X
- M
- Aksys Games
- M
- Aksys Games
- M
- Aksys Games
- M
- Aksys Games
Gladiator Begins
PSP
Released On: Sep 13, 2010
59
7.8
All Platforms
Metascore
Mixed or Average
Based on 9 Critic Reviews
59
11% Positive
1 Review
1 Review
89% Mixed
8 Reviews
8 Reviews
0% Negative
0 Reviews
0 Reviews
Metascore
Mixed or Average
Based on 9 Critic Reviews
59
11% Positive
1 Review
1 Review
89% Mixed
8 Reviews
8 Reviews
0% Negative
0 Reviews
0 Reviews
Although it's too bad that Gladiator Begins landed with nary a whisper, it's clear to see that the title would never have found a large audience to begin with-it's aimed at a certain hardcore niche, and for those outside of that niche, there will be little here of interest. However, for players who love to take a zeroed-out character and build them up into an overwhelmingly powerful force via grinding, creative equipping and numeric management, this combination of swords, sandals, and statistics is an experience not to be missed.
While the deep equipment options and versatile combat are appreciated, the random difficulty highs and lows, practically (and perhaps, blessedly, I suppose) non-existent story, and eventually tedious lack of any real gameplay variety make it hard to recommend.
User Score
Generally Favorable
Based on 74 User Ratings
7.8
81% Positive
60 Ratings
60 Ratings
8% Mixed
6 Ratings
6 Ratings
11% Negative
8 Ratings
8 Ratings
User Score
Generally Favorable
Based on 74 User Ratings
7.8
81% Positive
60 Ratings
60 Ratings
8% Mixed
6 Ratings
6 Ratings
11% Negative
8 Ratings
8 Ratings
This game is without a doubt, worth your time.
The story isn't too great, but some of the characters are interesting.
From Brosius, who has literally shed manly tears for you, to Gulielmus, who only wants to defeat you in combat; this game has personality.
There are multiple endings, as well as multiple storylines, but the storyline the game starts you off in is that you are a slave purchased by the Lanista "Magerius", and now you must fight and win money to earn your freedom, while also getting some extra coin to buy new equipment, and upgrade your current equipment, as well as heal any injuries you might have from a previous match. You can have up to 3 matches each day, though on some days you could have less.
The graphics are... Ok, they aren't anything special, but you'll know whats going on 100%. I'd call it passable at best, ugly at worst.
Not much good music, except for these two tracks: "Mock Battle" and "Avidius Cassius" (That one is especially good.) Besides that, the music is very passable, and even somewhat repetitive.
The sound design is excellent, with every clang and thrust sounding realistic as can be. When you hear your sword thrust into the ribs of another Gladiator, it sounds awesome, and therefore, feels awesome as well.
There are hundreds of pieces of equipment, all of which you can pick up and use on the fly, even helmets and shin guards that are dropped from your opponents can be used as weapons.
There are RPG Elements resembling that of Monster Hunter, such as upgrading equipment and adding bonuses to it, like giving your helmet higher vitality, or higher strength, this stacks onto your normal stats and makes you more powerful, its very addictive.
The game awards you Ability Points after each match, and if you want more Ability Points (which you use to level up your character), then you have to impress the crowd. Impressing the crowd becomes more and more difficult as you get to higher ranks.
The gameplay itself is fairly realistic, but there are also fairly unrealistic moves that you can pull off.
However, in my opinion, there hasn't been a more realistic game on a handheld since Samurai Dou Portable (A.K.A. Way of the Samurai).
Speaking of the gameplay, its very fun, though take breaks, because the game can get repetitive after awhile (though thats the case for most fighting games, I think.)
There are 4 different styles: Sword and Small Shield (Single Sword), Sword and Large Shield (Shield), Two Swords (Dual Swords), and Fist-Fighting/Fist Weapons (Pugilist).
Each style has its own moves, and you don't have to stick with a moveset from a single style, you can take different moves from each style and come up with your own moveset.
Also, just because I said "sword" in all of them, does not mean you'll be limited to just swords. There are tons of combinations you can make when it comes to weapons. Like having a sword and an axe, or a fist weapon and a big hunk of wood. Or even a helmet as a weapon, and then a sword! Best part is, no matter which weapons you picked, they are compatible with the custom moveset you made for your Gladiator, assuming you aren't trying to make an axe as your shield, because that won't work. I'm not sure if helmets deviate from this but I doubt it.
Last thing that you should know about the weapons, is that there are unfortunately no two-handed weapons, which is a GIANT shame.
There is a tutorial at the beginning of the game showing off how to use each weapon. How to pick up each weapon, and drop them, and the standard attacks.
When you are at the Ludus, which is the hub place for you, you can choose the train option to try out new skills before you actually use them in combat for real. Or you can just beat on the trainer endlessly like I did.
The game features your standard attacks, triangle does a higher attack, but holding it down can execute an unblockable power attack that can knock your opponents off-balance.
There are also other things that you can add on to the normal attacks, like special attacks that you can put points into to make it stronger, with the cost of some Endurance.
There are also parries, dodges, and stuff that can play into combat like getting knocking into a wall, bouncing off it into an attack, slipping on dropped equipment when you dodge, and more.
After you beat the game, you'll unlock the Battle Arena, which includes every named Gladiator you've fought up to that point. You'll even unlock simple enemies and no-name Gladiators as well. In this mode, you can play as your Gladiator against named Gladiators in the game, or play as those named Gladiators, or even fight your own player-created Gladiator.
For example, lets say you have a Gladiator named "Titus Smitus", in the Battle Arena, you can fight Titus Smitus USING Titus Smitus, or another Gladiator you've created.
Report
PSP
Being a gladiator in ancient Rome probably wasn't much fun, and it's not much fun in this repetitive fighting game, either.
Gladiator Begins' smaller successes still can't compensate for its significant problems, and the game as a whole never quite gels in an effective way. Brutality, splashes of blood and gigantic swords might look and feel great, but I feel like Caesar wouldn't have mercy for this fighter's incompetence and missed marks.
A brawler with a weak combat system. Had the combat been tighter, then perhaps I could have given this a glowing review, but when the heart of a game is flawed, all of the other components are going to suffer.
Not good enough to be set free, not bad enough to be tossed to the lions. [July 2011, p.95]
The game feels like one big grind and even the eventual showdowns with tigers and elephants offered few thrills during our feeble quest. [Dec 2010, p.79]
Ok. This game is Repitative. But then do you expect a Gladiator to Dance around or goof up like School kids do ?? The Star of Gladiator begins is its Simple yet Addictive gameplay. Plus there are tons of Options for Customising the Gladiator, his Weapons, his Armor etc etc. The Animal Fights, Special Events are Grand & the day you finish this Game, you would just search for more games like this, I am very sure about that. I Did :-D
Report
PSP
Well I have been playing the game for like a day now and i am enjoying it. I like that you have to work to get better. Would I say its the **** its is fun but not the best. Would I tell others about the game....sure. I think there could had been more to the game. But it does sit nicely the way it is.
Report
PSP
screw the critics saying its repetitive... what do they want, some golf subsections with sudoku in the loading screens?? its ridiculous that these "critics" get jobs. its a fighting game.... you fight... i wouldn't expect anything more because im not an idiot pffffft.
any way this game is sweeeeet... if you liked the film Gladiator, you'll love this.
Report
PSP
There's no doubt this game has potential and is fun, but there are some aspects that sent it down. The fights start to get repetitive after hours playing it and you at least expected some cut-screens but nothing. The plot is basic and super linear and i thought i would be a free gladiator and have like my gladiators or even get an ending, but this game has no ending at all. The gameplay is awesome and the part of the player destroying the enemy armor and weapons when attacking it a lot made you use some strategy but overall i always used a combo that was unbeatable and it lost all the fun. I recommend it if you like gladiator and fighting games, but this won't be one of the best you'll play. It's a good gladiator game but will end up losing the fun, but still recommend it.
Report
PSP
Summary Customize your own Gladiator and win your freedom! Choose from several different builds, faces, hair styles and skin tones. Depending on which gender you pick, NPCs will react differently! Ad-Hoc Multiplayer action, battle a friend using the Ad-hoc multiplayer option. Weapons and Armor Galore with over 500 plus swords, shields, spears, c...
Rated M
for Mature
Platforms:
- PSP
Initial Release Date: Sep 13, 2010
Developer:
- Goshow
Publisher: Aksys Games
Genres:
