Product Description

Build the heart of the Ancient Roman Empire and become the Emperor! Welcome to the birth of the Roman Empire where players re-create the legendary city of old using a unique variation of the much-loved Match-3 puzzle mechanic. Gather resources (wood, tools, gold, etc) by matching rows of 3 or more and obtain as many as you can before the time runs out. The more you gather, the faster you can build the city. Start with a lowly saw mill and progress to gain access to historical monuments such as the Arch of Titus, the Temples of Venus and Saturn and eventually the mighty Coliseum. A vast array of bonus tools adds even more incentive to continue the game for as long as possible. Unlocking these tools not only makes clearing the board easier, but also increases the opportunity to gather more resources, gold, and treasure!

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #247 in Video Games
• Brand: D3 Publisher
• Model: 32013
• Released on: 2008-11-18
• ESRB Rating: Everyone
• Platform: Nintendo DS
• Dimensions: .22 pounds

Features

• 100 mind-bending levels
• 20 historical sites from five eras to build
• Combine secret bonus tools to achieve your goals faster
• Multiple gameplay modes for various degrees of difficulty
• Players set the pace of the game through building, unlocking and "Relax Mode"

Customer Reviews

Not Built in a Day
This is an excellent puzzle game, one of the best games for the DS. I like it better than Puzzle Quest because (a) there are 100 different level designs (screens) and (b) if you fail to complete a level, on your next chance you start with a different arrangement of symbols. This means that if a level is difficult, the frustration level is reduced by the lack of repetitiveness and the feeling that there is always a chance you may draw a better arrangement of symbols on the next try.

There is also a "relax mode" in which you can play any level you have completed on a standalone basis.

Be prepared to spend a LOT of time on this game! But it's quality time.

Fans of 7 Wonders will Love this!
I have 7 Wonders on DS and it was previously my favorite game. This has far surpassed that! It is similar to 7 Wonders in that you have to line up 3 matching "symbols" to clear blocks. The difference with Cradle of Rome is that there seems to be more of a goal rather than just endlessly matching tiles. In this game there are food, resources, and gold tiles which when you clear you collect to help you build your city. There are also many more bonuses and extras that help you to clear rounds and build your city. Overall it is very fun and not too hard nor too easy. I have been playing it non stop since I got it. I think the replay value on this is good as well. If you liked 7 Wonders or similar game I would highly recommend this!

Like this better than 7 Wonders...
This is superior to 7 Wonders for a few reasons;
- You can keep playing even if you lose and you don't have to start from the beginning. In 7 Wonders I built 5 of the 7 Wonders, lost my 4 lives and had to start from the beginning. The "cheat" or strategy around this is to turn the game off without saving each time you think you will lose your last life. It boots up to your last location... essentially you can complete the game on only one life.
- The graphics are clearer, making it easier to play.
- Generally more fun and relaxing.