Romance of Rome Review

When you think of hidden object games, you might think of classics like Where's Waldo? or recent casual games like Amazon: Hidden Expedition. Romance of Rome takes a familiar concept one step further, making the experience more multifaceted.

The story of Romance of Rome is told in comic book style, complete with voice acting for all of the dialogue. You play as a young man named Marcus who is put to work finding a variety of objects in a field for a newfound friend. This is the game’s core mechanic, and it works pretty well.

In each one of 17 locations, you'll have to find a long list of items. Some items are well-hidden, others are plainly located, and others seem vital to the scene until you take them away.

However, Romance of Rome offers more than just finding hidden objects. Some of the items you find can interact with something in the scene, like a key unlocking a chest, and others must be used in a different location entirely. At the same time, characters that you meet in the game often speak with you and request that you do something for them, like find a lost parrot or lure rats with cheese.

Finding items earns you money, and completing quests, finding relics, and earning trophies adds to your status. You can also buy clothes and other noble items to further increase your status. As your status rises, Marcus goes from being a commoner to a noble of some worth and gaudy taste. Marcus even has a character screen, where all of his goods and fineries can be observed. The art leaves something to be desired, but that's not the focus of the game.

Overall, Romance of Rome is a good game. The challenge is a little lacking at times, but it makes up for it with seven episodes of content. Romance of Rome keeps the hidden object gameplay interesting by adding new elements, making it a good choice for those patient enough to play.