Gladius VR

About

Gladius VR is a single player fighting game. It was developed by virtualage and was released on October 29, 2022. It received mostly positive reviews from players.

"Gladius VR" is a pulse-pounding sword fighting game set in ancient Rome, where you'll choose your weapons, train against various enemies, and battle for your freedom in the colosseum. With support for ten different enemies, four locomotion options, and an energy system for special moves, you'll hone your combat skills and experience intense, immersive action. Ranged combat fans can also take advantage of the bow and arrow for a different challenge.

Genres & Tags

Play Modes

Single-Player

+16

Skip User Reviews

78%

Audience ScoreBased on 230 reviews

gameplay9 positive mentions

stability12 negative mentions

The game offers an immersive gladiatorial experience with great atmosphere and engaging combat mechanics.
The variety of weapons, enemies, and game modes, including chariot racing, adds depth and replayability.
The developer is actively working on updates and improvements, showing commitment to enhancing the game based on player feedback.

The game suffers from numerous bugs and glitches, including hit detection issues and performance dips during combat.
Some animations and AI behaviors feel janky and unpolished, detracting from the overall experience.
The initial gameplay can be frustrating due to unresponsive controls and a lack of clarity in combat mechanics.

gameplay
36 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
25%
64%
11%
Gameplay reviews for the game are mixed, with some praising the smooth melee combat mechanics and cinematic atmosphere, while others criticize the repetitive grinding, lack of crowd mechanics, and buggy physics that detract from the experience. Many players express a desire for more RPG elements and improved combat mechanics, noting that despite some enjoyable aspects, the overall gameplay can feel boring and unpolished. Recent updates have improved animations and gameplay dynamics, but opinions remain divided on whether these changes are sufficient to elevate the game.
- “Nice mechanics, good cinematic atmosphere, really nice sword fight, better than Blade & Sorcery hands down.”
- “The gameplay is just amazing.”
- “Gladius has seen a very significant gameplay update recently with patch 1.10 and now I can wholeheartedly recommend this game to anyone who is looking for a decent sword fighting game (plus it has a bow & arrow part as well!).”
- “Also, I don't like how most of the game is locked behind grinding in the same arena over and over again, with no crowd mechanics.”
- “The gameplay is pretty horrendous.”
- “I have had games like Gorn and Blade & Sorcery since their release, and while I want to like this game, 10 minutes into the tutorial and opening gameplay, it was immediately apparent that the physics (while the dev claims they have been reworked) are terrible and make me not even want to play.”
graphics
22 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
36%
50%
14%
The graphics of the game receive mixed reviews, with some players appreciating the art style, detailed textures, and lighting effects, particularly on higher-end hardware. While many find the visuals decent for a budget title, others note that the overall polish and fluidity of animations could be improved. Overall, the graphics are considered good, but not groundbreaking, with a few players expressing a desire for enhancements in certain areas.
- “The graphics are pretty nice, the art style is just right, and the musical score is very good.”
- “As I booted up the game, I was immediately impressed by the graphics—detailed textures and beautiful lighting and fire effects—and thereby realized that this is a high-quality game.”
- “The graphics are great as well as the sound.”
- “I could live with weaker visuals, but the gameplay doesn't do it justice.”
- “It looked okay, but I wasn't sold on the graphics.”
- “Visuals - initially, before messing with the settings, I found it rather rough and unclear/harsh in the armory/market.”
story
15 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
20%
60%
20%
The game's story revolves around the gladiatorial theme, but it is criticized for being underdeveloped and lacking polish, with some missions feeling broken or janky. While players appreciate the immersive experience of stepping into a gladiator's role, they note that the narrative is minimal and still in progress, with hopes for future improvements and additional content. Overall, the story mode offers a fun but flawed experience that could benefit from further refinement.
- “It's a great one so far, it has a great story to it with more in the works. The devs are still very much at work to make it a pinnacle of design.”
- “There are a few janky physics here and there, and some of the 'colosseum' pseudo-story levels feel broken, but it overall does a fabulous job of making you feel like you're really under the helmet in your favorite gladiator show or movie.”
- “This game tries to put you in the shoes of a gladiator with several unlockable weapons, missions with various enemies, and 3 difficulty settings per mission.”
- “It's basically blade and sorcery with a very janky campaign; some of the story missions need a lot of polish.”
- “There are a few janky physics here and there, and some of the 'colosseum' pseudo-story levels feel broken (looking at you, day 4).”
- “- no real story yet”
stability
12 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The game's stability has received mixed reviews, with many players reporting numerous glitches and bugs that can disrupt gameplay, such as freezing screens and hit detection issues. However, some users note that these problems are not game-breaking and that the developers are actively working on fixes. Overall, while the game is described as fun and engaging, its stability remains a significant concern for many players.
- “This game is a messy, buggy hell.”
- “Long loading times with a frozen, buggy screen in between loading.”
- “This game freezes up whenever I load a match.”
atmosphere
11 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
55%
18%
27%
The game's atmosphere is widely praised for its immersive and cinematic qualities, effectively transporting players to a Roman arena filled with variety in enemies and weapons. Reviewers appreciate the dark and mysterious ambiance, complemented by a well-designed central hub and engaging swordplay, although some note that the unrealistic combat mechanics slightly detract from the overall experience. Overall, the atmosphere is considered a standout feature, enhancing the game's sense of place and engagement.
- “The game creates a pretty good atmosphere as if you're in the arena.”
- “Absolutely love the Roman setting and atmosphere, the enemy and weapon variety, and the mods!”
- “The combat feels good, the atmosphere of the environment is immersive and believable.”
- “The atmosphere was dark and mysterious; the weapon selection possibilities seemed to be more than I could ever imagine (most are locked now during development or can be unlocked as you level up).”
- “To make it simple, you may think of it as a GORN with less crazy physics, but with a better atmosphere, more content, more realistic... and actual gladiators!”
- “+ intimidating and later hero-like atmosphere.”
optimization
9 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
33%
34%
33%
The optimization of the game is a mixed bag; while some players praise its smooth VR performance and the noticeable impact of upgraded equipment, others report significant performance dips, particularly during enemy deaths, making the game unplayable for some. Overall, the game's potential is evident, but persistent performance issues detract from the experience for many users.
- “Exciting and gripping action with smooth VR performance.”
- “There are a ton of weapons, shields, and helmets to choose from, and better equipment makes a noticeable difference when it comes to your performance.”
- “Performance, AI tactics and defense, sound depth and accuracy in combat, and deeper combat involvement (stabbing, dismemberment, and shield slams) all shine as beacons of light that will really make this game shine.”
- “Hits don't land the way you would expect them to regularly and performance dips frequently when enemies die.”
- “The poor performance in the game makes it virtually unplayable.”
- “If the performance issues are improved, I may reconsider, but until then I cannot recommend this game.”
grinding
6 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
Players express frustration with the grinding aspect of the game, noting that much of the content is locked behind repetitive arena battles, which lack engaging crowd mechanics. The combat system is described as tedious due to movement controls and character height limitations, making it difficult to effectively engage enemies. Some users found slight improvements with alternative movement options, but overall, the grinding experience detracts from enjoyment.
- “I don't like how most of the game is locked behind grinding in the same arena over and over again, with no crowd mechanics.”
- “Archers are tedious as hell, constantly back-pedaling on you.”
- “I like the ability to hold the weapons in a stabbing position, though again, with the movement system, it makes that tedious and just very unsatisfying.”
humor
4 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The humor in the game is largely derived from its amusing bugs, which are often more entertaining than frustrating, creating a "so bad it's good" experience. Players find moments of unexpected hilarity, such as weapons flying off during combat, adding to the game's charm despite its flaws.
- “The bugs in this game are usually funny and not game breaking.”
- “Some moments of 'really, that happened?' but again, usually funny, not frustrating.”
- “Hilarious the first 2 times when your sword flies off mid-fight.”
replayability
2 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
150%
Players appreciate the game's replayability due to the combination of a campaign mode and sandbox options, which encourage exploration and experimentation. Additionally, the ability to unlock various weapons and helmets by completing challenges adds further incentive for repeated playthroughs.
- “I love that there is a campaign as well as sandbox options, which greatly enhance the game's replayability!”
- “I discovered while exploring the training area a collection of weapons and helmets that can be unlocked by completing different challenges in the arena, adding significant replay value to the game.”
- “I discovered upon exploring the training area a collection of weapons and helmets that can be unlocked by beating different challenges in the arena, which does give the game some replay value.”
- “After completing the main story, I found little incentive to replay the game, as the side quests felt repetitive and uninspired.”
- “The lack of meaningful choices and consequences in the gameplay makes it hard to justify multiple playthroughs.”
monetization
1 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The monetization aspect has received mixed feedback, with some users expressing disappointment that the combat experience does not align with their expectations set by promotional materials.
music
1 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The music in the game is highly praised, with reviewers noting that the musical score is very good and complements the overall aesthetic effectively.
- “The graphics are pretty nice, the art style is just right, and the musical score is very good.”
emotional
1 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
Players report a strong emotional connection to the game, often feeling intense vulnerability and heartbreak in high-stakes moments, akin to the dramatic experiences of characters in epic films like "Gladiator."
- “I visualized myself like Russell Crowe in Gladiator, but eventually, when the first tiger or the first barbarian came towards me, I felt my heart breaking!”