Put simply,
Cradle of Rome is a puzzle game through and through. While the puzzle’s theme
bases itself around Roman culture and the massive city of Rome itself, the
overall vibe maintains a strict direction towards puzzle action. And although
this ancient theme might seem a little silly for a puzzle game, the truth is
that Cradle of Rome can be quite fun, quite addicting, and quite time consuming.
The Nintendo
DS seems like the perfect system for any form of puzzle-genre video game.
Unfortunately, these puzzle games are not always executed well, or simply do not
have enough depth to hold the interest of the gamer for too long. Cradle of Rome
might appear shallow and simple at first, but the simplicity is part of the
game’s overall appeal.
When a game
begins, the screen is covered with blocks. These blocks might lie in different
formations, or contain different obstacles to hinder your efforts, but the
ultimate goal is always the same. You must line up at least three of the same
type of block in order to eliminate those blocks from the touch screen. You
might line up three blocks with hammers on the face, or six blocks with silver
coins to distinguish them apart. No matter the block, the identifiable symbol
will always be Roman themed, and these symbols do affect the game in the long
run.
Once you
eliminate a series of blocks, another line will cascade from the top of the
touch screen to fill in those gaps. The only way to actually clear the level and
advance is to eliminate a number of blue blocks that lie underneath the actual
playing field. In order to do this, you must create a combination of regular
blocks on top of the blue ones, which will then eliminate both sets of blocks.
This simple, yet innovative concept truly adds another level of difficulty to
the simple gameplay. As you progress through levels, you will also begin to
encounter obstacles, such as a chain that is preventing you from clearing some
blue blocks. In order to eliminate these obstacles, you must perform a special
combination clearing. All of these minor challenges can really add up.
After the
player clears a level, a cut scene will sometimes take place. These cut scenes
will depict a building being erected, among other things, and this will occur
thanks to the blocks that are cleared. Each building grants a special ability
that the player can utilize on the puzzle screen, such as taking a hammer to the
board to smash up the pieces. These abilities help offset the blue block
difficulty slightly. The fact that each level is timed will keep you on your
toes with those blue blocks though.
Visually,
Cradle of Rome does nothing wrong. The visuals are satisfying and smooth
throughout each puzzle-piece transition, and the cut scenes are even mildly
satisfying to watch in between levels. While the graphics won’t blow anyone
away, they do work perfectly in tune with the Roman theme and the simplistic
overlay that you might expect.
Even the
sounds pouring from the DS speakers are Romanesque in nature, and aid the player
in immersing into the gameplay. Each tune definitely possesses a modified upbeat
underside though that keeps each game fun and engaging. If you play too much
though, the music can definitely get repetitive.
The Roman
Empire might be huge, but this shrunken edition presented on the Nintendo DS is
satisfying and worth a play through by any puzzle fan. Each game can begin
calmly, but end with the player fighting against the clock. This can elicit a
vast range of emotions from the player in a short period of time, always
changing the way the game plays. The game could potentially get old quick,
depending on how much the player pours into it initially, but if paced right,
Cradle of Rome could become a staple addition to any puzzle lover’s shelf of
shifting pieces.
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Gameplay: 7.0
Although simple,
Cradle of Rome can quickly become a formidable challenge to any player, thanks
to the mixture of blue block elimination and timed trials.
Graphics: 7.0
Nothing about
Cradle of Rome’s visuals were jaw dropping, but the artistic direction worked
well with the handheld puzzler.
Sound: 6.0
Although the
audio portion of Cradle of Rome might have been the weakest portion as well, the
sounds and music were still satisfying and worked wonderfully with the Roman
theme.
Difficulty: Medium
The difficulty
level of Cradle of Rome is essentially dictated by the player’s skills. As the
player progresses, the time limit shrinks and the puzzles become more
intricately challenging.
Concept: 7.0
While the concept
of sliding pieces around a board to clear blocks is not fresh to the genre, the
Roman theme and special abilities are. Both of these new concepts are welcomed
with open arms.
Overall: 7.0
Cradle of Rome is
surprisingly addictive, easy to play, and challenging from a number of different
angles. If you enjoy puzzle games, this freshly released puzzler for the
Nintendo DS will surely satisfy. Even casual gamers will find themselves quickly
addicted to the rollercoaster paced gameplay.
