The feature list on CyberGladiators is pretty impressive. Pick from eight metallic robotic fighters, each with 50 moves. Fight either with a friend or the computer. Take on two bonus bosses. The list goes on. But how does it play? Simply put, it's one of the best fighter games the PC has ever enjoyed, mostly due to the outstanding 3-D graphics. Making great use of Microsoft's DirectX, the fighting scenes move smoothly and have plenty of depth, even if you just have a run-of-the-mill graphics card. CyberGladiators' graphics and sound alone make it worth checking out.
As for the fighting, it's standard fare. Keeping track and using all of a particular fighter's moves is nearly impossible, and you'll definitely want to preprogram some of your gamepad buttons when you discover some of your favorite character's secret moves. Unlike other fighting games like Battle Arena Toshinden or Virtua Fighter, CyberGladiators actually logs your fighting style, making it progressively harder to defeat computer opponents. In other words, if you attempt the roundhouse kick to the head one too many times, you'll most likely be met with a devastating blow. You're going to dig the fluid movement of the gladiators. Each can punch, kick, and even backflip in beautifully fluid motion. Also fairly unique to the game is your ability to pick up things from the ground - like crates, barrels, and spears - and use them against your opponent. With capabilities like that, it's easy to see that there's a little bit more strategy involved in your fighting than just a simple bludgeoning. Up against some of the more difficult competitors, you'll need to use your noggin just as much as your fists to win.
Like most fighter PC games, you need a stellar gamepad to make the most of your fighters' moves. The game supports Gravis and Microsoft gamepads especially well.
If you like fighters, you'll love this one. Granted, some of the characters are a little cheesy, and you may think the entire premise of the game is too. But considering the healthy pick of fighting moves and fluid graphics alone, this one is a winner.
