Gladius (video game)

Not to be confused with Gradius (video game).

Gladius
Developer(s)LucasArts
Publisher(s)LucasArts
Director(s)Robert Blackadder
Producer(s)Rachel Bryant
Programmer(s)Charlie Skilbeck
Artist(s)Jim Rice
Writer(s)
  • Robert Blackadder
  • Justin Lambros
Composer(s)Mark Griskey
Platform(s)
ReleasePlayStation 2, Xbox
GameCube
  • WW: November 3, 2003[3]
Genre(s)Tactical role-playing[4]
Mode(s)Single-player, multiplayer

Gladius is a 2003 tactical role-playing video game for GameCube, PlayStation 2, and Xbox. Developed and published by LucasArts, it was released for PlayStation 2 and Xbox in October 2003, and for GameCube in November. In December 2011, it was made available on the PlayStation Store, making it playable on the PlayStation 3, and in November 2021, it was added to Microsoft's backward compatibility program, making it playable on the Xbox One and Xbox Series X/S.

The game tells two different, albeit similar, stories involving the same two protagonists; Valens (the son of one of the greatest gladiators the world has ever known) and Ursula (the adventure-craving, magic-infused daughter of the barbarian king). In each storyline, the protagonists form a school of gladiators to compete at regional games but soon find themselves facing a potentially world-ending event when an evil sorceress sets out to resurrect the Dark God Mortuus, who once brought the world to near-ruin.

Gladius was well received by critics, who praised the depth of the combat mechanics, the range of equipment, the extensive customization options, and, especially, the implantation of a hit meter mechanic during combat. Common points of criticism included an insubstantial storyline, inconsistent graphics, and the game's length, with some critics feeling it was unnecessarily long.

  1. ^ Moseley, Bob (October 6, 2003). "Gladius goes gold". GameSpot. Archived from the original on January 24, 2024. Retrieved January 24, 2024.
  2. ^ "Gladius". Eurogamer. Archived from the original on February 7, 2024. Retrieved February 7, 2024.
  3. ^ "Gladius Gamus Outus". IGN. November 3, 2003. Archived from the original on January 24, 2024. Retrieved January 24, 2024.
  4. ^ "Battle Interface: Basic Combat Mechanics". Gladius PlayStation 2 Instruction Manual (NA) (PDF). LucasArts. 2003. p. 14. Archived (PDF) from the original on January 26, 2024. Retrieved January 26, 2024.