Gladiator: Sword of Vengeance
- January 31, 2017
- Throwback Entertainment
Get on Steam"Gladiator: Sword of Vengeance" is an action-adventure game set in the declining Roman Empire, where players can use authentic weaponry and engage in combat against various opponents, from brutal guardsmen to mythical creatures. The game features a cinematic adventure through the streets of Rome and even to the paradise of Elysium. As players progress through combat, they gain experience and learn new abilities, with the ultimate goal of defeating their foes through skill and strategy.
PC
Windows
PlayStation
Playstation 2
Xbox
Reviews
- The game is a nostalgic callback to simpler, fun gameplay, reminiscent of classic hack-and-slash titles.
- The graphics and backgrounds are visually appealing, and the game runs well even on low-end systems.
- The combat, while repetitive, is satisfying and features enjoyable finishing moves and a variety of enemies.
- The controls are clunky and not user-friendly, especially for keyboard players, making gameplay frustrating at times.
- The game suffers from a lack of variety in boss fights and enemies, leading to a repetitive experience.
- There are technical issues, such as broken achievements and cutscenes being obstructed by bars, which detract from the overall experience.
- story16 mentions
- 50 % positive mentions
- 31 % neutral mentions
- 19 % negative mentions
The story of "Gladiator: Sword of Vengeance" is primarily a simple revenge plot, which some players find enjoyable despite its lack of depth. While opinions vary, many reviewers appreciate the nostalgic elements and overall execution, considering it an acceptable narrative for a classic game. However, some players criticize the game for having minimal story content amidst repetitive combat.
“10/10 story, blood, combat, enemies, levels, executions, art and mechanics.”
“Good story, gore combat, finishers, weapon upgrades, variety of enemies, etc.”
“Yes, the combat is repetitive and there is literally no story.”
“The story, while it is a simple revenge plot, is nice for what it was.”
“All right, now for the bad/annoying, the achievements for the game are broken except for the story achievements.”
- gameplay6 mentions
- 33 % positive mentions
- 67 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
The gameplay is generally praised for its engaging combat, levels, and nostalgic elements, contributing to an entertaining experience. However, some frustrating sections can detract from the overall enjoyment, though these moments are infrequent. Overall, the game is celebrated for its mechanics and artistic design, despite some dated aspects.
“The blood and gore is, of course, dated but still nice. Big ups to this game being on Steam and Gabe knowing what games were worth putting in the Steam store. Thank you for bringing me back to my childhood! I just wish the devs didn't abandon this masterpiece. There's still people who endlessly love this game: 10/10 story, blood, combat, enemies, levels, executions, art, and mechanics.”
“Those sections are few and far between (luckily!), but when they appear, they manage to instantly make the game frustrating instead of the otherwise fun and entertaining gameplay throughout.”
- graphics6 mentions
- 50 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 50 % negative mentions
The graphics of "Gladiator: Sword of Vengeance" are reminiscent of the PS2 era, which may not appeal to everyone, especially those seeking modern visuals. While the game offers an engaging gladiatorial experience filled with blood and gore, players should be prepared for outdated graphics and occasionally frustrating controls. For those desiring superior graphics and gameplay, "Ryse: Son of Rome" is recommended as an alternative.
“The graphics in Gladiator: Sword of Vengeance capture the gritty essence of the Roman setting, immersing players in a world filled with blood and gore.”
“If you appreciate the charm of PS2-era graphics, Gladiator: Sword of Vengeance offers a nostalgic experience that complements its gladiatorial theme.”
“For those who prefer more modern visuals, Ryse: Son of Rome is a great alternative with superior graphics and controls.”
“I enjoyed Gladiator: Sword of Vengeance, but the graphics are definitely stuck in the PS2 era. If you don't mind outdated visuals, you might still find some enjoyment.”
“The graphics are quite underwhelming, reminiscent of older console games, which can detract from the overall experience.”
“If you prefer better graphics and controls, you might want to try Ryse: Son of Rome instead.”
- music6 mentions
- 50 % positive mentions
- 33 % neutral mentions
- 17 % negative mentions
The game's orchestral soundtrack enhances its cinematic quality, providing a Hollywood feel, while the overall sound design is considered decent. Although the voice acting may come off as corny, the original soundtrack (OST) has received positive acclaim.
“The orchestral soundtrack gives the game a Hollywood feel, and the sounds are decent, as well as the (corny) voice acting.”
“The OST for this game is great.”
“The orchestral soundtrack gives the game a Hollywood feel, and the sounds are decent, as well as the (corny) voice acting.”
“The orchestral soundtrack gives the game a Hollywood feel, but the sounds are just decent, and the voice acting is quite corny.”
- replayability2 mentions
- 0 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 100 % negative mentions
Reviews indicate that the game lacks sufficient content, leading to limited replayability. Players feel that the experience does not offer enough variety or incentive to return after the initial playthrough.
“It doesn't feel like there is enough content, so you won't get much replay value either.”
“There simply isn't enough variety to encourage multiple playthroughs.”
- optimization2 mentions
- 100 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
The game has received updates that enhance its optimization for modern systems, allowing it to run smoothly at 1920x1080 resolution, even on older hardware.
“The game has been updated to work better with modern systems, so it looks great at 1920x1080 and runs smoothly on my archaic gaming laptop.”
