun Factor
7.0
Imperium Romanum is a good game to play if you've got a few nights of free time to kill, but doesn't contain the depth to make you want to rush out, buy it, and become the ultimate know-it-all expert about it. It is fun for what it is, though.
