Gladiator is a fighting video game published by Domark Limited for the 48K ZX Spectrums in 1985. Ports for the Amstrad CPC, Commodore 64 and 128K ZX Spectrums were released in 1986.
| Gladiator | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Publisher(s) | Domark Limited[3] |
| Designer(s) | |
| Platform(s) | ZX Spectrum, Amstrad CPC, Commodore 64 |
| Release | |
| Genre(s) | Fighting[3] |
| Mode(s) | Single-player, multiplayer |
Gameplay
editThe Roman legion has pillaged the player character's hometown, sold them into slavery, and consigned them to a gladiator school. The player has to gather money as a gladiator to attain their freedom.[5]
The game is a one-on-one fighting game. The player has to select two primary weapons from a selection of 45. The second weapon may be replaced with a shield if desired. Additionally, a dagger serves as a third weapon, which can only be utilized when the primary weapons have been thrown or lost during the match. The player can execute a total of 25 different types of strikes using their chosen weapons.[6]
Reception
edit| Publication | Score |
|---|---|
| Amstrad Action | 35% (Amstrad)[7] |
| Amtix | 10% (Amstrad)[5] |
| Crash | 77% (Spectrum)[3] |
| Computer and Video Games | 34/40 (Spectrum)[6] |
Computer and Video Games gave a positive review and noted the controls as complex due to the number of moves the player can make.[6] Crash didn't like the controls and said the game is nowhere near the quality of The Way of the Exploding Fist.[3] Amtix called the game "totally unplayable and mindnumbingly dull".[5] Amstrad Action said the game is too similar to other combat games and noted the game's very high difficulty.[7] Computer Gamer liked the variety of weapons but said there are too many moves to learn.[8]
References
edit- ^ "Advertisement for the game". Crash. No. 24. Newsfield Publications Ltd. December 1985. p. 63.
GLADIATOR can win you your Freedom! - DOMARK - Available for Spectrum 48k at £8.95 from your local stockist or direct from us at [...]
- ^ "Advertisement for the game". Computer and Video Games. No. 59. Future plc. September 1986. p. 13.
GLADIATOR DOMARK - Available now on: SPECTRUM 48/128K, CBM 64, AMSTRAD CPC
- ^ a b c d e "Reviews - Gladiator". Crash. No. 24. Newsfield Publications Ltd. December 1985. p. 22.
- ^ "Gladiator". Centre for Computing History. Archived from the original on 3 April 2012. Retrieved 7 November 2024.
Authors: Mike Green, Mike Moscoff
- ^ a b c Clarke, Anthony (September 1986). "Reviews - Gladiator". Amtix. No. 11. Newsfield Publications Ltd. p. 98.
- ^ a b c "Software Reviews - Gladiator". Computer and Video Games. No. 52. Future plc. February 1986. p. 21.
Graphics: 9, Sound: 7, Value: 9, Playability: 9
- ^ a b Wade, Bob (September 1986). "Action Test - Gladiator". Amstrad Action. No. 12. Future plc. pp. 54–55.
- ^ "Reviews - Gladiator". Computer Gamer. No. 10. Argus Specialist Publications. January 1986. p. 62.