Centurion is based in the old Roman Empire. You start as a centurion in the roman army and by conquering other provinces. As you gain in rank, you earn the ability to raise more legions (armies). Each legion is represented by a single unit on the map. You can also hold games such as gladiator matches or chariot races. The only place you can have these competitions is Italia (Italy or Rome). The other provinces will sometimes demand that you hold games there to appease the citizens of that particular province.
In the games in Rome, you participate (controlling a gladiator or driving a chariot), and can cheat as well. It is possible in the chariot races to bribe the other racers so that they throw the race, or have a doctor inject your horse with a substance than apparently gives you a speed boost, or you could even invoke the help of the gods (for a price).
The battle scenes pass in almost a real-time type situation. You are given the option between different battle schemes, and you choose your battle formation. Your soldiers then march on the opposing line. Anyone within the range of your commander’s voice can have their orders changed progressively. However anyone who isn’t within the voice range
will continue the path you chose before the battle began. At any point during the battle if your troops are losing, they may flee the battle. You lose complete control of these troops and there is no way to make them return to the battlefield. The death of your commander will resort in complete demoralization of your troops, and they will flee the battle. Killing the enemy commander will resort in great demoralization of the enemy line, and it is very probable that most of the enemy’s line will flee.
The sea battles are actually quite different from the land battles though. In the land battles you can only “shout” directions at your troops, whereas at sea you control the flow of the battle completely. You direct the ships and you fire the missiles yourselves.
Personally, I found the game too short. It took me roughly two and a half hours to complete the game. Also the citizens of Rome are too demanding. Near the end of the game every other turn they demanded a gladiator show. It can be very distracting from your conquest of the known world to constantly have to appease your restless citizens.
