Rome Reborn: The Roman Forum (Oculus Go & Gear VR)

System: Samsung Gear VR, Oculus Go
Price at Time Of Review: £14.99 ($20)
Comfort Rating: Green (No Movement)
Genre: Educational
Input: 3 Dof Controller
Best Playing Position: Sitting, Standing
Multi-Player: No
Age Rating: PG

---

 

Description: The Roman Forum was the civic center of ancient Rome and the single most admired quarter of the Eternal City. Here were located the Senate House, law courts, important temples, and historic monuments. Today, the Forum is in ruins, and even those able to visit have a difficult time understanding it. This app offers you the chance to take an interactive, self-guided tour of over 30 features in the Forum, which have been digitally reconstructed by archaeologists to show you how they appeared in the year AD 320. At many stops, you can fade between the Forum as it appears today and the way it looked in antiquity. As you take your visit, you may listen to commentary about what you are seeing given by distinguished experts. When you are finished with your tour, go to our website (www.romereborn.org), register, and gauge your level of expertise. Earn medals for your achievements and share them on social media. Now, you’re ready to go on your next adventure in the ancient city!

Review: Much like the “Rome Reborn: Flight over Ancient Rome” app “The Roman Forum” is an educational app that brings you detailed 360 images of what ancient Rome looked like. While you can’t freely explore the map it is still pretty impressive in terms of clarity, With several hours of narration and a full educational quiz to be done online as well, this app encourages learning and does it in a non-nauseating way. Its far from flawless and certain things will frustrate you, but if you don’t feel it is worth the price or it’s poorly presented, it just means you are not the target audience for this app. Let’s face it, not a single gamer will be getting any fun out of this, but a teacher (or someone interested in this subject) might well love it!

While the full asking price of £14.99 ($20) is this apps biggest downfall I could spend all day trying to arguing with you that it is worth that price to the right person like a teacher who is teaching a classroom fool of kids on this exact subject. But that is an argument for another day. In the meanwhile, I will give this app a silver based on the quality of information it has and leave value for money out of it.