Gladiator: Sword of Vengeance

Rayder · Dec 7, 2003, 05:05 PM

I just got this one. Pretty nice. It's alot like LOTR: ROTK in that it is a button-masher fight fest and the graphics aren't quite as good, but it has some pretty good pixel shader effects and the graphics don't suck by any means. Very busy game, but pretty linear. The finishing move on certain characters are pretty gory and there is lots of blood with every hit. You are fighting multiple enemies constantly. You get some decent power-ups as you play through the game too. Runs really well at 1280x1024 on my 8500. Works great with a gamepad, which is a major plus for me.

I don't have any room left on my webspace right now for screenshots, but pc.ign.com has some and they gave it an 8 out of 10. Check out some screenies HERE.

EDIT: Link edited to take you straight to the screenies as opposed to an ad page first.

Zardon · Dec 7, 2003, 05:21 PM

Yeah I played this for a while, nice enough graphics, very shallow game though, quite disappointed with it personally. got bored in 2 hours.

Rayder · Dec 7, 2003, 05:57 PM

Heh, one thing I forgot to mention is that it's a "The Way It's Meant To Be Played" game. In the opening videos it has the big nVidia symbol and then the gladiator slices it down the middle from behind and the two halves fall apart. If that video could be modded for the gladiator to have a big ATI on his chest, that would be classic.

Yeah, you're right Z, the game is pretty shallow, I'll have to admit that. But I haven't played too far in to it yet. I'm an old console-to-PC convert and these kinds of games seem far and few between on the PC (until just recently) and I'm in gaming bliss with many of the latest mindless-button-masher-game-controller-enabled games that aren't just another FPS or RTS (I don't know about anyone else, but I'm REALLY tired of all the FPS's/RTS's dominating the market). Gladiator (and games like it) are just old-school senseless/thoughtless fun, but in higher resolutions than some old console can muster.

I'm loving this revival, as of late, to the older, simpler style of gameplay. I'm just eating it up.

Zardon · Dec 7, 2003, 06:00 PM

Yeah its pretty fun, I fired it up again, but im not really into those "console games on PC" style games. They tend to bore me really quick.

As you say though, the graphics are nice on both platforms (the 9800 XT and the Quadro FX), and the game looks very appealing. I just got bored with it really quick and found the controls a little touch and go, especially on some of the challenge levels - like the one in the caves where you had to blow up 5 double damage canisters in 90 seconds. This would be easy if the control method didnt suck ass so much.

I also totally disagree with that review you posted. I dont think id give it more than 5 out of 10, and that would be all for the visuals (mainly the very nice effective fire technique).

Markius · Dec 8, 2003, 02:08 AM

that link sent me to ESPN BBall :/

jonis · Dec 9, 2003, 04:56 PM

Nah, game isnt even close to as good as LoTR: RoTK I think. Its shallow as Zardon said, got bored faaast. hehe

jonis · Dec 9, 2003, 04:57 PM

Btw, looking for a slaughter xtravaganza? Blood Rayne 2 is under development.

Dec 7, 2003, 05:05 PM	#1
Rayder Mostly lurking lately.... Join Date: Jun 2002 Location: U.S.A. Posts: 2,161 Rep Power: 73	Gladiator: Sword of Vengeance I just got this one. Pretty nice. It's alot like LOTR: ROTK in that it is a button-masher fight fest and the graphics aren't quite as good, but it has some pretty good pixel shader effects and the graphics don't suck by any means. Very busy game, but pretty linear. The finishing move on certain characters are pretty gory and there is lots of blood with every hit. You are fighting multiple enemies constantly. You get some decent power-ups as you play through the game too. Runs really well at 1280x1024 on my 8500. Works great with a gamepad, which is a major plus for me. I don't have any room left on my webspace right now for screenshots, but pc.ign.com has some and they gave it an 8 out of 10. Check out some screenies HERE. EDIT: Link edited to take you straight to the screenies as opposed to an ad page first. Last edited by Rayder; Dec 8, 2003 at 03:03 AM.

Dec 8, 2003, 02:08 AM	#5
Markius DriverHeaven Senior Member Join Date: Sep 2003 Location: Australia Posts: 2,350 Rep Power: 0	that link sent me to ESPN BBall :/ __________________ DriverHeavens Aussie... "Lifes tragedy is that we get old too soon and wise too late"

Dec 9, 2003, 04:56 PM	#6
jonis Alien mindbender Join Date: Dec 2002 Location: Valhalla Posts: 539 Rep Power: 0	Nah, game isnt even close to as good as LoTR: RoTK I think. Its shallow as Zardon said, got bored faaast. hehe __________________ [color=yellow]P4 2.533GHz 533MHz \| 2 x Samsung 512MB PC2700 (1GB) \| Hercules 3D Prophet 9700 Pro \| ASUS P4S8X (fw v1.005) \| SB Audigy Platinum WDC 120GB SE (8MB buffer) x 2 \| M$ intellimouse Explorer 3.0 \| WinXP SP-1 \| DX 9.0c & CATs 5.10 \| Viewsonic VP191b (19" TFT)[/color]

Dec 9, 2003, 04:57 PM	#7
jonis Alien mindbender Join Date: Dec 2002 Location: Valhalla Posts: 539 Rep Power: 0	Btw, looking for a slaughter xtravaganza? Blood Rayne 2 is under development. __________________ [color=yellow]P4 2.533GHz 533MHz \| 2 x Samsung 512MB PC2700 (1GB) \| Hercules 3D Prophet 9700 Pro \| ASUS P4S8X (fw v1.005) \| SB Audigy Platinum WDC 120GB SE (8MB buffer) x 2 \| M$ intellimouse Explorer 3.0 \| WinXP SP-1 \| DX 9.0c & CATs 5.10 \| Viewsonic VP191b (19" TFT)[/color]

Dec 7, 2003, 05:21 PM	#2
Zardon DriverHeaven Founder Join Date: May 2002 Posts: 32,480 Rep Power: 179	Yeah I played this for a while, nice enough graphics, very shallow game though, quite disappointed with it personally. got bored in 2 hours.

Dec 7, 2003, 05:57 PM	Thread Starter #3
Rayder Mostly lurking lately.... Join Date: Jun 2002 Location: U.S.A. Posts: 2,161 Rep Power: 73	Heh, one thing I forgot to mention is that it's a "The Way It's Meant To Be Played" game. In the opening videos it has the big nVidia symbol and then the gladiator slices it down the middle from behind and the two halves fall apart. If that video could be modded for the gladiator to have a big ATI on his chest, that would be classic. Yeah, you're right Z, the game is pretty shallow, I'll have to admit that. But I haven't played too far in to it yet. I'm an old console-to-PC convert and these kinds of games seem far and few between on the PC (until just recently) and I'm in gaming bliss with many of the latest mindless-button-masher-game-controller-enabled games that aren't just another FPS or RTS (I don't know about anyone else, but I'm REALLY tired of all the FPS's/RTS's dominating the market). Gladiator (and games like it) are just old-school senseless/thoughtless fun, but in higher resolutions than some old console can muster. I'm loving this revival, as of late, to the older, simpler style of gameplay. I'm just eating it up.

Dec 7, 2003, 06:00 PM	#4
Zardon DriverHeaven Founder Join Date: May 2002 Posts: 32,480 Rep Power: 179	Yeah its pretty fun, I fired it up again, but im not really into those "console games on PC" style games. They tend to bore me really quick. As you say though, the graphics are nice on both platforms (the 9800 XT and the Quadro FX), and the game looks very appealing. I just got bored with it really quick and found the controls a little touch and go, especially on some of the challenge levels - like the one in the caves where you had to blow up 5 double damage canisters in 90 seconds. This would be easy if the control method didnt suck ass so much. I also totally disagree with that review you posted. I dont think id give it more than 5 out of 10, and that would be all for the visuals (mainly the very nice effective fire technique).