gamespy's bryn williams scored the game 3.5 out of 5, writing it "oozes potential but ultimately fails to deliver greatness." he called the stealth levels "distinctly bland, and above all else, poorly designed." he was also critical of the voice acting and the cutscenes, and concluded "the overall theme and premise of "shadow of rome" ends up coming across as a missed opportunity for gaming greatness. the pacing is thrown out of whack on a regular basis due to the crippled stealth elements."