History VideoGame / Gladius

[[SimilarlyNamedWorks Not to be confused]] with the [[JapaneseRanguage similarly-spelled]] ''VideoGame/{{Gradius}}''.

A turn-based tactical RPG developed and published by Creator/LucasArts and Activision and released for the UsefulNotes/NintendoGamecube, UsefulNotes/Playstation2 and UsefulNotes/{{Xbox}} in 2003, ''Gladius'' focuses primarily on, appropriately enough, gladiatorial combat.

* AnythingThatMoves: Ogres can learn the "Lecherous Grin" skill, which consists of blowing a kiss that lowers the targeted enemy's defense, and can be used on ''any'' opponent, even insects and undead warriors.

* FakeBalance: At around the level 18 mark, heavy enemies will start to wield the one hit kill Executioner's sword, although past that level they stop appearing and equip more reasonable equipment. To a lesser extent, the Dervish, who are inexplicably immune to air affinity weapons (not just air affinity attacks).

The gameplay is turn-based, with each character having his own turn speed. Facing, height advantage, and weight class all play a role in battle. The game also allows players to plan out their movements ahead of time, so fighters move during other people's turns.

* ArtificialStupidity: The AI is odd. For one it equips their ranged units with "[[VoluntaryShapeshifting bear form]]" that it uses when they are engaged in melee (A fairly reasonable idea, given that bear form gives melee abilities and ranged units can't attack at melee range), but it will ''always'' drop the shift if you move away, taking another turn and even do this in a points battle (all fighters are immortal and have to do as much damage as possible, ranged units are the most damaging units). The AI has some oddities it won't even justify, like passing up a chance to attack your back at a height advantage to attack your side at a disadvantage.

* BigfootSasquatchAndYeti: An entire tribe of them exists, and you can even recruit two of them, although only one permanently.

* BoringButPractical: Channelers have the ability to teleport for a paltry amount of affinity. It's not too flashy, but it's handy for getting around, ''especially'' considering the Channeler's otherwise ''slow'' movement animations.

* TheMole: Screw you [[spoiler:Gwazi]].

* MultinationalTeam: By the end of the game, the school will be comprised of gladiators from all four regions. Nordagh Barbarians fight alongside Imperial Legionaries, Windward Stepp Archers, Southern Expanse Summoners, whatever that Skeleton Summoner once called themselves, and those creatures that they summon.

* NonIndicativeDifficulty: Ursula's story starts harder than Valen's (despite being labeled the opposite) as there is a very limited number of good classes that can be recruited in Nordagh while Imperia has a much better variety. On the other hand, the requirements of the battles are very obviously built around the assumption that the player plays through Ursula's story first, because Imperia has stricter requirements than Nordagh, and that the enemies in Nordagh become ''much'' more aggressive and lethal in the silver-rank levels.

* OneHitKill: The Executioner's Sword and Death's Head staff both have a chance to do this on any successful hit.

* ShieldBash: The Murmillos are an entire class that is dedicated to this trope, and they are easily one of the game's deadliest classes at short to medium range. The Samnites can also do it.

* VoluntaryShapeshifting: A trademark of the Nordagh barbarians and gungnir. The latter especially put it to use if an enemy gets too close to use their ranged attacks.

* BattleCouple: One cup has this as a theme and requires you to deploy 2 units, 1 male and 1 female (this is the only time you are forced to deploy a male). Nothing stops you from [[{{Twincest}} deploying the twins Ursula and Urlan]] here (except that they don't really compliment each other ability wise, being both physically based medium class combatants). It's a [[Film/TheEmpireStrikesBack Lucasarts]] game after all.

Playing as either Ursula or Valens, you aim to win the prestigious Caltha Tournament. However, you end up having to destroy Mortuus, the [[EldritchAbomination Dark God]]. You can recruit a roster from a very large selection of combatants. Because the number of recruitment slots are not enough to recruit one of each fighter, and the fact that some fighters work better with others, the game has great replayability. The arenas you fight in towards the Caltha Tournament are all unique, ranging from a simple pit in the ground for close quarters fighting, to a trench-like miniature roman battlefield, to palace gardens with lethal rotating statues. All of your units are completely customisable. The player can change any unit's (even the main characters) skin color, hair color and armor style, offering a nice personal touch to the team. Each weapon, shield, and helmet has it's own unique appearance which shows on your character.