Compared to other Paradox Interactive 4X games, Imperator Rome remains one of those forgotten games. In 2021, Paradox Interactive stated they would no longer support the game until further notice. However, after more than four years, as of the making of this article, how does Imperator Rome hold up today? For this review, we will also be including the Terra Indomita mod, which adds East Asia, Central Asia, and South East Asia to the map.
First, let us take a look at the UI and graphics. The UI is pretty good; everything is pretty easy to find without everything being cluttered all over the screen. The graphics are outstanding. When zoomed out, everything looks vintage and polished, almost like an old map. When you zoom in, the armies, the settlements, and the natural environments also look visually stunning and realistic. A remarkable feature about the map is that it gives the effect of a globe, so when you move the map, it somewhat rotates around to compensate for the curvature.
Next is the gameplay. Let us start with country management. The land layout is very similar to Crusader Kings. There are regions which consist of provinces, which are comprised of territories. These levels of administrative subdivisions encourage players to micromanage every level of management and make the game more immersive. Regions are responsible for appointing a regional governor, establishing governor policies, and creating armies. Provinces have their own capitals, with their own policies, hold specific resources, like horses and metal, and are responsible for importing goods from other countries. Territories are the smallest subdivision in the game. They are the ones where the country and province capital are located, where specific pops live, and for constructing builds that give bonuses to their province, such as manpower and cultural assimilation speed. Overall, this game makes managing your country very immersive. It forces you to think about everything from choosing an excellent governor to managing your population.
Next are the characters. Also, like Crusader Kings, Imperator: Rome also utilizes characters, but to a lesser extent. Each character has their own perks and traits.
Last are pops. Each pop is made of different classes, cultures, and religions. They have considerable importance in the game, unlike others. Each pop can have different laws and civic rights, like slaves, tribesmen, and citizens. These different civic rights give the country bonuses like taxes or research.
Overall, Imperator: Rome is a mix of Crusader Kings and Europa Universalis, with a unique spin. If Imperator: Rome still had support, certain aspects, such as army composition and characters, could be improved. However, it is still a delightful game.