The variety of gameplay environments, the depth of the combat system, and a surprisingly compelling story with unexpectedly strong characters all carry the experience above the few shortcomings.
Bryan Vitale – RPG-Site
I was rapidly grabbed by a sense of “what’s this mad bastard going to serve me next?”
Nate Crowley – Rock Paper Shotgun
This is a game that familiarises you with the salutations, customs, weaponry, even diets, of the ancient world’s denizens while delivering a sweeping story of war and politics that also feels historically grounded despite letting you shape that history.
Robert Zak – PC Gamer
The story presented by Expeditions: Rome is very well done. At times, I felt as if I were in the middle of a Shakespearean work. There are about a bazillion choices you will make, and each one affects your comrades in one or more ways. You will build trusting relationships with your battle brothers and sisters, and you will destroy relationships with them as well. It was enthrallingly fun to watch all of this play out as I progressed.
Kevin Honigford – The Gaming Outsider
The dialogue system in Expeditions: Rome is surprisingly good, where the choices made by the player often transform the experience of what you are playing. There were several instances where a choice I made earlier in the campaign came back later – sometimes acts later – that quickly grow into important consequences for your actions. The solution is not always apparent, and that is a breath of fresh air for an RPG like this, as it gives you the freedom to actually roleplay your character.
Robert Grosso – Tech Raptor
The story touches on many interesting points that kept me engaged, whether that be family and loyalty, the gender norms of the time, or just the usual intrigue of Roman politics.
Davide Roriz – Movies Games and Tech
The dialogue is snappy and more than that, well acted by a full voice cast. You’ll get the chance to grill all your companions for backstory when you set up camp, and you will probably want to do that! Each of these allies boasts a backstory as well realized as any beloved friend from any Bioware RPG. The fact that it’s boxed in by the borders of real history makes it all the more impressive.
Jaina Hill – Cog Connected
I found myself truly wanting to find out what happens next and how things were going to play out moving into the end game.
Jesse James Dean – Explorminate
This is where story meets gameplay, and it doesn’t feel long before you as a player indeed feel like you’re becoming part of a grand empire.
Press Play Media
Each of the main party members has various little side quests to do, and they’re all intelligently written. One features the protagonist’s mentor Syneros coming across as the grandson of a rival he had cheated out of a wrestling match in his misspent youth. The climax of the questline really showcases the excellent writing and integration of the player’s social skills as the player helps Syneros solve a series of riddles. The characters definitely have more subtle philosophies than simply “good” or “evil” and there’s a lot of nuance in the ways they can react to things. I found that this only adds to the richness of the narrative. A lot of party members I didn’t think I’d like initially turned out to grow on me because of their complexity – all of them ultimately trying to do the right thing, though their differing views on how to do it is absolutely vast.
Jonathan Trussler – Hey Poor Player
I played as a woman to see how far the developers would accommodate the option, given it clashes with the patriarchy of the Roman setting, and to my delight, my choice has led to consistent reactivity throughout the game with, many characters commenting, and the story being tailored around a female legate rather than glossed over. The high-quality writing, too, is enhanced tenfold by a lean and mean script and impressive voice-acting, with the entire game, from the main story to the side-quests to the background chatter being fully-voiced by actors who clearly got a lot of direction from the developer and loved their jobs.
Nathan Misa – Impulse Gamer
There are some very well-written quests, dialogue with clever humour, equally well-written NPCs, while the way the storyline unfolds and, combined with the choices offered, the protagonist’s character is progressively transformed from a young fugitive to an experienced general and the potential saviour or destroyer of the Roman Republic, is truly masterful.
Κώστας Καλλιανιώτης – Ragequit
Exceptionally well-written. Let’s just say that the developers’ work to make the story as interesting as possible, even in the supposedly weakest moments, stands out.
Simone Tagliaferri – Multiplayer.it
While the game’s opening offers several interesting insights, as the game progresses, the plot gradually becomes more intricate, yet never overwhelming. Indeed, the authors’ story remains engaging and interesting throughout. There are also a few surprises along the way. The developers have succeeded in doing justice to the potential inherent in the setting, creating a game world that is immediately fascinating , whose political and social instability makes the story even more interesting.
Di Stefano Castagnola – IGN Italia
It gives tremendous weight to the story , and at all times you feel like you’re part of a much larger canvas that only unfolds as you progress through the game. The plot is well-crafted, as are the various characters who pass through it.
Roberto Hernández – Meristation
There are many opportunities to make world-altering decisions long before they first reach the Rubicon. The writing is strong and all of the party members receive their own personal stories and motivations, with a decent selection of romance opportunities for players who wish it, ensuring that the narrative remains engaging.
Alex Fuller – RPGamer
A gripping story unfolds, replete with intrigue, political machinations, and Rome’s unstoppable drive for expansion. The developers draw heavily on real history and repeatedly weave relevant historical figures such as Marcus Cicero, Julius Caesar, Cleopatra, and Vercingetorix into the plot. This makes you feel like you’re part of the great Roman story, yet still experiences a very personal and twist-filled storyline. We also really liked the fact that the developers put a lot of thought into implementing the choice between a male and female hero. This option isn’t just there to give the player a choice, but also impacts the narrative.
Jeuxvideo.com
There were many moments when I read the dialogue with curiosity and delved into the plot, wanting to know what would happen next – especially since the closer I got to the end, the more curious I became about the consequences of my actions. I also greatly appreciated that the developers allowed me to make even quite brutal decisions – and thus shape the fate of the ancient world in my own way.
