“History Channel: Great Battles of Rome” transports players back to the glory days of the Roman Empire, offering a strategic experience focused on historical battles. Developed by Slitherine and released by Black Bean Games for the Sony PSP, this game attempts to blend educational content with real-time strategy gameplay. However, it’s met with mixed reviews due to its simplicity and dated mechanics.
The gameplay revolves around commanding Roman and later Celtic armies in a series of pre-set battles. Players start by arranging their troops on a battlefield, selecting formations and tactics before the fight begins. The mechanics are straightforward; you don’t gather resources or build structures but earn denari after battles to upgrade or recruit new units. This simplicity can be both a pro and a con, making it accessible but also somewhat repetitive and lacking depth compared to more complex strategy games like the “Total War” series.
For a PSP game, the graphics are functional but not particularly impressive. The battlefields are varied, featuring different terrains like steppes, forests, and coasts, but the detail level is limited by the hardware capabilities of the PSP. The visual effects are basic, with some criticisms about the lack of polish. Sound-wise, the game includes voice-acted historical narratives and clips from The History Channel, which adds an educational touch but doesn’t significantly enhance the gaming experience.
One of the game’s highlights is its attempt to educate players on Roman history. Each battle comes with a brief historical context, often narrated or shown via video clips, which can be quite engaging. However, the battles themselves, while inspired by history, are simplified to fit the game’s mechanics, sometimes stretching the historical accuracy for the sake of gameplay.
The game offers a linear progression through Roman battles, with no real strategic map or overarching campaign beyond winning each skirmish. This can limit replayability unless you’re keen on mastering the tactical nuances of each battle. The difficulty ramps up, but some players have noted that the challenge can feel artificial due to the game’s strict victory conditions.
Reception has been mixed. On platforms like Metacritic, the reviews point out that while the game can be fun for those looking for a light strategy experience, it doesn’t stand up to heavier hitters in the genre. User reviews on Amazon echo this sentiment, praising the portability and historical clips but criticizing the depth of gameplay.
“History Channel: Great Battles of Rome” on the PSP is best for players interested in a historical strategy game that doesn’t demand much time investment or complex strategizing. It’s enjoyable for its educational snippets and straightforward gameplay but falls short for those seeking depth or innovation in the strategy genre. If you’re a fan of Roman history or enjoy simpler strategy games, this might be worth a look, but don’t expect the sophistication of more renowned strategy titles.
I give this game 6 out of 10. I would recommend this game, but with caveats. If you’re after a casual, historically themed strategy game for on-the-go play, this could be a decent pick. However, if you’re looking for a deep dive into strategy or a more accurate historical simulation, there are better options out there.
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