God, times have changed, haven't they? It used to be that when someone was in power, way back in the days of the Greeks and the Romans, they could command men to battle to the death with ease. Now we're lucky to have our pizza delivered on time while grown men play baseball. Granted, watching a TV event where life and death hangs in the balance would probably make someone a bit uneasy...and certainly not hungry enough to finish off a slice of pepperoni.

But to be thrust back into the days of the Roman battles, the great gladiator face-offs, via the movies and television specials- that's a sight to see. Among the favorites is the obvious Gladiator, a recent Ridley Scott film that chronicles a particular warrior's bloodthirsty hunt for revenge. And video games are no exception either, as Acclaim made their own Gladiator game (not affiliated with the movie) where you stepped into the shoes of a noble warrior, hellbent on bringing down a corrupt leader.

Now it's time to step in the old Roman boots yet again, as Capcom provides an entry into the genre. Shadow of Rome has been a long time coming, first introduced last year and turning only a few heads at their E3 booth. But now here's the finished product, painting a bigger, bloodier picture than what was foreseen in that small demo. It was like we were just getting a small glimpse of the stadium, without being able to see the whole thing for its awe-inspiring value. Now, at long last, we get our look, and the game is a much-appreciated surprise.

The year is 44 BC. The Republic of Rome is in chaos, with whispers of corruption throughout Rome. Julius Caesar, a historical figure of great heights, finds himself preaching for reform, but is soon murdered, his death a great mystery. An elderly man is accused of the crime and is scheduled for public execution, but his son, Agrippa, objects. Seeing as how the winner of the next gladiator battle will be the one to execute the man, Agrippa reluctantly but powerfully enters into the gladiator battles, while he sends his friend Octavianus to investigate further into Caesar's death and relies on some help from a female fighter by the name of Claudia. Throughout the game, you'll take control of these parties as you brutalize and neutralize threats in order to seek out the truth and save the old man.

Agrippa is used for the general action scenes of the game, both within brutalizing battles and chariot races, while Octavianus is used for the stealth sections, sneaking around enemies and setting sneaky traps to outdo dim-witted guards. The mixture may not work well for some gamers who are expecting a full-on bloodbath, but those seeking elements of all sorts will definitely like the game's presentation. It's very rarely boring, although there are times that snags come into play.

For instance, during the stealth sequences, Octavianus sneaks around well enough, but when it comes to setting traps or sneaking up on someone to knock them out, some guards are just too obvious to fall prey. You'd think that intelligence would come into play, like it does with the gladiator battles, but it seems that these guys were put on lowly guard duty for a reason. Oh, well, the gameplay still blends together well.

And, I tell you, the gladiator fights are incredible, with enough devastating maneuvers, bloody outcomes (I mean bloody- limbs fall and everything) and impressive weapons to pick up to take on both the scrawny types and the lumbering giants who take far more hits to demolish. As the game progresses, the battles become even harder, and chariot sequences come into play, introducing high-impact battles amidst horses and carriages. I love the addition of these, as they break up the fistfights quite well.

Another factor to consider is appealing to the crowd. During a fight, you'll be given an option to clamor to them and get their love and respect- and, most importantly, some weapons and even food. This is a nice new factor that keeps your energy up while also making your popularity rise with each new coming fight. You don't necessarily have to use it, but, hey, it doesn't hurt having an audience on your side, does it?

Visually, the game appears to be quite the masterpiece. Characters animate beautifully, even if they have an excessive amount of blood to spill. The design of the Roman arenas and the interiors that Octavianus explores while avoiding attention look stunning, capturing the design of the old-school era without lacking. And the frame rate moves along at a reasonable pace, not really falling behind, even during the most frenetic of fights.

As for sound, the game has some good audio to back it up. Some character voices aren't exactly what I'd call top-caliber entertainment (particularly Octavianus), but the rest fit the bill well enough. Throw in a meaty soundtrack that backs up the theme at hand and some thrilling sound effects that capture the full-blown gladiatorial tone, and it does the trick.

If the game has any genuine downfall, it's that there's not really too much to do once you complete the game. It does have a good quest to complete, and takes some patience to finish it (especially with the later battles), but its twist on history should keep you enthralled enough. But you'd think that Capcom would have thrown in a multiplayer mode with several gladiators fighting it out at once. Sigh...

Enough complaints. If Acclaim's Gladiator could satisfy on its barely above-average levels and unique questing, then Shadow of Rome dominates in pure burly fashion with its strengthened action and somewhat smart stealth sequences. It may frustrate slightly at times, but you'll shrug it off and be back on the battle line in no time. Within this game lies the heart of a quivering warrior, instead of just another typical brawler like so many people thought this game would be back at E3. Foolish mortals.