I bought a game a while ago which was a "gotta have it now computer game." You know the kind I mean, the one where you walk in saying "I'm not going to buy a game, I'm only looking" - and then you walk out with one under your arm, The same principle applies when looking through catalogs of wargaming miniatures. The game is called "Fighting For Rome" and it is from Merit Software.

What struck me initially is a fairly nice box cover and that was enough for me. The game allows for two armies of from 6 to 12 units each to engage each other. You get to play against the computer as there is no mechanism to play against another human opponent. The game will give the player a pre-chosen army, allow for a random selection of troops or let the gamma make his own troop choices. While both armies are made up of the same types of units there are enough units to give variety to the battles fought. The rule book is simple, yet complete with a small section on Roman history and tactics. There are seven Roman troop types (3 Cav and 4 Inf) and one would see the same kinds of units in a miniatures game.

One of the biggest weaknesses of the game is the inability to place troops initially on any of the 4 terrain types. Troops always line up in a line starting in the top left of the screen and going until one runs out of troops. There is also no mechanism for moving certain troops initially. For example, if you select one unit each of heavy infantry, light infantry, light cavalry and medium cavalry they will always be set up like this:

Light Infantry
Heavy Infantry
Light Cavalry
Medium Cavalry
Enemy Troops

The light units are not in front of the heavy units! While bowmen do stay out in front of the heavy infantry this is the exception. There is also no way to fake out the game or change this order. Because each army is at a good distance apart this does not destroy the game however ease of order giving and especially troops moving through formations causes incredible confusion. Some armies never recover.

Additionally, the four terrain types are non-movable. For example every game that uses the hill grouping wfll always have the same hill in the same exact places. There is also no ability of the game to flip the side you are playing (from top to bottom or bottom to top). This can be explained in that both Roman armies have the same troop types. Well, I've given you a mixed bag so far about "Fighting For Rome". Does it get better? The answer is yes.

Once troops are chosen for both sides you get the option of giving orders to your troops, seeing on overview of how the battle is progressing (casualties) or seeing an overview of the battlefield. On this screen you can also save games in progress.