As I mentioned in my AC Odyssey, I’ve always been fascinated by history. Greek, Egyptian… Imperator: Rome only extends my fascination, as it’s another part of ancient history that I adore. Ancient Roman history is filled with fascinating tales of Emperors, conquests and diplomacy. Which is why I can’t recommend Emperor: Rome enough.
But Imperator: Rome is not the only game we currently have at IndieGala. We have plenty of great strategy games dedicated to the workings of Ancient Rome. Just click here, take your pick and enjoy.
But before I could go on with this post, I believe that a word or two about the game is in order.
What’s Imperator: Rome All About?
Developed by Paradox Development Studio and published by Paradox Interactive, Imperator: Rome is a grand strategy wargame. Furthermore, The timeline of the game spans from AUC 450 (304 BCE) to AUC 727 (27 BCE). And it also includes the period of the establishment of the Roman Empire and the Wars of the Diadochi. Similarly, with previous games from Paradox, all of the nations in the game are playable.
But you’re mostly here about Alexander. Hannibal. Caesar. These great men and dozens like them shaped the destiny of a continent. Mighty kings, clever generals and would-be gods. They all made their mark on the ancient Mediterranean. But nothing was guaranteed. Can you change the course of history in Imperator: Rome?
I mean here are some of the Steam user comments about the game:
– Rome wasn’t built in one update. Said crusis35.
-While Quetzalcoatl said: This game has been improving for a long time, but I have remained on the fence about giving it a fully positive review until now. With the last update, however, I am now fully convinced this is currently the best Paradoxe game.
So if you’re a fan of fantastic strategy war games, don’t miss out on this one. You know what to do. Just click here, and enjoy.
But why Rome the TV series? Well, because I thought it would be a perfect fit for this particular post. Both of these projects have the intricacies of Ancient Rome in their core. However, only the medium in which they’re conveyed is different. One is a fantastic strategy video game. And the other is a fantastic TV series that sadly got just 2 seasons.
Rome the TV Series VS Imperator: Rome
Indeed, the two projects share similarities. But I’m here about the acclaimed TV show that is created (among the many) by John Milius. Indeed. That John Milius. The one who is responsible for Jeremiah Johnson, Conan the Barbarian, Clear and Present Danger, Red Dawn and probably one of the best movies of all time. Apocalypse Now. But what makes Rome such an engaging yet underrated TV show? Well, aside from the obvious (good acting, fine writing and epic production), there’s also the attention to detail that seems a bit lost in most recent TV shows.
Sure, there’s a creative license and freedom to stretch the truth in this historical drama. And the show-runners use that to the full extent. But when the accuracy is on point, it’s there to make you think. Or chuckle. For instance, the phallic images and erotic graffiti are true, as I remember from my history classes. So are the armors that the soldiers are wearing, and the formations too. But Rome is so much more than tense battle scenes. Don’t get me wrong. They’re fantastic, but those are just the surface.
What’s Rome All About?
Well, for the most part, Rome’s transition from a Republic to an Empire and Julius Caesar’s rise and fall. But the show opens with the decline of the First Triumvirate (between Crassus, Caesar and Pompey). The three-way alliance falls apart, but in the middle of the story, we see two very different soldiers and their stories. Lucius Vorenus (Kevin McKidd) and Titus Pullo (Ray Stevenson). Both of them will get entangled in Caesar’s Machiavellian schemes, but each of them has different motives and characters to show us.
Why Is Rome Soo Good?
Well, it’s immersive, tense and with enough raunchy, bloody (and sexy) scenes to keep you on your toes. Seriously. It makes the graphic scenes from Game of Thrones look tame compared to this one. In fact, there are many attempts in GOT to emulate the style and dare I say it… The formula of showing graphic violence, sex and nudity. And I suppose Rome is a good example of that. But yeah. It’s a nice blend of drama and action that will satisfy every period piece drama enthusiast. And if you’re a fan of the actors in Rome, it’s a complete jackpot.
The Acting Is Incredible
Since I’m mostly talking about the first season of Rome, I’ll focus (for the most part) on the actors in the first season. Indeed. Most of the actors are in both the first and the second season, and yeah. Ray Stevenson and Kevin McKidd are awesome as you might expect. They’re brooding and fierce in their performances, and a joy to watch in every scene. However, one name stands out in the superlatives. The one and only Ciarán Hinds. Look I’ve been a fan of Ciarán Hinds since I saw him in The Cook, the Thief, His Wife & Her Lover. But over here in Rome, he dominates the character of Julius Caesar.
He chews the scenery and makes you forget about everything else. His Caesar is ruthless and cunning as much as he’s ambitious. And Hinds lets you know that he’s on top of his game with all of his acting powers. In every scene that he’s in. I have nothing but praise for the performance of Ciarán Hinds here. Sure James Purefoy is also fine as the opportunistic and vulgar playboy Marc Antony, and so is Kenneth Cranham as Pompey. You can actually see the despair and the burnout in his eyes. But yeah. Hinds stands out from the rest in my humble opinion. The performances really anchor the show.
A Trailblazer Of A TV Series
Sure, the plot is at times chaotic and at times rushed. And there are plenty of inaccuracies to account for in the entire series. But there’s no denying that Rome shines in the character development and the dialogues. Add to this the elaborate and real set pieces, beautiful costumes, good writing and fine performances… And you have a TV show that will never lose a hint of quality. A show that I still look back at, even 16 years after the cancellation.
Are You A Fan Of Imperator: Rome?
Or the TV show Rome? Let us know in the comment section. We’d love to know all about your favorite character. Or historical figure.
