Gladiator A.D. is a video game under from High Voltage Software, which will be released for the Nintendo Wii in 2010.
Gladiator A.D. sees players as Ancient Roman gladiators fighting in an arena, with the gameplay described as “a hybrid between 3D fighting games like Bushido Blade and boxing games like Fight Night”. Players gesture using the Wii Remote and Nunchuk to initiate attacks, while use of the Wii Motion Plus add-on will add variance to a player’s attacks.
High Voltage’s design director David Pellas said, “The concept for Gladiator A.D. is to recreate the brutal fighting and high tension of the gladiatorial arenas of ancient Rome. We are developing a game that is both fast-paced and tactical in nature. A lot of work into the art style as well as the AI systems to make a game that is not only beautiful to look at, but challenging and well-balanced for all skill levels.”
The fighters in Gladiator A.D. will each feature their own unique fighting style, customizable weapons and armor, and a narrative that changes depending on what decisions the player makes as they progress through the plot. Other playable gladiators will be unlocked as the player makes their way through the game. High Voltage has also confirmed that the game will include violent and humiliating finishing moves, and audiences that respond to how the player fights in the arena.
According to Kerry Ganofsky, CEO of High Voltage, “The story for each character revolves around the gladiatorial circuit culminating in the Coliseum to determine the grand champion. The characters all have unique motivations to rise to the top. The player can choose to be ruthless or forgiving, affecting the storyline of the character.”
An early demo was released in 2009 that drew positive remarks from commentators. Joystiq.com said, “Gladiator A.D. looked fairly promising, and High Voltage said they plan to incorporate online capabilities to the multiplayer side of the game. This gives us hope that the title could have some lasting replay value, as it’s a pretty necessary thing for fighting games nowadays to keep the player interested over a longer period of time.”
