Gladiator: Sword of Vengeance

Gladiator: Sword of Vengeance is a 2003 hack and slash video game for PlayStation 2, Xbox, and Windows. Developed by Acclaim Studios Manchester and published by Acclaim Entertainment, it was released for all platforms in North America and Europe in November 2003 and in Australasia in January 2004. In 2006, Throwback Entertainment acquired the rights to the game, re-releasing it on the Microsoft Store in December 2015 and on Steam in February 2016. The game tells the story of Invictus Thrax, the Roman Empire's greatest gladiator. When his patron, the noble and just Emperor Trajan, dies under mysterious circumstances, Thrax is summoned to compete in the Colosseum by Trajan's successor, the corrupt and despotic consular Arruntius. At the games, Thrax is murdered, finding himself in Elysium, where he is tasked by the spirits of Romulus and Remus with saving Rome by killing Arruntius and his two allies; Phobos and Deimos, the black magic-infused children of Mars. Gladiator: Sword of Vengeance received mixed reviews, with critics praising the graphics (particularly the lighting), sound design, and storyline. Whilst some lauded the simplicity of the two-button combat mechanic, others criticised it for a lack of depth and concomitant repetitive gameplay. The game's auto-targeting system was singled out by many critics as being especially flawed.