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Gladius
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Graphics & Sound:
Gladiatorial combat has always been overlooked when it came to video games. Sure, a few games have featured a 'Roman theme' area where you would take part in some sort of games, but to the best of my knowledge there has never been a game focused squarely on the combat. It's that premise alone that makes Gladius something special. Set in a fictional Roman-esque world, Gladius gives players something different, but it may not appeal to the masses. Graphically, Gladius will either stun or disappoint -- there's no better way to say it. Rarely have I seen so much division between people over the look of a game, but I've managed to find plenty on both sides. Personally, I loved the game's look. It not only manages to capture that 'true' Roman style (or at least a highly romanticized one), but also a nice mythical feel. Character animations are tight, fluid and manage to do all the little things that give a game character. Eyes and mouths move independently of each other and feature little things like twitches. Human competitors all have a distinct look to them and are fully customizable -- allowing you to build a team that not only plays the way you want, but looks the way you want. This is taken a step further by the inclusion of the mythical units like Yeti, minotaurs, witches and satyrs. The way each of these units -- both real and imaginary -- blend with each other and look like they naturally coexist with each other adds life to the game's mythos. Each of the arenas sports its own distinct look and calls to mind some of the arenas from Gladiator. Big, massive, epic -- choose your word and it fits. The only true downside I found in the game was the texture quality, which is a little below normal Xbox fare. Normally this wouldn't be that noticeable a problem, but considering this is a slow, turn-based game these things do tend to stick out a little more. Sound doesn't fare as well. Sound effects are below par and lack variety. A sword hitting another sword sounds like it should, but it always sounds that way -- even if a small rapier is hitting a great sword. There is also a noticeable lack of sounds for a variety of actions, such as when something drops to the ground. Voice work is the typical Lucasarts fare -- which translates into great work all around. Unfortunately, it's also a tad too repetitive -- which will really grate on your nerves after a few battles. The music is sorely lacking and features only a few select tracks. The quality was there, but there's simply no quantity. |
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Gameplay:
The great war between Imperia and Nordaugh gave rise to the Dark God who wrought havoc across the land. It was only through the power of the Valkyries that the God was banished from the land. In the aftermath, war was made illegal so that the Dark God could never return. However, in order to keep order, the Nordaugh and Imperia set up a league of combat games in order to settle disputes. Soon the greatest warriors in the world began competing in the games -- fighting not for their country's ideals, but for personal honor and glory. Years after the great war, a young princess may be the key to the reawakening of the Dark God. Yeah -- the story isn't really there, but that's just filler. The real heart of Gladius is the action that takes place between the drawn out and boring cut scenes. Gladius puts you in the role of one of two characters: Valens, the son of a world-renown Imperial gladiator, or Ursula, a barbarian princess. The story that accompanies each of these fighters is unique to the character, but they eventually end up crossing paths. After selecting which character you wish to fight as, you are given control of their 'gladiatorial school' and set off to recruit new members and compete in tournaments all over the world. Much like the graphics -- you're either going to love or hate Gladius within the first few minutes of gameplay. For the most part, Gladius is a tried-and-true turn-based strategy RPG. You build a small army and take turns fighting until an army is destroyed. Think of a slower Final Fantasy Tactics with a different combat scheme, and you won't be too far off from what Gladius offers. If you're expecting fast-paced combat on the scale of Dynasty Warriors, this clearly isn't the game for you. The sheer depth of options Gladius gives players is one of its stronger aspects. You can not only change the color of you characters, but you also have the option to change their armors, weapons, stats, skills... you name it. These aspects are for more than just show and play a large part in the overall flow of the game. Choosing the wrong weapon types could give you a handicap in certain matches. Giving the game an even deeper level of gameplay is the 'affinity' system -- which gives different characters certain abilities with select pieces of equipment. As you delve deeper into the game, you'll unlock new soldiers, giving you more variety in your attack styles. Existing characters will also level up and gain new strengths. Without spoiling too much of the fun, you could easily spend hours with this game just customizing your armies. One of the great parts of the system is that it's what you make of it. If you'd rather just fight and not worry about who has what weapon, you can easily scrape by the game. When you grow tired of competing in tournaments, your army can also take missions from local officials. These turn out to be some of the more interesting aspects of the game and will give you opportunities to increase your party's strength. Throw in a plethora of tournaments and other things to do, and you'll be busy for a long time. |
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Difficulty:
Action buffs will have a difficult time with Gladius, while more strategy-minded players will find a nice challenge. If it hasn't been made clear enough already, I'll spell it out for you. Gladius requires mental and logical skills above all others. Although it does have it's share of 'twitch' moments (which I'll get to soon), for the most part, Gladius is more akin to a giant game of chess. You have to think a few moves ahead of your opponent and plan strategies. You have to know who's on your team, what their abilities are and how they can best be used. If these ideas scare you, fear not - the game isn't all that bright and will give you ample opportunity to both make mistakes and fix them. The game isn't a pushover - but I didn't find myself hurling the controller across the room either. Obviously, this style of gameplay -- which is a little slower than I would have liked -- isn't going to appeal to everyone, which is why Lucasarts have thrown in an excellent tutorial in order to help speed some players along. Long time strategy players will blow through most of the tutorials once they get the basics down. Action gamers will find they have to rethink their methods, but should find the tutorials helpful in getting them into the game. The learning curve is also very nicely done, and doesn't pit you against impossible odds too quickly. The game is a rough start, but once you get into the flow of what's going on and learn more about the soldiers available to you, it's a nice challenge for anyone. Well, that is if you have the patience. |
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Game Mechanics:
Combat is a little different in Gladius. After placing your army in the arena, the game goes through a turn-based mode giving each of your characters a turn at bat. Here you can choose to move your character within their movement grid, attack someone if they are in range or both. Instead of using a simple menu system for attacking, Gladius throws in an interesting button-press system. All attacks involve a swing meter which helps to determine the power and velocity behind the swing. Pressing the button at any time will result in an attack, although it's libel to either be really weak or a miss. Trying to get the timing down for the attack (think any golf game), will result in more powerful attacks. Button presses, or more exactly, the timing of button presses, contribute to more than just the power of your attack. Much like in football, the harder you press your attack -- the more fired up the crowd gets. Getting the crowd fired up and on your side will allow your army to fight better and will help rack up more victories. Button presses also play into magic and ranged attacks by either requiring you to complete semi-complex (okay, they're really rather simple) combinations or just quickly tapping a button. Gladius is something different - which is either good or bad depending on your point of view. If you're a little too dedicated to more fast-paced Japanese style strategy RPGs, you may want to give Gladius a rental before fully committing to the life of a gladiator. However, if you're up for a different challenge, Gladius is just the game for you. This is a game you have to play for longer than a few hours to truly appreciate. Players who give the game a quick 'spin' are likely to come away from the game disappointed. Those who give it time to develop and grow will likely find it a rewarding, and extremely fun, experience. |
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-Starscream, GameVortex Communications AKA Ricky Tucker |
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