Producer: MC Lothlorien, 16K
£5.50

In this cast of thousands it is the first century BC and you are the Emperor. (A working knowledge of 'I Claudius' might be useful but isn't essential)! What you have to do is simply conquer ten countries which hate you, and do this wiping out their troops (under-paid and under-trained) with your 90,000 men. There are nine generals on your side, including yourself, and 18 legions of 5,000 men each. The idea is to build up armies from the men, appoint generals and launch campaigns to persuade the barbarian hordes how wonderful life under the yoke can be. Three levels of difficulty.

Producer: MC Lothlorien, 16K
£5.50

In this cast of thousands it is the first century BC and you are the Emperor. (A working knowledge of 'I Claudius' might be useful but isn't essential)! What you have to do is simply conquer ten countries which hate you, and do this wiping out their troops (under-paid and under-trained) with your 90,000 men. There are nine generals on your side, including yourself, and 18 legions of 5,000 men each. The idea is to build up armies from the men, appoint generals and launch campaigns to persuade the barbarian hordes how wonderful life under the yoke can be. Three levels of difficulty.

Producer: MC Lothlorien, 16K
£5.50

In this cast of thousands it is the first century BC and you are the Emperor. (A working knowledge of 'I Claudius' might be useful but isn't essential)! What you have to do is simply conquer ten countries which hate you, and do this wiping out their troops (under-paid and under-trained) with your 90,000 men. There are nine generals on your side, including yourself, and 18 legions of 5,000 men each. The idea is to build up armies from the men, appoint generals and launch campaigns to persuade the barbarian hordes how wonderful life under the yoke can be. Three levels of difficulty.

ROMAN EMPIRE BUILDING

Simulation of ancient wars between old-world empires has become a speciality of the software house M C Lothiorian. Roman Empire, for the 16K Spectrum and ZX-81, is the new Lothlorian product. The game is set in the first century BC. As Emperor of Rome you have to conquer six hostile countries. Those countries are regarded as hostile because you do not rule over them.

At the beginning of the game you are given five generals, each with an army under his command. The armies are your ticket to absolute power. As well as the five armies you also have 10 legions, each comprising 5,000 soldiers. From those legions you can stock your armies in such a way as to make sure you will be the conqueror. The way in which you distribute the legions is an important factor in winning the game.

There are three levels of play, ranging from difficult to impossible. We have managed to keep our power-base only in the first two levels. When you have entered the level of difficulty you must build your armies and send them against the countries of you choice.

Matching armies is a skill which is not acquired easily. If you put the wrong army into an area which contains an enemy army of greater strength you will be eliminated. Roman Empire costs £5.50 for the Spectrum and £4.50 for the 16K ZX-81 from M C Lothlorian, 4 Granby Road, Cheadle Hulme, Cheadle, Cheshire SK8 6LS.

MORE EMPIRES TO CONQUER

Roman Empire is the latest period war game from M.C.Lothlorien.

This Cheshire-based company have become specialists in computerised war gaming with other titles in the range such as Peloponnesian War, Tyrant of Athens, Samurai Warrior, and Japanese Challenge.

Roman Empire is a strategy war game requiring thought and application.

Graphics are therefore not as crucial to the game as they are in other games. Even allowing for this the graphics in Roman Empire are very unimpressive.

All you get are columns of figures with a list of menu options around which the game is based.

A few more illustrations would have made the various columns of figures far more accessible. The odd map would have been very much appreciated as well.

The game has now been converted for the Dragon and Atari computers and some of the above suggested improvements have now been incorporated in these new versions. Why it is not possible to upgrade the Spectrum version is anyone's guess.

The idea of the game is to conquer the six countries that are hostile to you. In order to do this you must wipe out your enemies troops. You must build up your legions and launch campaigns in the regions you are attempting to annexe.

A constant check has to be kept on your legions morale, lighting efficiency, energy level and status.

The only graphic display Roman Empire does give you is when you press the "next period" button - which totals you victories and defeats. What the display was supposed to be, however, I couldn't tell you. My girlfriend thought it looked like a screen full of ants. Any suggestions?

Confirmed war garners may get something out of this one. For the uninitiated though - it would have to have greatly improved on-screen instructions and graphics before I would reach for my wallet.