I, Gladiator

About

"I, Gladiator" is an action-packed game that transports you to the heart of the Roman Colosseum. As a gladiator, engage in intense combat against fierce opponents, hone your skills, and rise through the ranks to gain fame and glory. The game offers a rich and immersive experience, with a variety of weapons, enemies, and arena settings to keep you on the edge of your seat.

Genres & Tags

Play Modes

55%

Audience ScoreBased on 60 reviews

graphics7 positive mentions

monetization3 negative mentions

The game features a nostalgic experience with good graphics and a fun hack-and-slash gameplay style.
It offers a variety of customization options for characters and weapons, enhancing the gameplay experience.
The game is addictive and provides mindless fun, making it a decent time-waster at a low price.

The combat system is shallow and repetitive, often feeling clunky and unresponsive, especially with mouse and keyboard controls.
There are significant issues with bugs, including sound cutting out and controls not registering properly, which detracts from the overall experience.
The game suffers from a pay-to-win model and lacks depth in its multiplayer component, making it frustrating for players seeking a balanced experience.

graphics
23 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
30%
57%
13%
The graphics of the game receive mixed reviews, with many praising its unique cell-shaded art style reminiscent of Borderlands, which creates a visually appealing and comic book-like environment. However, some players feel that the graphics could have been improved, especially in the PC version, and note issues such as clunky animations and minor visual glitches. Overall, while the graphics are generally considered decent and enjoyable, they may not meet the expectations of players seeking high-end visuals.
- “The game has a decent graphics engine that creates a realistic and detailed environment.”
- “I love the art style used in this game.”
- “The graphics have the cartoony/borderlands feel that I enjoy, and there is actually a legitimate and interesting storyline to the game.”
- “Graphics and gameplay are pathetic.”
- “An overpriced iOS port (which you can get for 3 bucks on that platform, by the way) that doesn't take advantage of its new PC space in any way other than upgraded visuals.”
- “There are a few minor odd things in the graphic choice for cutscenes, like layers that shouldn't be exposed showing up and the like.”
story
14 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
21%
57%
21%
The game's story has received mixed reviews, with some players finding it weak and cliched, particularly criticizing its reliance on a typical revenge plot with no surprises. However, others appreciate the well-developed narrative, particularly in the single-player mode, which features a compelling tale of betrayal and triumph in a gladiatorial setting. Overall, while some players feel the story lacks depth, others find it engaging and well-integrated with the gameplay.
- “One of those rare 'well-rounded' games, where everything from the storyline, to the music, to the graphics, to the gameplay are all 'good' or better.”
- “The single player story mode is very well done too; you start out as a pretty much naked gladiator, and you work your way up the ranks earning coin to buy new weapons and armor. Each fight gives you experience as well, which you can then spend on different attributes.”
- “I, Gladiator is a story of betrayal to triumph and revenge, with intuitive fighting controls that feel responsive and fluid, just as you would expect from a fast-paced fighting game!”
- “The story is weak and cliched, as it follows a typical revenge plot with no surprises or twists.”
- “No story.”
- “However, the game also has some negative aspects, such as the combat, the story, and the microtransactions.”
gameplay
13 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
23%
54%
23%
The gameplay is generally described as good, with RPG mechanics that allow for character progression and online multiplayer options, enhancing the overall experience. However, some reviews criticize it for being overly simplistic or repetitive, with comparisons to better-executed titles in the hack-and-slash genre. While there are enjoyable elements, such as gore and fun mechanics, there is a consensus that improvements could be made to elevate the gameplay further.
- “One of those rare 'well-rounded' games, where everything from the storyline, to the music, to the graphics, to the gameplay are all 'good' or better.”
- “It even has online gameplay against other people!”
- “That's huge because the game has RPG mechanics where you can buy new weapons, armor, gear, etc. (and raise stats) so that you never have that problem of being 'frustrated' and 'stuck', and neither feel rushed and hurried.”
- “That movie has better gameplay than this poor mess just by the virtue of not having to muddle through this crap button mashing borefest.”
- “The arena mechanics with crowd pleasing and gory kills is not well implemented enough and you are left with a restrictive third person hack & slash that is easily outcompeted with proper hack & slash Japanese titles or the richness of western open world games with similar combat.”
- “Graphics and gameplay are pathetic.”
music
5 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
60%
20%
20%
The music in the game is generally well-received, with some players praising it as great and fitting the overall quality of the game. However, others find it to be typical and repetitive, lacking excitement and originality. Overall, the soundtrack contributes positively to the experience, though opinions on its impact vary.
- “One of those rare 'well-rounded' games, where everything from the storyline to the music to the graphics to the gameplay are all 'good' or better.”
- “Great music, great graphics (very 'Borderlands-esque'), fantastic gameplay design where you can play 'missions' and replay them at will for gold and experience, etc.”
- “I wanted to play this game because the soundtrack sounded cool and the graphics looked alright.”
- “Nothing exciting: typical 'epic' music and sound effects that are pretty poor and repetitive.”
monetization
4 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
50%
75%
The monetization strategy of the game has received criticism for its heavy reliance on microtransactions, which are seen as necessary for upgrades and items, leading to a grind-heavy experience. Players report that essential resources, such as healing potions and damage buffs, are locked behind paywalls, detracting from overall enjoyment.
- “And don't worry, there are no in-game purchases.”
- “Microtransactions are prevalent, with examples including healing potions and damage buffs.”
- “The game also forces you to grind and pay for upgrades and items, as it is designed to make you spend real money on microtransactions.”
- “Microtransactions are excessive, with examples including healing potions and damage buffs.”
- “However, the game also has some negative aspects, such as the combat, the story, and the microtransactions.”
stability
4 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The game suffers from significant stability issues, including frequent bugs, sound cutouts, and inconsistent controller responsiveness, leading to a frustrating user experience. Many players report that these problems detract from overall enjoyment and highlight the need for urgent fixes.
- “It is buggy, and the lack of controller support has taught me new curse words.”
- “Sadly, there are a few buggy issues such as sound cutting out at random points, and the controls are somewhat laggy; sometimes the game doesn't even recognize that you have pressed a button a couple of times, then suddenly it works when you press it again.”
- “Firstly, I would like to say that this game is pretty buggy still and needs to be fixed. A couple of main problems I found were...”
optimization
3 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
Overall, the game's optimization is generally well-received, with players noting that graphics and performance are satisfactory, particularly on PC. The game is considered fun and well-optimized, allowing players to earn in-game currency through gameplay rather than relying heavily on microtransactions.
- “After playing the game for a bit, I can say that it's very fun and very well optimized for PC. From what I can tell, it is not pay-to-win, simply because you can use in-game money won from battles to purchase practically anything, although microtransactions are an option.”
- “Graphics and performance are okay.”
- “At least performance-wise, it's not bad.”
replayability
2 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
150%
The game has received a solid score of 8 for replayability, indicating that players find it engaging enough to return to multiple times. Factors contributing to this include varied gameplay options, multiple endings, and the potential for different strategies. Overall, it offers a compelling experience that encourages repeated playthroughs.
- “The game offers a multitude of choices that significantly alter the storyline, making each playthrough feel fresh and engaging.”
- “With various character builds and strategies to explore, I find myself coming back to the game time and again to try new approaches.”
- “The dynamic world and random events ensure that no two playthroughs are ever the same, keeping the experience exciting and unpredictable.”
atmosphere
1 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
300%
The game's sound design significantly enhances the atmosphere, contributing to a more immersive experience for players.
- “The game features an impressive sound design that enhances the atmosphere and deepens immersion.”
- “The atmosphere is incredibly immersive, drawing players into the game's world.”
- “The combination of visuals and audio creates a captivating atmosphere that keeps you engaged.”
grinding
1 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
300%
Reviews indicate that the grinding aspect of the game is inconsistent, with limited combat options leading to repetitive gameplay. Players can exploit AI weaknesses or rely on basic attack and defense strategies, suggesting that patience and grinding are often necessary to succeed.
- “The implementation is hit and miss; there is only one combo to speak of and about half a dozen special moves. It's easy to find AI gaps to exploit or stick to a simple attack and defense formula that will win most encounters with enough patience and grinding against enemies.”
- “Grinding feels tedious and repetitive, making the gameplay experience drag on longer than it should.”
- “The game relies too heavily on grinding to progress, which can be frustrating and detracts from the overall enjoyment.”