Throwing weapons at enemies is really fun, but it's a bit ridiculous. Heavier weapons are harder to use and take more time to take a swing, but they are much more powerful. The variety of weaponry is pretty neat as well. The durability of each weapon is displayed on screen with a meter, and if you're thinking about picking up a new weapon, that durability gauge is displayed when you walk over the considered item. Picking up new weapons or pieces of armor can solve this. As you go from encounter to encounter with enemies, your weapons or armor will break. The game implements a pretty cool durability system for weapons and armor. However, the story is presented well with cut scenes I'm sure you'll enjoy.

Also, the fact that a general of the Roman army becomes a gladiator, Caesar is assassinated, and the successor to Caesar looks a bit like Joaquin Phoenix doesn't help the case that this isn't a 'Gladiator' retread. Once you watch the first cut scene of the first major battle, I guarantee you that 'Gladiator' pops in your head. It's also really hard not to say that 'Gladiator' inspired this story. It will keep you entertained to an extent. Agrippa learns of this and rushes back home where he must become a gladiator in order to uncover the truth behind the assassination. Turns out that someone has assassinated Caesar, and Agrippa's father is the prime suspect. You play as two characters: Agrippa, a general in the Roman army, and Octavianus, the niece of the Caesar and a good friend of Agrippa. Society is corrupt just as the government is. Shadow of Rome takes place during the time when the Roman empire was beginning to decline. The depth and variety of gameplay is really what this game's about, even if the gameplay is not executed to perfection. Which is too bad, because Capcom has done some things in this game that no other action/adventure game has done. No doubt that many have no idea what Shadow of Rome is or that it has been released.

Shadow of rome characters