I wish this game would get localized (alongside many others, I suppose). Looks a bit too complex to play w/o any Japanese.
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Gladiator Begins is probably my favorite PSP game overall. Combat is just so satisfying. The only other gladiator game I can even think of that comes close is Shadow of Rome (ps2) - it's a bit more arcadey but plays really well (and attacks can amputate limbs and such). Gladiator Begins has a bit less blood, but better armor/weaponry configs and feels a bit less arcadey overall.
And then there's Gladius of course, but that's a SRPG.
Actually, I highly recommend all 3 of them. I've beat (or re-beat) them all in the past 5 or so years, and all hold up very well imo.
Why are there so few good gladiator games? We need more!
(I believe Gladiator Begins has a ps3 sibling, but I haven't tried it). EDIT -- looked it up -- Gladiator Begins seems to be a prequel of sorts to PS2's earlier Colosseum - Road to Freedom, and then there is a ps3 sequel called Clan of Champions. I've only played GB of those, but mostly because CoC never seems to go on sale.
Im not sure if Begins is an actual prequel or a more streamlined version for the PSP, since the PS2 version had a lot of issues, even though did some great things too. Was hilarious winning fights in the massive arena by running around and throwing shit at your opponent due to knowing you were too fucked up to actually fight him head on. Since if you got lucky whatever you threw would hit an unprotected region doing damage. Since the arena was so huge too it was easy to do lol All that was missing was the Benny Hill theme song.
One thing for sure is most def begins is a better version though.
With the original PS2 title they wanted to have in dismemberment and such for the localized Western release, but was changed later on. The reason being was that the game itself had too many in game engine cutscenes where issues would occur with dismembered characters showing up in them which was hilarious. So can understand that is a ton of work to redo to take into account for the dismemberment and such, making more work that what it was worth. Was pretty cool though when it was working and a shame that it did get removed in the final build. Truthfully I would have left it in as an option with a disclaimer saying "jank present" but am sure lots of folks would have used it. Other funny thing too was being able to sell said body parts to make money, when it still was in the build.
On the topic of that "advance wars" game while it may look like a lot of Japanese its actually not that bad once you know what the status screens are. Then the more basic things such as movement, range, fuel capacity, ammo capacity. Also the terrain bonus / hindrance for the terrain tiles. All the other stuff is mostly fluff for the military otakus.
Though that won't arrive till next Sunday 