The Perfect RPG/Strategy Hybrid Rolled in one highly enjoyable package
User Rating: 9.2 | Gladius XBOX
This is a very welcome change of pace from the Final Fantasy Tactics and Disgaea. Gladius is an excellent start to anyone who needed a starting point in the strategy game market but also leaves much for the seasoned gamer to enjoy. There is even some flexablity in the core storyline in regards to which of the two main playable lead characters you can begin with, in essence the storyline remains fairly unchanged when both parties meet up but there still is enough overall replay value that you will want to play through twice. Gladius has a way of appealing to most gamers because of the quest flexabilty it allows, for those who insist on going from section to section of the game as quickly as possible because there is enough gameplay in each area that even when rushing the game should take no less then 30 hrs and for those who will not complete a game unless everything is completed this game offers in the area of 100-120 hrs of gameplay. One of the most enjoyable parts of the game is your ever growing army of Gladiators, from region to region and town to town there are a various amount of warriors and wizards and the like you can recruit into your band. This also play a role in the completion of tournaments where some require you to enter with only female warriors, or only light warriors, or only Animals, it makes the player uses most types of warriors in order to unlock some of the goodies and will also give you a solid idea of who is worth keeping and who is worth dropping at the next town. The Storyline almost feels tacked on at times and some of the twist are foreseeable, but even the most seasoned gamer will be suprised by some of the story twists, but the primary appeal of the game is the various tournaments and any story is simply a bonus. The customization of your warriors is also a pretty unique experience due to the large amount of character variation. Perhaps one of the most fun aspects of this is that each piece of armor and each weapon has its own unique look that can drastically change the look of your warriors in combat. There is also a very unique way of building up your warrior which allows you to unlock what is almost an endless list of spells and special moves, the move and spell list is also fairly unique from warrior classes to warrior classes so there is a HUGE amount of varity even allowing for two warriors of the same class to have vastly different skill sets. Another aspect of this game that is greatly overlooked is the two player mode, which allows for players to access their saved armies and clash head to head with a friend something that will add countless hours on to your total gameplay. Gladius flew very much under the radar for most gamers but it very much worth a second look this is perhaps one of the most overlooked games of 2003. -Z
