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Platform: Xbox Genre: Action Publisher: Acclaim Developer: Acclaim ESRB: M (Mature) Released: Q4 2003 Support AE! Buy Games Here:
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Gladiator: Sword of VengeanceScore: 6.7 / 10 |
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Pros: - Some Roman sword slashing - Great soundtrack - Impressive lighting and shading effects - Plenty of beat-em-up action
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Cons: - Superficial combo system - Only three magic powers - Mediocre graphics - No multiplayer - Repetitive and uninspired gameplay - Gives a bad name to a good movie
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Related Links: Review: Legacy of Kain: Defiance (XB) Review: Prince of Persia - The Sands of Time (XB) Review: State of Emergency (XB)
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"Gladiator was on its way to becoming the sleeper hit of 2003… then the gameplay threw it into the bargain bin."
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After seeing the blockbuster movie Gladiator for the first time, I jumped to the conclusion that there would be dozens of Gladiator-like games sitting on store shelves. Unfortunately nothing was really available at the time, the closest thing available was the Xbox disaster Circus Maximus, a chariot-racing game. Now, more than three years after the movie, comes the first title bearing the name Gladiator (although, it's not based on the movie).
The first level of Gladiator: Sword of Vengeance is one of the finest I’ve seen in quite a while, setting a quick and up-tempo pace. You play Invictus Thrax, a Thracian slave who went on to become the greatest Gladiator of the era, and is currently fighting in a tournament. Though his life is fine for the moment, the future of the Roman Empire is in jeopardy because it's a time of famine, plague, and badly fought wars brought to the people of Rome by their new emperor, Arruntius. As Thrax works his way into the Colosseum, he realizes he has been set up by the Emperor to take a fall (i.e. be slaughtered). In a blinking moment the screen goes white, and he is found in the blissful heaven, Elysium.
Without giving away too much of the story, Thrax is thereafter forced to set out and kill Arruntius, using the power of the Gods. Ultimately, the story is much like the film, with the same art direction and idea of deceit. What’s different though is the amount of mythology used to add depth. Instead of fighting through rows of humans, Gladiator showcases a number of mythic enemies of all sizes and power.
The initial power you are given by the Gods is the power of Hercules. Much like the name implies, this power gives Thrax incredible strength. In order to gain this ability, he must first kill a certain amount of enemies. When this is done, a meter located on the bottom of the screen will fill up granting you the ability to use this power whenever you like. Other powers given to you in time are the Power of Pluto, in which the Wraith Knights aid you in killing your enemies; and the Power of Jupiter, which casts spirits to fight alongside of you in battle. Though both of these powers prove useful to winning key battles, they most certainly aren’t required. With the powers and magic understood, it’s time to check out the weapons of Gladiator. The initial weapon you start with is a pair of double-bladed gauntlets but Thrax quickly acquires a major arsenal of bladed death, including two-handed axes (slow but powerful), although you'll probably spend the majority of time with the basic sword (good speed and stopping power). Each offers varying power and reach. It comes down to the old adage: "The right tool for the right job."
The graphics of Gladiator showcase some great lighting and shadow effects but little else. The detail on the settings and characters is at best mediocre, with the word “standard” written all over the place. The Colosseum is the one place where the graphics look decent. The huge size of the Colosseum is truly felt, while other areas feel dry and uninspired. Invictus Thrax himself has little detail in him, barely setting him apart from other human characters in the game. Gladiator was on its way to becoming the sleeper hit of 2003… then the gameplay threw it into the bargain bin. Fortunately, I can sum up the listless gameplay with one word: superficial, with a capital "S". sure the gameplay is fun for the first thirty minutes, but the lack of depth in a promising system causes everything else to crumble. The most disappointing of features has to be the combo system. The game stresses multiple combos and distinct moves, so how come they all look exactly the same? During a battle you’ll be smashing the two primary action buttons (A and X) constantly, knowing that a strategic order of actions will make no more of a difference than randomly hitting buttons. The battles become extremely easy and, most important, boring. Not even the mythic powers or gory action makes the gameplay any less repetitive. Thank God for great music, or else I would had a much more difficult time getting through the long cut scenes or prolonged stages of running around. Gladiator offers a superb soundtrack, sporting the same quality from the film (that’s a first). Voice acting was decent throughout, although in some instances it did seem a bit over the top. As for action sequences, the sounds of metal clashing is accurate and clean, but like the gameplay, quickly dismissed. The soundtrack offers great quality and deserves recognition; nothing else in the sound department deserves mention. If we were still living in 106 A.D, Gladiator: Sword of Vengeance would get the thumb-down and be swiftly executed (and thereby avoid any problems with space-time continuum). But since we live in a much more civilized age, it’s best to rent this game. If you need to quench your thirst for some mythological beat-em-up action, then Gladiator is your only choice. - Eric Lahiji (January 2, 2003)
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