"Boars in Rome" is a parkour platformer set in a dystopian Rome. Players can combine running, jumping, sliding, and wall-running to choose their own path through linearly structured levels.
The game's movement design draws inspiration from "Mirror's Edge" and the sliding mechanics in "Counter-Strike." In addition to basic actions, players can swing from lampposts and vault over low obstacles, allowing for relatively free traversal through scenes. Each level has a clear endpoint, but how you reach it is up to the player; if you're not focused on efficiency, you can simply jump around and explore.
In the story setting, Earth has been abandoned. The player character awakens from cryogenic sleep and must explore the ruins of Rome to uncover what happened there. The environments combine historical architecture, futuristic megastructures, machinery, and nature reclaiming the city, with some areas featuring a distinct brutalist visual style.
Foreign media outlet Rock Paper Shotgun noted that the environmental style of the first level recalls "Dishonored" and "Half-Life 2," comparing the title to "VHOLUME," which also emphasizes combining parkour tools. While the latter provides a concise set of tools for players to master, "Boars in Rome" incorporates more movement techniques and expressive possibilities.
The game has not yet announced a release date, but players can add it to their Steam wishlists. Open beta sign-ups are currently available on Steam.
Detailed report from foreign media:
Years ago, I had a dream where I was parkouring through a Venice mostly submerged underwater. Undoubtedly, this dream stemmed from the countless hours I spent playing "Assassin's Creed II" as a teenager—time I probably should have spent preparing for my GCSE exams. Years later, this dream still lingers in my mind, mainly because I've always wanted to recapture that feeling in some way, and the actual "Assassin's Creed" series didn't fully satisfy that desire. Then today, while browsing social media, I stumbled upon "Boars in Rome": a parkour platformer inspired by "Mirror's Edge" and "Counter-Strike" sliding mechanics, set in a dystopian version of Rome.
Honestly, when I saw the video below, I was completely stunned. "Isn't this exactly what I dreamed of!" Well, sort of, since the background isn't exactly the same. As the gamthe game's Steam page describes it as:
"You have been chosen to leave Earth and start a new life. Earth has been abandoned, machines are still running, and nature is reclaiming what remains. Explore the ruins of Rome—where historical monuments intertwine with futuristic megastructures—and discover what happened while you were frozen in time."
Think "Mirror's Edge" meets "Counter-Strike" sliding mechanics—you can parkour on anything! Move smoothly and stylishly through a dystopian version of Rome. Or just jump around and explore however you like. It's called "Boars in Rome"!
It doesn't match my dreams in every detail. Some scenes feature a more distinct brutalist style, rather than the much older architecture typically associated with Rome, but the feeling is still there. "Boars in Rome" also has a dreamlike quality when in motion. The player's control over the character's body far exceeds what my real body can do or would be willing to attempt. You can run, jump, slide, and wall-run. Mechanically, it's quite similar to "VHOLUME." The difference is that "Boars in Rome" adds more movement techniques, such as swinging from lampposts or vaulting over low obstacles.
"VHOLUME" feels more like giving you a simple set of tools and letting you master them to their fullest potential. "Boars in Rome" offers slightly more expressiveness; I'd even dare call it an immersive sim. The levels you explore are linear with a clear endpoint, but how you complete the journey is entirely up to you. With that in mind, classifying it as an immersive sim is quite fitting. At the very least, its first level recalls Viktor Antonov's designs in "Dishonored"—and honestly, "Half-Life 2" as well.
