We all love a roguelike or roguelite, or at least the games industry would suggest so, given just how many of these have turned up in recent years! Space Gladiators is the latest to give the genre a go.
Releasing today on Xbox, PlayStation and Switch, off the back of ‘Very Positive’ reviews for the 2021 Steam release, Space Gladiators certainly looks the part, with your bright white sprite popping against the moody browns and greys that dominate your battle arena. At first glance, you wouldn’t be ridiculed for thinking the devs behind Castle Crashers had brought out a new title, but in fact Space Gladiators belongs to the teams at Blobfish and Seaven Studio.
Whilst the story usually falls behind the action-packed, addictive nature of the gameplay in many similar games, Space Gladiators still spills some of the beans. Your character has been captured and sent to the planet of Tartarus, and condemned to alien prison, forced to fight monsters to entertain the aliens of Tartarus forevermore. You will pick your own opponents in randomly generated biomes, complete with a variety of weapons and traps to dispose of your foes with.
As is the case with other roguelites, the simple gameplay loop in Space Gladiators is an addictive one, with you defeating enemies, earning coins, and then spending said coins on new weapons and items to bring to your next run. Choosing your own hero, weapons and pet companions also allows you to customise your own playstyle, and the uniqueness will be furthered when you understand the sheer number of enemies that can be battled.
With over 50 types of enemies, and 10 bosses, each with their own attack patterns to learn, it will be a long while before you can call yourself a Space Gladiators master.
A full list of features coming to Space Gladiators includes:
- Tight and fluid controls that allow you to dodge and fight enemies without taking hits – the only ceiling is your own skillset!
- Hundreds of hand-crafted rooms that are randomly picked to make every new run feel unique.
- 50+ enemies and 10 bosses to beat with different movesets and attack patterns.
- 300+ items including pets, weapons and trinkets that unlock new abilities for your characters. Pop your heart out to heal yourself, throw meatballs or fire a laser gun.
- 8 unique characters that fit different playstyles, including a potato and an alien worm in underpants.
- Customize your runs by choosing harder paths if you’re feeling confident or easier ones if you’re on the brink of death. High risk, high reward.
So, if you are up to the challenge, then you can now purchase Space Gladiators on Xbox Series X|S, Xbox One, PS5, PS4, Switch and PC. On Xbox, you can pick up a copy for £12.49 via the Xbox Store.
Game Description:
Fight your way out of a planet prison in this 2D hand-drawn roguelite platformer! Ever dreamt of being a space potato? Now’s your chance! Space Gladiators is a 2D hand-drawn roguelite platformer following a bunch of captives fighting their way out of a planet prison. Defeat hordes of aliens in the gladiatorial arenas and earn your freedom! You’ve been captured and sent to entertain aliens as a gladiator in a faraway planet called Tartarus. You will have to advance through randomly generated biomes with deadly traps and monsters blocking your path. Choose your opponents in the arenas, beat them for items and coins and you might be able to earn your freedom!
