Game Reviews

I, Gladiator

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I, Gladiator
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| I, Gladiator

Watched all the episodes of Spartacus: Blood and Sand on Netflix and not sure where to turn next?

You could do far worse than Steel Monkeys's Universal iOS game I, Gladiator, a polished action-RPG which mixes the brutal fighting skills of Rome's finest warriors with the theatrics of its greatest showmen, all while cranking up the violence to Fist of the North Star levels of silliness.

A game of bones

As you'd expect of a star gladiator like Rufus, the Gods have big plans for him - ones that are derailed when your protagonist is killed in the arena. Raised from the dead by Mercury, you have to fight your way up to the bright lights of the Coliseum once again.

You'll do that with a swiping system that involves whizzing across the screen to kill and maim, and holding down on a shield to block. Yes, it's a lot like Infinity Blade, but it's not on rails: you can toggle targets and run too - and you'll need to if you want to lure any of your opponents into the traps that are littered around.

I, Gladiator is a handsome game on a high resolution display, with cel-shaded graphics that are half-Borderlands, half-XIII, but it's actually the sound quality that impresses most. Aside from the stirring score and whomping, scything SFX, all the cutscene dialogue has even been recorded in Latin.

The Gods demand more

Yet despite the glorious styling and imaginative bosses (and, yes, lions), I, Gladiator lacks a little of the charm of Chair Entertainment's hack-and-swiper.

While you can make it rain limbs by stringing together combos of up to nine hits, there's very little to it once you master the timing of your weapon: a figure of eight motion tends to see you through most fights.

And the two game modes - Story and Tournament - are remarkably similar: complete the objectives, earn coins, and work your way up a skill tree.

It's the in-app purchases that nag most, though - especially given the upfront cost: while there are scores of weapons to try, and buy, the fact that they break repeatedly makes this feel like a case of nickel and diming - or sestertii and denarii, if we're being accurate.

I, Gladiator

A Maximus-sized serving of blood and sandals and severed appendages. It's just a shame you can rack up a Maximus-sized bill playing it, too
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