Game News Expeditions: Rome releasing on January 20th, now available for preorder

[Infinitron]

Tags: Expeditions: Rome; Logic Artists; THQ Nordic

In recent weeks, THQ Nordic have been publishing dev diaries for Expeditions: Rome at a more rapid pace than usual. A few days after last week's update, they published a video that offered a further look at the making of the game's voice-overs, featuring two of its voice actors. Why all the hype? It turns that while Rome indeed won't make it out this year, we won't have to wait for much longer afterwards. The game is launching on January 20th. Here's its rather action-packed release date trailer and the accompanying press release:

Vindobona, Noricum / Hafnia, Daniae, Decembris VII., MMXXI: The fate of an empire lies in your hands! On January 20th, 2022 you can become the Legatus of a Roman legion and lead your troops through Greece, Egypt, and Gaul. You'll gain power and influence and your word will carry weight in the political affairs of Rome. Your decisions will change the life of your fellow companions, your soldiers, and even the destiny of whole nations.

This Classic RPG from the creators of the critically acclaimed Expeditions: Vikings will take you on a 50+ hour campaign across Europe and northern Africa. You´ll have to fight intense turn-based battles, level up your alter ego as well as your companions, manage your legion, explore, loot, and craft – in short, everything, you'd expect from a Classic RPG.

Expeditions: Rome is set in an alternative historical setting. Ever heard of Gaius Julius Caesar? He wasn't that important. But you'll meet Cleopatra, Queen of Egypt - if you choose to put her on the throne, that is. And even the famous Roman politician Cicero can become your ally, as well as the ferocious Gallic chieftain Vercingetorix.

Expeditions Rome will launch on January 20th, 2022 on PC at an SRP of $ 44.99 | € 44.99 | £ 36.99.
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Rome is now available for preorder on Steam and GOG. $45 ain't cheap, but there is a hefty 20% preorder discount. There don't appear to be any preorder-exclusive bonus items, which is commendable.

 

[deuxhero]

The fate of an empire

an empire

 

[Infinitron]

They mean the fate of the empire to be, surely.

 

[baud]

and even if the actual political regime of Rome is still in theory a republic, it has already most of the trapping of an empire, like extending over large territories and controlling various nations

 

[Vorark]

Finally! Conquistador and Viking were excellent, here's hoping Rome will follow suit.

 

[Sensuki]

Pre-ordered. Thoroughly enjoyed the first two Expeditions games.

Not the best marketing campaign that's for sure.

 

[Skdursh]

Pls don't let it be garbo mcnormieshit. Between this, Elden Ring, ELEX II and STALKER 2 the first quarter of 2022 has to put out at least one thing that isn't a complete disappointment.

 

[Feyd Rautha]

I'm going to preorder

 

[Marat]

and even if the actual political regime of Rome is still in theory a republic, it has already most of the trapping of an empire, like extending over large territories and controlling various nations

In theory, Rome didn't stop being a republic until Diocletian. Roman monarchy was quirky that way. Also, Empire is a translation of Imperium or "rule"/"command"/"authority", so Imperium Romanum is that which is ruled by Rome. It was the Roman "monarchs" (de facto military dictators holding multiple republican-era political offices at the same time, a tradition started by Octavianus) that titled themselves Imperator - calling on the military tradition of Legionnaires hailing their victorious commanders with the title. Roman state had no constitution and no official name per se, but during both the Republic and the Empire it was referred to as Senatus Populusque Romanus (SPQR) - Roman Senate and People.

 

[Zeriel]

and even if the actual political regime of Rome is still in theory a republic, it has already most of the trapping of an empire, like extending over large territories and controlling various nations

In theory, Rome didn't stop being a republic until Diocletian. Roman monarchy was quirky that way. Also, Empire is a translation of Imperium or "rule"/"command"/"authority", so Imperium Romanum is that which is ruled by Rome. It was the Roman "monarchs" (de facto military dictators holding multiple republican-era political offices at the same time, a tradition started by Octavianus) that titled themselves Imperator - calling on the military tradition of Legionnaires hailing their victorious commanders with the title. Roman state had no constitution and no official name per se, but during both the Republic and the Empire it was referred to as Senatus Populusque Romanus (SPQR) - Roman Senate and People.

"Empire" is clearly a retrospective thing, which indeed is shown by how the word was invented for the thing that the Romans had. The fact you had people coming after them saying they were the next Rome also gives that away, no one would say they are the "The Second Oligarchy".

 

[Iluvcheezcake]

Bought it. Enjoyed their previous work immensely and really looking forward to this

 

[thesheeep]

If only I had any interest in the setting...

But I'll probably go get it eventually. The previous games kind of warrant that.

 

[Feyd Rautha]

If only I had any interest in the setting...

Yep! They should have done vikings again, or maybe nordic mythology. But I'll give them a chance with Rome I guess.

 

[IHaveHugeNick]

Whoa bruh, this series has gone completely off my radar, looking forward to this one.

 

[Tyranicon]

Getting big Total War Rome 2 vibes from the graphics.

Also, all those clips of what I assume are senators/consuls/whatever in frontline combat without armor is odd. Once or twice I could see them being ambushed or an assassination attempt, but if you make a habit out of it, it's just silly.

Still, I have a big hard on for Rome and hope this will be good.

 

[Jedi Master Radek]

and even if the actual political regime of Rome is still in theory a republic, it has already most of the trapping of an empire, like extending over large territories and controlling various nations

Which was exactly what Republic has been doing since it's foundation. Roman Empire wasn't called empire because it was imperialistic, it was called Empire because it was ruled by Imperator, which was an honorary titles given for military success since Republic times. (Although Cezar/Augustus or Princeps might have been more popular titles at their respective time ). It's from the title of Imperator from whence imperialism comes from.

 

[Galdred]

Getting big Total War Rome 2 vibes from the graphics.

Also, all those clips of what I assume are senators/consuls/whatever in frontline combat without armor is odd. Once or twice I could see them being ambushed or an assassination attempt, but if you make a habit out of it, it's just silly.

Still, I have a big hard on for Rome and hope this will be good.

Yes, it would be a shame for the game to follow the hollywood convention, without even having pretty actor face to justify the lack of helmet, or worse, this kind of abomination.

Spoiler

Rant on: they could also just use heraldy if they want the audience to know who's who, like the people of the time did for the exact same reason...
Apparently, Star Wars characters are the only ones allowed to have a name and a full helmet...

I'm still half disappointed there is no Birthright like mass battle system, but it is probably the reasonable thing to do (and I am not really in a good position to complain about the lack of a mass battle system in a tactical game...).

I must also commend the game for not using Lorica Segmentata for this time.
I am really looking forward to this one.

 

[EvilWolf]

Why am I just now hearing about this game. I've been waiting so long for a game like this.

 

[oscar]

Loved Conquistador, Viking never clicked (either at launch and recent attempts), playing Life of a Legionary means I probably won't be able to put up with the fantastical/PC elements after seeing a dev with strong historical knowledge and genuine respect for the era (knowing that the reality of the time was interesting enough without having to invent shit). Hope for the best but not optimistic.

Viking saw them double them on some of the errors of Conquistador while muting the strengths. Combat across the series has very felt consistently very very wrong (archers are the deadliest class in Viking with your warriors mostly acting to scout for and support their machine gun fire, and even in Conquistador the power of range was sort of dodgy).*

*when it should have been your Spanish musketeers/crossbowmen tearing shit up, the native slingers felt more dangerous when the Spanish noted their armour allowed them to survive huge amounts of sling fire with the only losses being from a few guys who didn't have helmets or the odd unlucky shot. Your conquistadors having to fight for their lives against even even sized numbers of native foes felt very wrong (if ever a setting warranted a fucking power trip it was the Spanish conquest of the Aztec Empire).

 

[Anonymous Wife Scholar]

Give me Rome wifes!

 

[Infinitron]

Give me Rome wifes!

 

[thesheeep]

*when it should have been your Spanish musketeers/crossbowmen tearing shit up, the native slingers felt more dangerous when the Spanish noted their armour allowed them to survive huge amounts of sling fire with the only losses being from a few guys who didn't have helmets or the odd unlucky shot. Your conquistadors having to fight for their lives against even even sized numbers of native foes felt very wrong (if ever a setting warranted a fucking power trip it was the Spanish conquest of the Aztec Empire).

That might have been more historically accurate.

But the last thing I'd want to play is a turn-based game with enemies that outnumber me many times over in the same style as the Expeditions games have been so far.
Turn times would be a nightmare.

 

[Cadmus]

hope its not boring like Vikings

: - )

 

[Tyranicon]

If you're going to make a game in a historical setting, I feel like there should be an attempt to keep it accurate. Especially with Rome, which by now has amassed such a large casual/nonhistorian audience, that you can hire any of three dozen YouTubers as a consultant.

 

[Arvennios]

Pr-ordered the game, as I greatly enjoyed the two first installments and had a very good impression of this one, based on released information so far. Conquistador was a mighty good game, if a bit rough around the edges at times, but Vikings was a masterpiece, it delivered in every aspect.

Kinda worried about sales though, they missed the Christmas window, that can't be ideal, not to mention the game has barely received any coverage from major gaming sites and YouTubers.