Gladius

About

Gladius pits you against the Roman arena as you build and manage your own gladiator training school. Each match uses turn-based combat where you strategize with a roster of fighters you train and upgrade. Take control of either Ursula, a barbarian princess, or Valens, son of a legendary gladiator, as they battle through a story focused on preventing war through dominance in the arena. Your choices affect how your school grows and what techniques your gladiators master between fights. The split-screen mode lets two players run separate schools head-to-head, adding competitive replay value. Released in 2003 for Xbox, PS2, and GameCube, it mixes RPG character development with tactical positioning. Fans of deep turn-based strategy and classic console RPGs might appreciate the blend of school management and brutal combat mechanics.

Storyline

The story of Gladius starts just as two schools begin the pursuit of the Championship. It follows the epic saga of two young heroes: Ursula, daughter of the barbarian king from the land of Nordagh; and Valens, the son of Imperia's greatest gladiator. Become one of these characters and embark upon a spectacular and brutal journey to fulfill their destinies to keep the world from heading into another disastrous war.