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If you started as a slave in AD78, do you think you could take the place of the Emperor Domitian?

From what I've heard, life as a leader of the mighty Roman Empire was a good way short of perfect. Let's face it, all they did all day was plunder and pillage and then spend the night relaxing by the pool with wine, women and, er, some more wine and women. The only shortcoming in this ideal career was that they did tend to suffer from the habit of getting bumped off by disgruntled citizens every time something went wrong. Even though it was rather short-lived, it was still a position that just about everyone wanted. Even the slaves fancied a bash, and that's where you come in.

You are (or rather, the character you control is, seeing as you weren't actually around when the Romans were kicking some serious European butt), Hector. Hetor is the lowest of the low. His nickname is Doormat because everyone walks all over him, in fact he's ever lower than a Staff Writer on Amiga Power [And don't you forget it! - Ed]. This guy has been a slave all his life (also like a Staff Writer on Amiga Power, strangely enough) but is suffering from delusions of grandeur (just like...) [Snip! - Ed] Hector wants to become the Emperor of Rome. A nice dream maybe, but this guy is serious and he'll need more than a little luck.

The general idea is that you complete six quests which represent the transition from low-life scumbag slave to regal Emperor. To give you a general idea, at the start you're based in Herculeaneum which just happens to be situated under a certain volcano that's about to erupt. You have to escape from here and go to Rome, save the Emperor from assassination, lead an army, conquer the world and become Emperor yourself. From imminent death in chains to ruler of most of the civilised world, eh? No problem...

Before we go any further, I would like to commend Millennium on a completely new, revolutionary idea. Interesting and funny manuals for their adventures! What a crazy idea, it just might work. It was a most entertaining read. Unfortunately, it's a lot more entertaining than the game.

Taking a look at these screenshots, you could be forgiven for thinking this is just a reworking of Robin Hood, the other Millennium game that used this graphics system. Well, if it works once why not use it again, y'know Of course, this means we have to put up with microscopic characters and jerky screen movement. But the strength of games like this lies in the gameplay, or so I've been told. Saying that, not all the graphics are bad. The buildings on screen canbe quite ornately detailed at times, especially when you start reaching the higher levels, and there are loads of static screens that appear when something major happens, like an announcement in Rome or when you finish a level, or more importantly when you die (which will happen a lot at the start).

What adventures are all about, of course, is exploring. You can take your time to explore the land thoroughly and check out all the buildings and people if you like, but each stage of Rome AD92 is timed. The first stage is limited by a volcano erupting, the second by an assassination, etc. This means all you have to do is learn the important places and items, get them and finish the stage, so trial and error will solve the game faster than brain power. This may not be a bad thing for new players but most people will be able to solve the puzzles straight away.

Playing through the levels, you'll notice something else creeping into your mind. Rome AD92 suffers from 'Oh-my-god-when-is-something-interesting-going-to-happen' (said while yawning exaggeratedly) syndrome - you can wander around locations for days without having the foggiest idea about what's going on. Talking to people is suggested as a good way to suss out what's happening. This doesn't work since most of the people seem to be thick as two short planks. Ask them for information and the best you'll get in response is "I'm out for a walk". Thanks a lot.

The gameplay soon gets very repetitive, and mistakes aren't easily forgiven either. There's a classic example right at the start - you deliver a message and get paid for it. The amount you get paid is enough to save your life and leave the island. But, if you do take the chance to leave, you can't do anything at all on the next level because you don't have enough money, and there's no way of going back to get any. Once you realise what you have to do to get this extra cash, you get very little time to do it, and if you do it on the higher levels you get killed for it. Quirks like this in the gameplay can put a lot of people off - if it wasn't for the fact that I'm being paid to play it I certainly would have given up.

It's a shame, because when you start playing, it's quite fun. Running around mugging people in Herculaneum for money or playing dice in Rome to earn enough to get a slave of your own, or even the fights when you get an army - all top stuff. After a few hours thought, you realise there just isn't enough to the game to make you want to stick with it. With a few more elements it could have been so much better. But there aren't, so it isn't.

Yes, it's a challenge to become the Emperor of Rome all right. Some of the challenge is in the game but most of it comes from trying to keep your interest going long enough to complete it. With little action it won't appeal to arcade nuts, but it isn't a strong or deep enough game to attract all the strategy fans either. Millennium have tried hard to make it appealing by adding a lot of humour (and it is funny) and making it easy to control. With these two factors and some interesting gameplay, it would have been a killer game, but as it stands, this is a wimpish slap on the wrist when it could have been a knockout.

Uppers: Attractive static screens set the atmosphere of the game nicely (and gruesomely too in some cases!). Initially compelling gameplay with some fun aspects. Even the manual is interesting and funny, and for this type of game that's virtually unheard of. It'll hold you for a while as you try to get to grips with it.

Downers: The graphic style seems a little out of date (Populous viewpoints are old hat) and the small characters and jerky screen scrolling don't help much. It's short on action too, and what there is offers as much excitement as watching paint dry.

A fair attempt at an adventure that only just misses the mark. You can't help feeling that if a little more was put into the action, i.e. more things actually happening, then this could have been so much better. As it stands, though if you do buy it you should prepare for a bit of a snooze.