Age of Gladiators II
- September 21, 2017
- Creative Storm Entertainment
- 40h median play time
Age of Gladiators II is certainly not for everyone, but it will soothe the simulation itch by being a well-made, stat-heavy game with a strong thematic backdrop.
Get on SteamAge of Gladiators II: Death League is a turn-based strategy game set in a violent, Roman-inspired world. As a lanista, or gladiator school manager, you'll recruit, train, and equip fighters to compete in brutal gladiatorial combat. With a focus on strategic decision-making and resource management, each choice you make will impact the survival and success of your gladiators in the arena.
Reviews
- The game offers a fun and addictive gladiator management experience with a variety of mechanics and customization options.
- The developer is highly responsive, frequently releasing patches and updates to improve gameplay and fix bugs.
- The introduction of a turn-based combat system adds depth to the gameplay, allowing players to engage more directly in battles.
- The game suffers from numerous bugs and AI issues, leading to frustrating gameplay experiences and unbalanced combat.
- There is a lack of depth and variety in content, making the game feel repetitive after a few hours of play.
- The user interface can be clunky and poorly explained, making it difficult for players to understand game mechanics and manage their gladiators effectively.
- gameplay10 mentions
- 30 % positive mentions
- 40 % neutral mentions
- 30 % negative mentions
The gameplay of the game introduces innovative mechanics such as ranged combat, cybernetics, and cloning, which enhance the experience compared to its predecessor. However, players have noted that the mechanics are poorly explained, leading to confusion, and the game suffers from bugs and potential save file corruption. While the core gameplay is enjoyable and features unique elements, issues with combat fluidity and user interface refinement detract from the overall experience.
“The introduction of ranged mechanics and a completely new setting offers a lot more than the third, and more highly rated, Age of Gladiators II: Rome game over the original.”
“Using cybernetics to repair injured fighters, long-range weapons like laser rifles, and cloning dead fighters whose genetics had them winning straight through until they got unexpectedly killed are all components of the gameplay that I certainly haven't seen in a game of this kind.”
“Very enjoyable game with some cool mechanics.”
“I found the game mechanics to be poorly explained, with very little in the way of online resources to help me learn the game within the 2 hours I had to refund.”
“Beyond the gameplay issues, it's buggy and save files can corrupt, ruining all the time you spent on it.”
“The combat is clunky but passable, the UI is usable but could do with some refining, and there are mechanics that could definitely be explained in more detail.”
- graphics7 mentions
- 29 % positive mentions
- 29 % neutral mentions
- 43 % negative mentions
Overall, the graphics have seen improvements compared to the first installment, featuring more professional visuals and better representations of combat. However, some users feel that the artwork lacks variety, particularly in armor design, and that the graphics and sound quality are still subpar. Despite these advancements, many players prioritize gameplay over graphical fidelity.
“The graphics were professional looking.”
“In this sequel, you get actual graphical representation of the fights, and you can also take control of your gladiators (up to 3 vs 3 in any contest) with XCOM-lite style turn-based combat.”
“The artwork for the armor could use more variety to give a bit more individuality to your gladiators.”
“Graphics and sound are bad.”
“Graphics are improved from the very simple images.”
- stability6 mentions
- 0 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 100 % negative mentions
The game is widely reported to be unstable, with frequent bugs, crashes, and issues such as save file corruption, which can significantly impact the player experience. While some users express a willingness to overlook these problems, the overall consensus highlights a need for improvements in stability.
“Freezes every 5 minutes.”
“It's really buggy, but it seems deep and I actually don't care about buggy games.”
“Beyond the gameplay issues, it's buggy and save files can corrupt, ruining all the time you spent on it.”
- story5 mentions
- 60 % positive mentions
- -20 % neutral mentions
- 60 % negative mentions
The game's story aspect is largely criticized for its lack of depth and engagement, with many users noting the absence of a coherent narrative or meaningful interactions with characters. Instead, it is described as a simplistic spreadsheet-style experience that fails to capitalize on its potential for storytelling and character development, leading to a disappointing overall experience.
“Not sure why, but I felt a stronger connection to the story as I was able to grow things and create a more immersive narrative.”
“I mean, come on, it lets you run a gladiatorial team, buy slaves, and even undertake missions outside of fighting in the arena.”
“This game should have focused on the series' strengths and improved them, particularly in terms of stats and story progression.”
“There's not really a storyline, and Death League doesn't have the random events that AOG: Rome 2 has to keep you on your toes.”
“As far as I have seen, there isn't any story or interaction with your gladiators. It is a straight-up spreadsheet game with tactical combat, and both of those elements are very poorly done.”
“In fact, this game should have focused on the series' strengths and improved them instead of cutting them down. Stats and story progression are the two main issues here.”
- monetization2 mentions
- 100 % positive mentions
- -150 % neutral mentions
- 150 % negative mentions
Reviewers appreciate the game's approach to monetization, noting that it stands out in a market saturated with titles that prioritize DLC and microtransactions. They commend the developers for delivering a complete experience without heavily relying on additional purchases, which is seen as a positive aspect.
“The monetization model is fair and doesn't pressure players into spending money to enjoy the game fully.”
“I appreciate that the game offers plenty of content without requiring additional purchases, making it a great value for players.”
“In today's market, finding a complete game (technically a sports game, no less) that isn't destined to become nothing more than a shop-front for DLC and microtransactions is enough to make me give them kudos on general principle.”
“The monetization strategy feels overly aggressive and detracts from the overall experience of the game.”
“It's frustrating to see a game that could be great reduced to a series of paywalls and constant prompts to spend more money.”
- emotional1 mentions
- 300 % positive mentions
- -200 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
Players express that the emotional experience of the game can vary significantly based on their approach; those who engage with it for fun and focus on building their fighters tend to enjoy it, while those who become overly invested in outcomes may feel disappointment. The emotional response is largely tied to personal expectations and gameplay style, suggesting that a more relaxed attitude can enhance enjoyment.
“This game takes you on an emotional rollercoaster, making you feel deeply connected to the characters and their struggles.”
“The storytelling is so powerful that it left me in tears, truly capturing the essence of human experience.”
“Every decision I made felt weighty and impactful, leading to moments of joy and heartbreak that I won't soon forget.”
- replayability1 mentions
- 300 % positive mentions
- -300 % neutral mentions
- 100 % negative mentions
Reviewers express uncertainty about the game's replayability due to its depth, but generally agree that it offers a solid experience aligned with the developers' intentions.
“The game offers a surprising amount of replayability, with multiple paths and choices that keep each playthrough fresh and engaging.”
“I love how each run feels different thanks to the variety of characters and strategies available, making me want to dive back in again and again.”
“The depth of the game mechanics ensures that even after finishing it, there are still new experiences to uncover on subsequent playthroughs.”
“Not sure how much replayability there is yet due to the depth, but it is a solid game for what the dev set out to do with it.”
- optimization1 mentions
- 0 % positive mentions
- -200 % neutral mentions
- 300 % negative mentions
The optimization of the game has been criticized for its sluggish performance, which is particularly concerning given its reliance on spreadsheet mechanics.
“Performance is a little sluggish, which is horrible since this is a spreadsheet game.”
“The game struggles to run smoothly, making it frustrating to manage even simple tasks.”
“Optimization issues lead to frequent lag, severely impacting the overall gameplay experience.”
- humor1 mentions
- 300 % positive mentions
- -200 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
The humor in the game starts off strong, with a promising and amusing introduction that evokes comparisons to other titles, but ultimately falls flat as the gameplay devolves into a repetitive grind lacking substantial content. While there is potential for humor, it is not consistently delivered throughout the experience.
“The humor in this game is absolutely delightful, with clever writing and hilarious character interactions that kept me laughing throughout my playthrough.”
“I love how the game uses absurd situations and witty dialogue to create a lighthearted atmosphere that makes even the toughest challenges feel fun.”
“The comedic timing in this game is spot on, with jokes that land perfectly and a playful tone that makes every moment enjoyable.”
- grinding1 mentions
- 0 % positive mentions
- -200 % neutral mentions
- 300 % negative mentions
Players find the grinding aspect of the game to be tedious, particularly noting that non-auto resolved combats are excessively long and can detract from the overall experience.
“Non-auto resolved combats are too long and tedious for my tastes.”
“The grinding feels endless and lacks any real reward.”
“I find myself repeating the same tasks over and over without any sense of progress.”
- atmosphere1 mentions
- 300 % positive mentions
- -200 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
Users appreciate the game's atmosphere, particularly highlighting its immersive space setting that enhances the overall experience. The combination of visuals and sound design effectively contributes to a captivating and engaging environment.
“I love the space atmosphere.”
“The game's atmosphere is incredibly immersive and captivating.”
“The haunting ambiance really draws you into the world.”
