Video Gaming News - May 2002
San Rafael, CA (May 9, 2002) - LucasArts today announced Gladius, a
turn-based action role-playing (RPG) game. Gladius follows the grand saga
of two young heroes, Ursula and Valens, as they recruit and train a team of
warriors to contend in the fiercely competitive gladiator games. The game
supports both single and multiplayer modes and is expected to release spring
2003 on PlayStation 2, Xbox, and GameCube.
"Gladius takes action RPG to a whole new level," says Tom Byron, director of
product marketing for LucasArts. "Besides signaling LucasArts' return to
original game development, Gladius features a distinct style of play that is
wrapped in an epic storyline. Players will experience a game that has incredible
depth in terms of character development, but also has a unique layer of strategy
related to how players manage and balance their team."
From LucasArts:
At the heart of Gladius is a unique mix of dynamic game play that requires
players to develop and manage a school of gladiators who, over time, gain
experience, learn new skills, improve their abilities and finally test their
might in epic battles. Players fight with deadly weapons and powerful magic,
learn vital combat tactics, and enhance and customize characters.
The overall scope of Gladius is huge, offering an estimated 36 hours of play
in each of the game's two story lines which take players on a challenging
journey across four diverse geographical regions. Each land contains a variety
of warriors that players must recruit and train. Battles occur throughout the
game's 20 arenas and 12 other locations. During fights players have a high level
of interaction by way of an arcade style swing meter which enhances the power of
attacks. A successful fight will earn victorious players highly coveted
certificates and the approval of the Emperor. With each certificate collected,
players move one step closer to unlocking the next region. Players control a
school of gladiators that can come from 16 unique classes, including the
powerful Imperial Legionary; the witches of the Galdr class, who can sing
magical songs and chants; and the javelin throwing Peltast class. In all, the
game offers more than 100 customizable character types, hundreds of skills, and
over 400 unique weapons, helmets, shields, and other accessories with which to
equip warriors.
In Gladius, players may choose to take on the role of Ursula or Valens.
Ursula, from the northern land of Nordagh, is the daughter of a great barbarian
king. Valens is the son of one of Imperia's greatest gladiators. A bloody
conflict between their two homelands gave rise to a vengeful dark god, which
nearly destroyed all of mankind. Only with the help of the revered Valkyrie was
the dark god defeated, but it came at a great cost of many lives. This gave rise
to an uneasy peace that has existed for decades between the two lands. Now the
two young heroes must fulfill their destinies to keep the world from heading
into another disastrous war.
Ursula and Valens join forces and travel across many lands, competing in
gladiator tournaments where they recruit a variety of warriors. They also become
immersed in the evil plot to revive the dark god. Once this wicked plan is put
into action, the gladiator games cease and the small band of fighters go on a
challenging quest to solve the mystery of the dark god and defeat those who
would bring him back to the land of the living.
Gladius features a story mode as well as exhibition battles against
computer-controlled opponents or up to four players in cooperative mode. Upon
finishing the game, the tournament system remains open so players can continue
to build up their characters and explore the game's four unique territories.
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