Summary

Release Year: 1990
Genres: Adventure, Strategy
Platforms: Amiga, DOS, FM Towns, PC-9800 Series, Sega Mega Drive/Genesis
Developers: Bits of Magic
Publishers: Electronic Arts, Tec Toy

Centurion: Defender of Rome (1990)

Centurion: Defender of Rome is a turn-based strategy game developed by Bits Studios and published by Electronic Arts in 1990. The game is set in the year 275 BC, and the player takes on the role of a young Roman officer tasked with defending the Roman Republic from its enemies.

The game is played on a hex-based map of Italy, and the player must move their units around the map to conquer new territories and defend their own. The player has a variety of units at their disposal, including infantry, cavalry, and siege engines. Each unit has its own strengths and weaknesses, and the player must carefully consider how to use them in order to be successful.

In addition to conquering new territories, the player must also manage their resources. The player has a limited amount of gold, which can be used to purchase new units and build new structures. The player must also manage their food supply, as their units will starve if they do not have enough food.

Centurion: Defender of Rome is a challenging and rewarding game that offers a lot of replayability. The game’s AI is challenging, and the player will need to use all of their skills in order to be successful. The game also has a lot of different scenarios, so the player can experience a different game each time they play.

Gameplay

Centurion: Defender of Rome is a turn-based strategy game in which the player takes on the role of a young Roman officer tasked with defending the Roman Republic from its enemies. The game is played on a hex-based map of Italy, and the player must move their units around the map to conquer new territories and defend their own.

The player has a variety of units at their disposal, including infantry, cavalry, and siege engines. Each unit has its own strengths and weaknesses, and the player must carefully consider how to use them in order to be successful. For example, infantry is good at defending against cavalry, but cavalry is good at attacking infantry. Siege engines are good at attacking cities, but they are slow and vulnerable to attack.

The player can win the game by conquering all of Italy, or by completing a series of objectives. The objectives vary depending on the scenario that the player is playing.

Development

Centurion: Defender of Rome was developed by Bits Studios, a small development team based in the United Kingdom. The game was originally released for the Amiga and Atari ST in 1990, and was later ported to the PC and other platforms.

The game was designed by Julian Gollop, who is best known for his work on the X-COM series of games. Gollop wanted to create a game that was both challenging and rewarding, and he spent a lot of time developing the game’s AI.

The game’s graphics were created by John Gibson, who is best known for his work on the Populous series of games. Gibson created a detailed and realistic map of Italy, and he also designed the game’s units and structures.

Reception

Centurion: Defender of Rome was a critical and commercial success. The game was praised for its challenging gameplay, detailed graphics, and realistic AI. The game was also a commercial success, selling over 500,000 copies worldwide.

The game has been praised by many critics as one of the best turn-based strategy games ever made. In 1991, the game was awarded the “Game of the Year” award by the British Academy of Film and Television Arts (BAFTA).

Legacy

Centurion: Defender of Rome is considered to be one of the most influential turn-based strategy games ever made. The game’s innovative gameplay and realistic AI set a new standard for the genre, and it has inspired many other games.

The game has also been ported to many different platforms, and it is still enjoyed by gamers today. In 2010, the game was released on GOG.com, a website that specializes in selling classic games.

Conclusion

Centurion: Defender of Rome is a classic turn-based strategy game that offers a lot of replayability. The game’s challenging gameplay, detailed graphics, and realistic AI make it a must-play for fans of the genre.