GLADIATOR BEGINS – Review


In recent years gladiator themed movies and TV shows have risen in popularity. Most of this popularity is attributed to films like Ridley Scott’s “Gladiator” and the Starz network’s edgy TV show “Spartacus: Blood & Sand”. Video games in past years have also attempted to cash in on the appeal of arena warriors spilling each others’ blood in gladiatorial combat. A few years ago, on the PS2, Shadow of Rome was released by Capcom and Colosseum: Road to Freedom was released by Koei. Due to the bloodlust of gamers and lack of proper advertising, the gory Shadow of Rome overshadowed the nearly unheard of arena combat sim with RPG-lite elements known as Colosseum. Come 2010 and Colosseum’s prequel is released on the PSP as Gladiator Begins now developed by Acquire and published by Aksys. But are the simplified controls, addition of blood, new RPG elements, and expanded customization enough to gain the attention of PSP owners looking to test their might in the gladiator arenas of old?Gladiator Begins is a fighting game packed with all kinds of RPG elements to create something truly unique. The first thing players will do is create their combatant from a few template pieces. Once complete it’s off to the slave training grounds where the basics of combat will be learned via tutorials for the first few encounters of the game. The gladiator will travel to various arenas on the map and face-off against others in small arenas. The combat ranges from one-on-one, multiple opponents, battle royale, battles against human and beast, and boss battles with gladiators who are of higher level. Higher level gladiators with better or special equipment that can be looted should they be defeated. That’s one of the drawing factors of Gladiator Begins, collecting better equipment to use. The weapons and armor have stats just like one would see in a full-on RPG. Armor and weapons can be placed on the arms, head, and legs or the gladiator. This equipment can be purchased by merchants at arenas, but taking that scimitar or helmet off the body of a freshly slain opponent is free. What will cost though is crafting better equipment at the merchant’s shop. Equipment can be combined to create better or worse variations. As the game progresses equipment dropped in arenas will have better stats and even status effects or upgrades attached to them.

Posted by Gamer at Tuesday, September 28, 2010

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