Act: Galactic Gladiators [by Phenomenon]

GAME: Galactic Gladiators
RELEASE: 9/11/02
GENRE: Action
DEVELOPER: PhenomenonGames
SYSTEM REQUIREMENTS: Windows 98/2000/XP, DX6 or higher
PRICE: Freeware!

Screenshots!

The best way I can think of to describe this game is classic arcade style with excellent graphics. 15 years ago I would have dropped 20 quarters into this arcade game in a hurry. The game play is similar to many games of yesterday but the graphics are well done. There are some new ideas that I will get into later but let’s start by talking about the game itself. It reminds me of the classic game Asteroids. You remember the one where you control the little ship and have to shoot the asteroids as they get closer and closer and faster and faster. The difference with this game is there are no asteroids. There are other ships and they shoot back. One of my favorite strategies in Asteroids was to simply sit in the middle and not move, just shoot. I wouldn’t recommend it in this game. The AI is intelligent enough to figure that out and put a quick end to that. Another aspect that sets this game apart is the ability to choose different ships. You can also collect various weapons that behave in different ways. All of this makes the game extremely challenging and definitely entertaining, besides the price is right. There are also multiplayer capabilities that make this a lot of fun as well. Since the controls for this game are very simple, most people will master them in just a few minutes. This game is simple enough that young children can easily play, yet challenging enough to captivate an adult audience as well. This makes it a great family game. That select group that is hopelessly addicted to classic arcade should definitely give this game a try.

The story behind this game is simple. There is your ship along side three others. You try to shoot the other three. Sounds simple right? It isn’t as easy as it looks. One of the trickiest aspects for me to learn about asteroids was how to control the ship. In order to slow down you had to turn around and thrust in the opposite direction. In Galactic Gladiators this problem is fixed. It is much easier to maneuver as your ship responds much more smoothly to the input of the controller. It also adds a brake feature that allows you to slow down or stop without turning around. This is especially useful when trying to gather those all-important power-ups. Galactic Gladiators allows you to pass through the screen and come out on the other side. However watch out for other ships as they are solid and you will bounce off them, not pass through them. This will alter your course.

As I have said previously part of this game’s allure is its simplicity. You don’t worry about getting to the next level or collecting gold or space bucks to purchase new items. You simply fly around the screen and attempt to shoot the other ships. You do, however, have some options that keep Galactic Gladiators interesting for a long time. First of all you can select one of 4 ships. From what I can tell the ships have the same qualities and behave the same but each has a distinct look. The Nebula has the shape similar to that of a stealth bomber, only narrower. It is silver with a blue cockpit. The Radon looks similar to the Nebula but is red. I like this ship simply because it stands out and is easy to identify if you lose your place. However this can be bad as it can draw unnecessary attention from other players. The Raider is a half circle painted gray with bright green stripes. The Star Hawk is the most detailed ship in the game. It is gray and as the readme.txt indicates, has electronics scattered on the ship’s body. Again I believe the ships behave in the same manner and have the same qualities. But each has a distinct look to it.

Next up is weapons. Your primary weapon is the laser. It has a damage power of 5. It never runs out of ammo and it is the weapon you start out with. Although fodder does 2 damage to a ship that flies into it, it is better used as a defensive weapon against missiles, especially guided missiles. Mines have a damage power of 4 and can put an end to ships in a hurry. When they are placed in a row they can be extremely difficult to avoid. Be careful where mines are placed as they can damage your ship as well. Electros are similar to mines except they are much more powerful, twice as powerful actually. They deal 8 damage points. The next weapon is the missile. The missile is not guidable so be cautious when firing at high speeds. Each missile has a damage power of 10. The Seeker is the weapon I sought the most. As it would key in on the selected target and follow them. They deal a whopping 12 points of damage. Fire a couple of these at your opponent and it could mean lights out. This is one of two weapons in the game that can be guided. The Fireball deals 10 damage and as the readme.txt indicates, is a good weapon to finish off a target. Always one to save the best for last, the nuke deals the most damage in the game at 20 damage points and is fully guidable.

The multiplayer capabilities are enjoyable as well. You have the option of playing up to 4 players at one time. This is on the same computer as there is no network play. In order to accommodate 4 players, 1 compatible joystick is required. The other 3 players share the keyboard. I din’t actually try it with 3 players on the keyboard but with 2 it didn’t feel cramped. This game is so simple it only requires 5-6 keys to play. Once again this adds to its value in my book. Too many times I have become frustrated with a game that is to complex and quit playing before I really even learned how to play. This game does not have that problem.

Now for the review: In the fun category I give GalacticGladiators an 8. The game is loads of fun. I haven’t really become addicted to it, but it is a small game that plays nicely. It is great for those situations where you don’t have the time to sit down and play a longer game. And it sure beats Solitaire.

As for concept I give GalacticGladiators a 9. This is not a new concept but the improved graphics and sound make this game much more enjoyable. The various ships and the assortment of weapons also spin this in a new direction.

Overall I give this game a 9. This game is way above average. And the fact that it is shareware makes it all the more attractive. The game is challenging but not impossible with a very small learning curve. Added: February 10th 2003
Reviewer: Nathan Hancock
Score:
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