Producer: Domark
Retail Price: £8.95
Language: Machine code
Author: Mike Green

Beat 'em up's look like they're here to stay. Domark have just released one by the name of Gladiator. No prizes for guessing the what the scenario for this one is...

As a slave, Marcus was none too happy. Tired with a life of toil among the Roman fields, Marcus decides to try and battle for his freedom among the gladiators in the stadia of Rome. To buy his freedom, Marcus must win 180 times 180 eagles, a very high price indeed.

To get so much money you'll have to vanquish up to seventeen fighters and then take part in a gambling session, betting on the outcome of a two fighter fight. As you win fights, you are matched against more skillful opponents who come into the arena with better weapons. Both Marcus and his opponents are capable of twenty five different moves, ranging from offensive to defensive and during combat the idea is to reduce Marcus' opponent's energy supply, which is indicated by a bar graph on the side of the emperor's box. Bash your opponent a bit, and his energy reading falls depending on the weapon he's been hit with and where he's been hit. Marcus has an energy bar and that's also prone to depletion from the attacker's advances. If the energy bar fills up, a big thumb looms out of the royal box and gives the thumbs down sign.

A weapon selection screen pops into view at the start of each contest, containing forty five different weapons, each with its own power and defence rating - though the program doesn't tell you what they are. Arming Marcus is a process of trial and error to begin with and deciding which weapon is best plays quite an important part in the game. Marcus can use a weapon in each hand as well a set of wrist knives.

After choosing the weapons, the gladiators move the to arena, where the action is viewed by the player from a spectator's eye view on the edge of the arena. The arena is three dimensional: the gladiators can move in and out of the screen as well as left and right. In the background you can see the other side of the arena, and the milling crowds shouting slogans to the fighters.

Once the fight starts, moves are made using a combination of fire button and directions. Three sets of moves are available: one using the directions only, another using the direction keys or joystick after fire has been pressed once and the third set is accessed after fire has been pressed twice.

At least fifteen opponents have to be beaten in the arena before you get to the betting screen. Once you get to the bookies the points accumulated can be gambled, using the 1 key as up and Q as down to select the amount to be gambled. Press fire and then, using the same keys, you decide who to gamble on. If you win, then you double your money. Lose and the stake money becomes the bookie's. If all your money is lost then Marcus gets thrown back into the arena. Get 32,400 eagles and a Marcus gets his coveted Certificate of Freedom.

COMMENTS

Control keys: Player One: 1 to 5 up screen, Q to T down, A, D, G left, S, F right, C, Z, X, C, V fire. Player Two 6 to 0 up screen, Y to P down, J, L left, H, K ENTER right, B, N, M, S, B fire.
Joystick: Kempston, Interface 2
Keyboard play: unresponsive, and complicated
Use of colour: monochromatic, to avoid attribute clash
Graphics: adequate backdrops
Sound: a bit of white noise to indicate a hit
Skill levels: one, gets harder
Screens: five

I was initially impressed when I clapped eyes on this program - the big figures fighting away with one another looked really good. It was only when I got down to playing it than I started to see the niggly glitches in the graphics - sometimes the men start climbing up the wall. The thumb which comes out when a player is defeated is pretty rotten - it's so-o-o-o slow and has about three frames of animation. Playing Gladiator is pretty tricky too; I'm sure the control method could be improved no end. As it stands, it's very confusing, even when you've played it a few times. Even so, it could be called a follow on from Exploding Fist, and if you like games of that genre then you could well like this.

It seems to be all gore and violence at the moment with Domark. I mean, with Friday the Thirteenth and now Gladiator. I must admit to getting a bit tired of fighting games. Though lacking a lot of the arcade appeal of other such programs, Gladiator does hold a great deal more depth. Being allowed to choose weapons before a match adds a great deal to the game. Gladiator isn't really hit material, though if you do like this type of game then it really would be worth seeing, since the depth of play involved is far greater than in any of its rivals.

After A View To A Kill I wasn't expecting much from Domark, which is just as well after playing Gladiator. At first look Gladiator seems to be a very neat and realistic copy of the old gladiator fights, but when you finally get into the fight you realize that the game is totally unplayable. I found the game very confusing, and very unuserfriendly. Your gladiator has too many controls which are accessed in too hard a manner. With less controls which were easier to use, I would have given it a higher rating. Gladiator is trying to enter an area where Exploding Fist rules supreme. For me this comes nowhere near it.

Domark
£7.95

The stench of blood in the hot sun. The roar of voices. A battle where victory means freedom from slavery... and defeat means death. Never before has a game captured the spirit of Castle Rathbone so well. Gladiator may be set in a Roman arena but the mechanics are much the same. And above all the bloodshed sits Emperor Ed, the man who can give the thumbs down to our efforts.

Domark's addition to the D.S.D. (Do Someone Damage) genre is divided, like Gaul, into three parts. First you can watch a bout or two in the arena, perhaps laying the odd bet, though you'll have to do this in pence rather than denarii because the gambling option isn't any more than a flashing message saying 'Bet Now', as far as I could see. Despite the cheeky suggestion that betting is a programmed part of the game it's a compliment that the fights appear realistic enough to make them worth watching.

Once you've lost all your change by buying Gladiators it's time to practise in the woods. Choose the two player option then leave your opponent static as you dance around him before dealing a nifty thrust with a sword. Or a spear or dagger, or throw a net, or whatever, because equipping yourself for combat from the complete classical arsenal is an important part of your preparations. Then it's back to the arena for the best of three falls and the emperor's thumb, which turns at the end of each combat.

It's an interesting addition to combat games with 25 moves available, though the pre-production copy's method of control, using two prods of the fire button for some blows, is highly unsatisfactory. While Domark promises to replace it, the alternative remains to be judged. Providing it works better than this it should give you real involvement with your fighter. I felt cheated that two player combat is not available in the arena so, in this mode you cannot win your freedom.

Perhaps not the most enduring of games, but with superb animation, it's certainly different and it gets my qualified thumbs up.

KICK HIGH

There's been an explosion in martial-arts sims since The Way Of The Exploding Fist, as RICKY EDDY and ROBIN CANDY observe in this good beat-'em-up guide. And the ninjas just won't lie down - all they want to do is...

They started three years ago, when Bug Byte revealed an interesting little number called Kung Fu. It was an admirable wireframe attempt to produce a martial-arts simulation - 'probably the most unusual game to be seen on the Spectrum for a long while,' said CRASH in amazement.

But sceptics thought the genre would never catch on. It took Melbourne House to show them the way - The Way Of The Exploding Fist, which sold more than 150,000 copies for the Spectrum and nearly half a million across all formats.

Since then, nothing's kept the combat games down. They've been grotesque (Barbarian), skillful (Fist) and downright silly (Ninja Hamster).

The genre soon caught the nickname 'beat-'em-ups', as the gameplay always involves a player beating up his opponent, whether the computer or another player.

And with the advent of the 128s and their improved sound chips, the fighting effects became more hideous - the most disturbing beat-'em-up sounds must be the animal squeals on Ninja Hamster.

But most of these martial-arts simulations are so unrealistic, set in pseudo-Oriental fantasy worlds, that it's just harmless surrogate violence - and everyone likes a bit of that.

GLADIATOR
Domark

77% Issue 24

ROBIN: Gladiator is a bit of a departure from the standard beat-'em-up. Playing the part of a lowly slave named Marcus, you enter the combat arena in a bid to earn some money and so buy your freedom; and in case your fighting isn't too hot, there's also a gambling session.

The beat-'em-up is special because the player can choose which weapons he wants to use. The weapons have attack and defence ratings which you can find out only by trial and error.

Graphically it's nothing special, the control method is tricky (there are 25 possible moves to choose from) and the imaginative gambling sequence becomes tedious.

Two years ago Gladiator was a good beat-'em-up variant, but now it seems only average.
52%

RICKY: Gladiator was one of the serious contenders to The Way Of The Exploding Fist, and it stood up well. However, it has aged and seems a bit repetitive. Still, it's certainly worth playing if you can get to grips with the awkward controls.
59%

Publisher: Domark
Price: £8.95
Memory: 48K
Joystick: Kempston, Sinclair

Following in the footsteps of all those kung-fu programs comes Domark's offering, Gladiator. None of your fancy footwork here, and none of your oriental inscrutability either. This one pitches straight into the gory arenas of ancient Rome, as you pit your strength and wits against other gladiators in an attempt to win the favour of the crowd, and your eventual freedom from slavery.

It has to be said that Gladiator is one of the most inaccessible combat games yet devised. There are 25 joystick movements, and 45 weapons to choose from. Controlling the stick is very difficult at first. The movements include lunges to various parts of the body, four-way movement, jumping and ducking, a couple of defensive moves, cuts, throwing, and turning.

Sixteen of those are accessed by moving your joystick in one of eight directions, with or without pressing the fire button. The remaining eight are obtained by pressing the fire button twice, and the final move is a secret one - Domark invites players who discover it to write in.

You fight with three weapons and can choose from shields, swords and spears, axes, flails, nets and tridents. The third weapon is a smaller piece such as a dagger, kept in the belt until you lose one of the original weapons.

At first it's hard to work out what's going on. However, once you realise that there's not much point slashing with a spear, or throwing your shield at the opponent, you can concentrate on a selection of the moves available. We found a shield and long spear very effective against gladiators armed with a short sword. Keep prodding long enough and down they go. However, the Spectrum soon produced net and trident men who posed different problems.

The graphics are excellent, with large gladiators in an arena surrounded by spectators. The emperor sits in his box and gives the thumbs up or down when the contest ends - a nice touch. The animation is very effective indeed.

There is a lack of documentation of the weaponry. It's difficult to work out precisely what you are carrying. Are all the swords much the same? if not, what's the difference?

Our other small gripe is that the double-fire set of movements is difficult to access. In the heat of battle it's very easy to get the timing wrong and find yourself throwing a weapon instead of moving backwards.

However, for the dexterous and the violent, Gladiator is a great game, well produced and certainly offering more in the way of options than any of its fellows. The play is not as fluid as those kung-fu contests, but you'll find it a hard slog to win your freedom and lay down the sword in peaceful retirement.

Publisher: Domark
Price: £9.95
Memory: 128K
Joystick: Sinclair, Kempston

Bread and circuses. We who are about to die salute you. Domark's recreation of the bloody duels in the arena of Rome has been completely reworked for the 128K Spectrum. It's one of the few games which has not only been improved by the addition of extra material but has also sought to remedy faults in the original program. That is very much to Domark's credit, and an intelligent way to make use of the opportunities the Spectrum 128 offers for upgraded software.

The original game was a very complex fighting program on the lines of International Karate or Fighting Warrior - we reviewed it in the January issue. One problem then was far too many moves on the joystick, some of which required pressing the fire button twice accompanied by the appropriate joystick position - that often led to throwing a weapon when instead you wanted to perform some devastating attack.

The new version actually scales down the movement options to a straight 16, one set with the fire button held down and one set without. It's now a much easier and faster game to play, without sacrificing any of the variety of skill involved.

Other additions include a rather out-of-place, but well-executed, circus theme at the beginning and fanfares when the gladiators march out from their caged enclosures at the beginning of each bout, as well as a whole set of extra screens for different bouts. The initial arena screen is the same, but after that there comes a moonlit duel by a Roman graveyard and a new arena with stands of what seem to be wineskins by the side.

The gladiators, superbly animated, now look different. You are the one with the fair hair and the clean-cut look. Your opponent has dark hair and probably hasn't washed since 54BC.

With 45 weapons to choose from, each with different attack and defence capabilities, Gladiator is probably the most monstrously bloodthirsty fighting game of them all.

Prepare yourselves for the contest of all time then - grind those blades and mend the weighted nets.

Morituri te salutamus.

Panem et circenses.

MACHINE: Spectrum
SUPPLIER: Domark
PRICE: £7.95

Combat games keep on coming. So far we've had warriors, karate killers and championship boxers. But never Gladiators. Until now.

Domark's latest release dumps you in the bloodstained arena much loved by the Roman rulers.

Life as a slave is fine if you've no ambition and nowhere much to go, but if you're young and eager to get on in life you have to try to win your freedom any way you can.

That's why you find yourself in the arena.

Your training starts with you watching the best fighters of the day in the ring. You even have the chance to wager a few copper coins on the outcome of each match.

The next stage is for you to have a chance to practice the 25 possible blows and thrusts on a stationary target. You can learn to cut and thrust with no danger to yourself. Finally, there are the combat trials with a real opponent.

If you work hard, practice long hours and use both your strength and intellect you can become the Emperor's champion, a feat equalled by very few. The real incentive is freedom.

When you have seen the range of movement that is possible it is your turn to practice. Select the two player option and practice each movement in turn against a stationary opponent.

Once of the skillful arts of the gladiator was his choice of weapons for a particular fight. You are allowed to choose three weapons from the armoury of 45, one for each and one for the belt.

You can try to match the weapons to the moves which you can make or to combat those of your opponent - unfortunately you won't see his weapons until the fight starts.

The hard weapons are selected first, using either joystick or keys, the directions move to the next weapon while the fire button selects. You can choose to use a shield instead of a second weapon.

The dagger is placed in your belt and only comes into play if you have thrown or lost one of your original hand weapons.

Joysticks are recommended. The controls are pretty complex - they have to be as there are so many moves you can make while fighting. It'll take you some time to work out all the combinations, so be prepared to practice. The time you spend here will make your enjoyment of the game all the greater.

This combat game gets the thumbs up from C&VG!

Meanwhile, to those who are about to die, we salute you...

Domark
£8.95

Gladiator shows life at the sharp end of the Roman empire as you hone your combat skills to avoid death in the arena and work your way up to become the Emperor's champion.

Before going into the arena for real you can watch two practiced gladiators hacking away at each other and make a wager on the outcome. To prepare yourself it is advisable to experiment with the various movements and weapons at your disposal on a stationary opponent in a two player mode. This however, can be more difficult than you imagine as if you get too close you may walk onto the sword of your inert adversary.

When you have lunged, jabbed, parried and thrust to an acceptable standard you are ready for the contest to begin. An important element is choosing your weapons - an armoury of daggers, swords, lances, nets and tridents can be used or if you feel defensive there is a choice of shields. In all there are 45 options from which you can select three. You won't see what fearsome weapons your computer champion has opted for until you are face to face.

The controls are complex and take time to master either on the keyboard or with joystick, there are 25 separate movements and many require a double-burst on the joystick. While you are still improving your gladiator skills you will have to get used to playing pin-cushion for your opponent. There are three bouts in each game and your defeat or victory is confirmed by looking to the Emperor - the figure transforms into a huge hand to give the thumbs up or thumbs down signal.

If single combat games appeal to you, Gladiator should provide you with many hours of swashbuckling pleasure and if you want a duelling game with that extra element of difficulty then definitely take a stab at this one.

Domark
£8.95
Spectrum 128

Forget the enhancements to graphics and sound - where the 128 version of Gladiator scores over the original is that it is much simpler to play.

The 48K game boasted 25 different moves, however a third of these required both a shift of a joystick and a double burst on the joystick. If you didn't have the dexterity of a concert pianist your early death in the arena was assured. In the 128 game the moves have been trimmed down to a far more manageable 16 possible moves and the result is a much more satisfying thrust and parry session.

Another improvement is that you are no longer fighting your identical twin brother. In the original every Gladiator was the some, now there are two to choose from.

The aim of the game is to win your freedom and to do this there will be a minimum of 14 fights to win. With each victory you amass more coins but you need 32,400 to become a freeman. Even if you succeed in becoming the Emperor's champion you will still have to gamble your winnings on the outcome of other gladiator's bouts. The gambling element may add an extra element to the game but some may find it a letdown. If you've just risked your three lives in the arena, then risking your shirt as a spectator just doesn't have the same appeal. If you are a better gambler than a fighter and pick up sufficient coins you can buy your certificate of freedom and complete the game.

Overall, Gladiator 128 is a modest advance on the original and the simplified fighting moves may mean that you could make Emperor's champion status far faster.

128 GAMES

And so they came - the first trickle of 128 games. Sinclair cleverly made sure that the software was there, ready for the new machine. But most of the first releases have been expanded versions of existing titles, and we all know, don't we, that bigger doesn't necessarily mean better? After all, it's what you do with it that counts. So here it is - the highly personal, Rachael J Smith guide to those first ten releases.

Domark
£9.95

Did you avoid this on account of the Domark name and initial reviews. Well, prepare yourself for a shock because it's been improved. Not a Hot Shot, mind, but at least now it's playable. Gone is that impossible double fire button system. Instead you're limited to just 16 moves as you battle for your freedom in the amphitheaters of ancient Rome. At least that means you're in with a chance and there's something to back up the superb animation. Though it's still not the most playable of games it shows signs that the reviewers' criticisms were noted, which is gratifying. If you want to go Roman in the gloamin' it's a reasonable combat game.

So there they are, ten offerings for the 128. All benefit from having their amplified sound blasted out through the TV, and where the new sound chip has been used to full effect it's like suddenly being able to hear after years of deafness. But while there are things here to appeal to the person who's never owned a Spectrum before, I can't see much point in duplicating a game unless you were a big fan of the original. And that means that we're not yet in a position to say whether the 128 itself is worth buying. We'll have to wait until games that make full use of that extra memory - that do things that can't be achieved in 48K - appear before we all decide to trade in our old machines.

ALL THE LITTLE EXTRA BITS

Julian Rignall, for it is he, puts down the joystick attached to his Commodore 64, wanders into the CRASH office and has a quick look at the game we've received for the 128K Spectrum. Between thee and me, he ended up well impressed - a diehard Commie 64 man, Jaz left the office muttering about buying the new Spectrum. Can't be bad news for Sinclair, that....

Hmmmm, a Spectrum with added bits? What would they be? I wondered. Wheels, a bit of whoosh, twiddly things? Nope, none of these - just extra RAM and an on-board hot plate to keep your coffee warm as you bash the baddies through the night. Well, it's not really a hot plate, but it doesn't half act like one. Anyway, what do these extra features mean to yer average gamesplayer on the street?

FOR SKUFFLE FANS

Fighting fans will no doubt be pleased to hear that Domark have added a pound to the price of Gladiator for the 128, making it £9.95. For the extra pennies you get two different graphics for the combatants - in the original version both gladiators were identical except for their weapons. Sound hasn't been upgraded a great deal - a sort of fairground tune plays on the menu screen and after a gladiator has been killed, and bopping noises indicate a hit on your opponent. One, two or four people can play the 128 version which includes ten new screens and a fairly polished demo mode. Essentially, however, the gameplay remains the same.