Swords and Sandals Spartacus
- December 22, 2019
- Whiskeybarrel Studios
Get on SteamIn "Swords and Sandals Spartacus," players assume the role of the famous gladiator, Spartacus, in a challenging combat platformer game set in Ancient Rome. Fight against brutal slave drivers, legionnaires, and centurions, explore vast levels filled with traps and treasure, and experience an epic adventure to free enslaved Romans across various locations. This new addition to the Swords and Sandals series offers thrilling action and detailed environments for a satisfying and immersive experience.
Nintendo Switch
PC
Windows
Reviews
- The game offers fast-paced action and a refreshing hack n' slash experience set in the Roman Republic, featuring Spartacus as the protagonist.
- Players can collect items and treasures to upgrade Spartacus' abilities, providing a sense of progression and engagement.
- Despite its flaws, some players appreciate the nostalgic nod to the Swords and Sandals franchise and find enjoyment in the gameplay.
- The game is plagued by numerous bugs, including falling through floors, getting stuck in walls, and issues with character controls, making it frustrating to play.
- Many players report that the game feels unfinished and unpolished, with low production values and poor animations.
- The design choices, such as rewarding speedrunning over exploration and the lack of a book collection for reading chapters, detract from the overall experience.
- stability6 mentions
- 0 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 100 % negative mentions
The game suffers from significant stability issues, with numerous bugs reported by players, including frequent instances of characters falling through the floor. This has led to disappointment among fans of the franchise, who had high expectations for the spinoff.
“This game is extremely buggy, which is very sad to see. I really love the S&S franchise and was pretty hyped when I saw this spinoff.”
“The game is buggy; I found myself constantly falling into the floor.”
“However, the problems ensue when the game itself starts to get to its buggy aspects...”
- gameplay6 mentions
- 0 % positive mentions
- 67 % neutral mentions
- 33 % negative mentions
The gameplay has received mixed reviews, with some praising its fast-paced, nostalgic action reminiscent of classic titles, while others criticize its unpolished execution, including cheap animations, basic programming, and a lackluster presentation. Overall, players find the experience to be a chore, marred by technical issues and a dated feel, despite some appealing elements.
“The production values are clearly bottom of the barrel; the animations are truly cheap and amateurish; the programming is extremely basic and unpolished; the menus are dull and presented in the most boring font and within the most drab and uninspiring atmosphere ever; the screen moves far too fast and jerkily; the gameplay is no better than anything that came out in the 80s or 90s; the look feels like there is a constant hit to the frame rate, and it's an all-round chore and unpleasant experience to play.”
“This is a massive leap from the normal Swords and Sandals franchise. Fast-paced, non-stop action... it's a massive nod to the good old days and while it utilizes a lot of new effects we didn't have back then, it doesn't go overboard to dazzle you with lights to keep you distracted from poor gameplay like some games tend to do these days.”
- music2 mentions
- 0 % positive mentions
- 50 % neutral mentions
- 50 % negative mentions
Users note that clearing a stage can sometimes overlap with the music playing, suggesting a potential issue with audio synchronization or a lack of distinct musical cues during gameplay.
“Clearing a stage can overlap music playing.”
- graphics2 mentions
- 0 % positive mentions
- 50 % neutral mentions
- 50 % negative mentions
The graphics have been criticized for experiencing low frame rates in certain levels, even when settings are minimized, which detracts from the overall experience. Additionally, the presence of bugs further hampers the visual performance.
“Along with these bugs, it doesn't really help that in some levels the frame rate goes pretty low, even when in windowed and minimal graphics.”
- grinding2 mentions
- 0 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 100 % negative mentions
Players find the grinding aspect of the game tedious, particularly due to the presence of bugs that hinder enjoyment. This has led to negative feedback regarding the overall experience.
- atmosphere2 mentions
- 0 % positive mentions
- 50 % neutral mentions
- 50 % negative mentions
The atmosphere of the game is overwhelmingly criticized for its low production values, featuring cheap animations, unpolished programming, and uninspiring menus. Reviewers describe the overall experience as dull and frustrating, likening it to outdated games from the 80s and 90s, with issues like jerky screen movement and poor frame rates contributing to a lackluster gameplay experience.
“The production values are clearly bottom of the barrel; the animations are truly cheap and amateurish; the programming is extremely basic and unpolished; the menus are dull and presented in the most boring font and within the most drab and uninspiring atmosphere ever; the screen moves far too fast and jerkily; the gameplay is no better than anything that came out in the 80s or 90s; the look feels like there is a constant hit to the frame rate, and it's an all-round chore and unpleasant experience to play.”
