Centurion: Defender of Rome
Encyclopedia
Centurion: Defender of Rome is a turn-based strategy
video game with real-time battle sequences
, designed by Kellyn Beck and Bits of Magic and published by Electronic Arts
. Originally released on the DOS
platform for the PC in 1990, the game was later ported to the Amiga
and the Mega Drive (Sega Genesis) in 1991. Centurion shares much of the concept and feel with Beck's earlier game Defender of the Crown
(1987) and might be regarded as its spiritual sequel
.
in the year 275 BC, placing the player in the sandals of a centurion
in the Roman army
, at first leading a single legion
. The player's ultimate goal is to become a caesar
through a mix of successful military conquests and internal politics of "Bread and Circuses
".
, such as the Celts, Carthaginians
and Parthia
ns. Centurion also featured other "side-show" activities, such as gladiatorial combat
(the player's duties involve financing the ludi
events), chariot racing
in the Circus Maximus
, and naval battles
. There is also some diplomacy (it is even possible to seduce the queen Cleopatra after forming an alliance with Egypt
).
games and Centurion was similar in look to those games, featuring "cinematic" graphics, animation and sound effects. His inspiration for the game came from watching the films Ben Hur and Spartacus
and the game's working title was Caesar. The team Bits of Magic, who co-designed and programmed the game, included Nicky Robinson
.
. Other magazines, however, usually gave the game better reviews, with scores mostly in the range of 75-90%.
Turn-based strategy
A turn-based strategy game is a strategy game where players take turns when playing...
video game with real-time battle sequences
Real-time tactics
Real-time tactics or RTT is a subgenre of tactical wargames played in real-time simulating the considerations and circumstances of operational warfare and military tactics...
, designed by Kellyn Beck and Bits of Magic and published by Electronic Arts
Electronic Arts
Electronic Arts, Inc. is a major American developer, marketer, publisher and distributor of video games. Founded and incorporated on May 28, 1982 by Trip Hawkins, the company was a pioneer of the early home computer games industry and was notable for promoting the designers and programmers...
. Originally released on the DOS
DOS
DOS, short for "Disk Operating System", is an acronym for several closely related operating systems that dominated the IBM PC compatible market between 1981 and 1995, or until about 2000 if one includes the partially DOS-based Microsoft Windows versions 95, 98, and Millennium Edition.Related...
platform for the PC in 1990, the game was later ported to the Amiga
Amiga
The Amiga is a family of personal computers that was sold by Commodore in the 1980s and 1990s. The first model was launched in 1985 as a high-end home computer and became popular for its graphical, audio and multi-tasking abilities...
and the Mega Drive (Sega Genesis) in 1991. Centurion shares much of the concept and feel with Beck's earlier game Defender of the Crown
Defender of the Crown
Defender of the Crown is a strategy computer game designed by Kellyn Beck. It was Cinemaware's first game, and was originally released for the Commodore Amiga in 1986, setting a new standard for graphic quality in home computer games....
(1987) and might be regarded as its spiritual sequel
Spiritual sequel
A spiritual successor, sometimes called a spiritual sequel or a companion piece, is a successor to a work of fiction which does not directly build upon the storyline established by a previous work as do most traditional prequels or sequels, but nevertheless features many of the same elements,...
.
Story
The game begins in Ancient RomeAncient Rome
Ancient Rome was a thriving civilization that grew on the Italian Peninsula as early as the 8th century BC. Located along the Mediterranean Sea and centered on the city of Rome, it expanded to one of the largest empires in the ancient world....
in the year 275 BC, placing the player in the sandals of a centurion
Centurion (Roman army)
A centurion , also hekatontarch in Greek sources, or, in Byzantine times, kentarch was a professional officer of the Roman army after the Marian reforms of 107 BC...
in the Roman army
Roman army
The Roman army is the generic term for the terrestrial armed forces deployed by the kingdom of Rome , the Roman Republic , the Roman Empire and its successor, the Byzantine empire...
, at first leading a single legion
Roman legion
A Roman legion normally indicates the basic ancient Roman army unit recruited specifically from Roman citizens. The organization of legions varied greatly over time but they were typically composed of perhaps 5,000 soldiers, divided into maniples and later into "cohorts"...
. The player's ultimate goal is to become a caesar
Caesar
-People:* Julius Caesar , Roman general and dictator* Augustus Caesar , adoptive son of the above and first Roman Emperor* Gaius Julius Caesar , father of the dictator...
through a mix of successful military conquests and internal politics of "Bread and Circuses
Bread and circuses
"Bread and Circuses" is a metaphor for a superficial means of appeasement...
".
Gameplay
The bulk of the game involve turn-based strategic planning and management on the world map and the real-time battles (with on-demand pauses to give orders to formations) against various enemies of the Roman EmpireRoman Empire
The Roman Empire was the post-Republican period of the ancient Roman civilization, characterised by an autocratic form of government and large territorial holdings in Europe and around the Mediterranean....
, such as the Celts, Carthaginians
Carthage
Carthage , implying it was a 'new Tyre') is a major urban centre that has existed for nearly 3,000 years on the Gulf of Tunis, developing from a Phoenician colony of the 1st millennium BC...
and Parthia
Parthia
Parthia is a region of north-eastern Iran, best known for having been the political and cultural base of the Arsacid dynasty, rulers of the Parthian Empire....
ns. Centurion also featured other "side-show" activities, such as gladiatorial combat
Gladiator
A gladiator was an armed combatant who entertained audiences in the Roman Republic and Roman Empire in violent confrontations with other gladiators, wild animals, and condemned criminals. Some gladiators were volunteers who risked their legal and social standing and their lives by appearing in the...
(the player's duties involve financing the ludi
Ludi
Ludi were public games held for the benefit and entertainment of the Roman people . Ludi were held in conjunction with, or sometimes as the major feature of, Roman religious festivals, and were also presented as part of the cult of state.The earliest ludi were horse races in the circus...
events), chariot racing
Chariot racing
Chariot racing was one of the most popular ancient Greek, Roman and Byzantine sports. Chariot racing was often dangerous to both driver and horse as they frequently suffered serious injury and even death, but generated strong spectator enthusiasm...
in the Circus Maximus
Circus Maximus
The Circus Maximus is an ancient Roman chariot racing stadium and mass entertainment venue located in Rome, Italy. Situated in the valley between the Aventine and Palatine hills, it was the first and largest stadium in ancient Rome and its later Empire...
, and naval battles
Roman Navy
The Roman Navy comprised the naval forces of the Ancient Roman state. Although the navy was instrumental in the Roman conquest of the Mediterranean basin, it never enjoyed the prestige of the Roman legions...
. There is also some diplomacy (it is even possible to seduce the queen Cleopatra after forming an alliance with Egypt
Ancient Egypt
Ancient Egypt was an ancient civilization of Northeastern Africa, concentrated along the lower reaches of the Nile River in what is now the modern country of Egypt. Egyptian civilization coalesced around 3150 BC with the political unification of Upper and Lower Egypt under the first pharaoh...
).
Development
The game's designer, Kellyn Beck, was also the creator of several CinemawareCinemaware
Cinemaware was a computer game developer and publisher that released several popular titles in the 1980s based on various movie themes. The company was resurrected in 2000, before being acquired by eGames in 2005.-Cinemaware Corp...
games and Centurion was similar in look to those games, featuring "cinematic" graphics, animation and sound effects. His inspiration for the game came from watching the films Ben Hur and Spartacus
Spartacus (film)
Spartacus is a 1960 American epic historical drama film directed by Stanley Kubrick and based on the novel of the same name by Howard Fast...
and the game's working title was Caesar. The team Bits of Magic, who co-designed and programmed the game, included Nicky Robinson
Nicky Robinson (game programmer)
Nicky Robinson is a computer game programmer, one of the earliest women to enter the field. Her career spans over twenty years, and extends back into the classic gaming era with such recognized titles as Star Control and Mail Order Monsters, on which she worked with Evan Robinson and renowned game...
.
Reception
The PC version of the game received 3 out of 5 stars in DragonDragon (magazine)
Dragon is one of the two official magazines for source material for the Dungeons & Dragons role-playing game and associated products, the other being Dungeon. TSR, Inc. originally launched the monthly printed magazine in 1976 to succeed the company's earlier publication, The Strategic Review. The...
. Other magazines, however, usually gave the game better reviews, with scores mostly in the range of 75-90%.