SPQR is a 3D adventure game that challenges you to learn how the Roman Empire works - structurally, mechanically, economically, culturally and politically. Players are given one year to investigate five equally suspicious suspects in order to solve the ultimate mystery: Who is plotting to destroy Rome and how will they do it?
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When you were all playing Myst, I was sitting at my aunt's old 166MHZ PC playing S.P.Q.R.. Why? Was I already a hipster who only played the most exquisite jank back then? Nah, I was just broke :D At some point, I was walking through a department store with my aunt and discovered this game in the bargain bin, where various CD ROM games were on offer for 5 bucks. I already had a certain affinity for ancient Rome as a child and, since the cover appealed to me, I somehow managed to persuade my aunt to buy this game (best aunt btw^^). When we got home, we were both shocked to discover that the game had no German localization. I was about 6 years old at the time and didn't understand a single word of English. But did that stop me from installing this game and stumbling through its virtual world like a mad person? No. It's these moments that define us as true gamers :D So I gathered all my courage, put a dictionary to my side and gradually fought my way through the puzzles presented to me by this crude game. To be honest, my efforts were not exactly crowned with success. Sure, I was able to make some minor progress and perhaps even solve parts of individual puzzles, but basically I played S.P.Q.R. more as a kind of walking simulator. And that was long before cynical games journalists "invented" this "genre".
What can I remember about the game content-wise? Well, unsurprisingly, S.P.Q.R. is set in ancient Rome. The player is presented with a very unique and atmospheric setting. Well-known locations such as the Forum Romanum are included and look quite visually impressive for the time. The game relies entirely on pre-rendered backgrounds, which are beautifully presented. The entire city is deserted, which definitely reinforces the somewhat creepy tone of the game. The player's task is to find out who is threatening the Roman Empire with a series of betrayals, intrigues and murders. The Emperor himself is in mortal danger and it is up to us to prevent the dark fate of Rome. As I said, I was still quite young at the time and stumbled through the world rather than purposefully solving puzzles, so I can't say too much about the game's content and puzzle quality. However, I would like to emphasize again that the game creates a really good and dense atmosphere that sucked me into the world. There were two moments that burned themselves into my gamer brain. The first is close to the beginning of the game where you can hear a knock on the door. A shadow then appears under the door slot and a note is pushed through. That was pretty much the first jumpscare of my life, as the game world is otherwise completely uninhabited. The second moment came shortly after, when a statue in front of a temple tilted its head and looked straight at me. That was pretty much the moment I realized that I wouldn't become a horror game enthusiast :D Be that as it may, this text is probably more of a personal anecdote than a real review. I don't think you have to have played S.P.Q.R. and there are certainly many games of the genre that offer a higher quality. Nevertheless, I would recommend to give this game a chance if you have a fondness for ancient settings and janky adventure games from the late 90s.
What can I remember about the game content-wise? Well, unsurprisingly, S.P.Q.R. is set in ancient Rome. The player is presented with a very unique and atmospheric setting. Well-known locations such as the Forum Romanum are included and look quite visually impressive for the time. The game relies entirely on pre-rendered backgrounds, which are beautifully presented. The entire city is deserted, which definitely reinforces the somewhat creepy tone of the game. The player's task is to find out who is threatening the Roman Empire with a series of betrayals, intrigues and murders. The Emperor himself is in mortal danger and it is up to us to prevent the dark fate of Rome. As I said, I was still quite young at the time and stumbled through the world rather than purposefully solving puzzles, so I can't say too much about the game's content and puzzle quality. However, I would like to emphasize again that the game creates a really good and dense atmosphere that sucked me into the world. There were two moments that burned themselves into my gamer brain. The first is close to the beginning of the game where you can hear a knock on the door. A shadow then appears under the door slot and a note is pushed through. That was pretty much the first jumpscare of my life, as the game world is otherwise completely uninhabited. The second moment came shortly after, when a statue in front of a temple tilted its head and looked straight at me. That was pretty much the moment I realized that I wouldn't become a horror game enthusiast :D Be that as it may, this text is probably more of a personal anecdote than a real review. I don't think you have to have played S.P.Q.R. and there are certainly many games of the genre that offer a higher quality. Nevertheless, I would recommend to give this game a chance if you have a fondness for ancient settings and janky adventure games from the late 90s.