CAPCOM® RECREATES THE VIOLENT SPECTACLE OF ANCIENT ROME WITH SHADOW OF ROME™ FOR THE PLAYSTATION®2 COMPUTER ENTERTAINMENT SYSTEM

E3, LOS ANGELES  May 12, 2004— Capcom®, a powerhouse in the multi-billion dollar video game industry, today showcased Shadow of Rome™, an all-new action adventure game for the PlayStation®2 computer entertainment system. Shadow of Rome transports players to one of the most perilous ages of man, an era when Caesar was hailed as the leader of the Roman Empire and whose sovereignty dominated all of western civilization. Murder, false accusations and blood spilled in gladiatorial battles await those who seek an all encompassing epic when Shadow of Rome is released throughout North America in winter 2004.

The year is 44 B.C. The grandeur of the Republic of Rome has been tarnished by political corruption and society has been overrun by unruliness and violence. Julius Caesar advocates for drastic reform into imperialism in order to restore Rome, but he is met with opposition. Before changes could be implemented, the enlightened head of state is murdered. Consequently the horrific news finds its way on the battlefield and to the ears of one soldier, Agrippa, who rushes back to Rome only to be confronted with the announcement that his father, Uesnius who was a close advisor to Caesar, is the accused murderer. Unfortunately, time is running out for Agrippa as his father is to be publicly executed by the winner of the next gladiatorial event. Together with the help of his best friend, Octavius and a female gladiator named Claudia, Agrippa must become a gladiator to rescue his father and uncover the truth.

While players venture throughout the world of ancient Rome and as the story unfolds, Shadow of Rome will automatically switch between Agrippa and Octavius, each of whom have their own area of expertise. Playing Agrippa lends itself more to action while Octavius is towards the more stealth and adventure elements of the game. To remain true to the Roman era, players will have to use objects in the environment and weapons of the day such as stones, slingshots, spears and swords in order to progress through the game. Also, situations will arise when Agrippa or Octavius will rely on nothing but their hands in order to combat those impeding his quest to absolve Uesnius.

The venerable city will be reconstructed in full 3D with startling realism, compelling players to explore ancient Rome. Diverse environments including a bustling market place, vast forests, sea vessels, citadels and the Coliseum will be the stage for the various battles and interrogations, all the while searching for the truth. In addition, a colorful cast of characters that appear throughout the game, including actual historical figures, deepens the level of realism and make this saga more immersive.

Shadow of Rome includes the following features:

Character switching – Shadow of Rome blends action and adventure with the use of two different main characters, Agrippa and Octavius. One character lends itself more to action and the other is crucial for the adventure elements of the game. Switch between the `brains' and `brawn' to uncover the truth behind the real murderer of Caesar.

Full 3-D polygonal environments - Ancient Rome is stunningly recreated immersing the player by bringing a sense of realism to the game

Gameplay variety – Shadow of Rome thrusts players into numerous sub-challenges where they participate in gladiatorial events such as chariot racing, tournament battles and duals to the death.

Dolby Sound Pro Logic II – Shadow of Rome will include a sound system similar to those found in today's motion pictures. This creates an experience of truly being part of the action by utilizing a wide array of sound effects that reconstruct the hustle and bustle of ancient Rome or the roar of a crowd at the Coliseum.

Historical figures of ancient Rome round off the colorful cast of Shadow of Rome. Capcom is a leading worldwide developer, publisher and distributor of interactive entertainment. Founded in 1983, the company has created world renowned franchises including Resident Evil, Street Fighter, Mega Man, Breath of Fire, Devil May Cry and the Onimusha series. Headquartered in Osaka, Japan, the company maintains operations in the U.S., United Kingdom, Germany, Tokyo and Hong Kong. More information about Capcom and its products can be found on the company's web site at http://www.capcom.com. 

Capcom, Street Fighter, Mega Man and Resident Evil are registered trademarks of Capcom Co., Ltd. Onimusha, Devil May Cry and Breath of Fire are trademarks of Capcom Co., Ltd. "PlayStation" and the "PS" Family logo are registered trademarks of Sony Computer Entertainment Inc. All rights reserved. All other marks are the property of their respective

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