Gladiator: Sword of Vengeance PS2

Considering the success of 2000's Ridley Scott Gladiator epic, there have been a surprising lack of similarly themed gaming exploits since. And then two come along at once. Now, not only have we got Activision's strategy-based Gladius, but the more action-orientated Gladiator Sword of Vengeance is also hitting the shelves. Taking the form of your average hack/slash/beat/kill-em-up, the game takes players back to Roman times and casts them as a lone warrior, fighting for survival amidst a corrupt empire. Set in the year 106 AD, the game follows the fate of hero, gladiator champ and all-round super guy Thrax, who embarks on the titular quest for vengeance across a ruined city. Taking hold of your trusty sword is pretty much the only way to go about this and brutally laying waste to all that stand in your way is very much a necessity. Enemies appear in all shapes and sizes and not all are of human descent. As such, you find yourself coming face-to-face with a wide variety of ugly and gruesome opponents, from powerful nemesis gladiators to terrifying mythical monsters. At the game's core is a rather impressive combat system, which allows for a huge variety of moves and combos, as well as multiple targeting, which comes in extremely handy when things get a little busy. Paramount in this combat system is the inclusion of what are dubbed as 'Death Blows', which, not surprisingly, are a roster of over 60 graphic and gory finishing moves that have been developed based on authentic historical data. You'll also be pleased to know that you don't have to rely on just the sword as a means of defence/brutality. As you progress through the game, a diverse array of specialised and authentic weaponry becomes available, such as axes, scythes, maces, and clubs. This all adds to the already heavily emphasised gore factor, which itself graphically recreates the delights of decapitation, dismemberment and much spraying of blood. In much the same way as the aforementioned movie, Gladiator: Sword of Vengeance is an intense, g