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This page is about the 2003 video game. For other uses, see Gladius (disambiguation).
Not to be confused with Gradius (video game).

Gladius
Developer(s)LucasArts
Publisher(s)LucasArts
Director(s)Robert Blackadder
Producer(s)Rachel Bryant
Programmer(s)Charlie Skilbeck
Artist(s)Jim Rice
Writer(s)
  • Robert Blackadder
  • Justin Lambros
Composer(s)Mark Griskey
Platform(s)GameCube, PlayStation 2, Xbox
ReleasePlayStation 2, Xbox
GameCube
  • WW: November 3, 2003[3]
Genre(s)Tactical role-playing[4]
Mode(s)Single-player, multiplayer

Gladius is a tactical role-playing video game developed and published by LucasArts. It was released for PlayStation 2 and Xbox in October 2003, and for GameCube the following month.

The game tells two different, albeit similar, stories involving the same two protagonists; Valens (the son of one of the greatest gladiators the world has ever known) and Ursula (the adventure-craving, magic-infused daughter of the barbarian king). In each storyline, the protagonists form a school of gladiators to compete at regional games, but soon find themselves facing a world-ending event, when an evil sorceress sets out to resurrect Mortuus, the Dark God, who once brought the world to near-ruin.

Gladius was well received by critics, who praised the depth of the combat mechanics, the range of equipment, the depth of customisation options, and, especially, the implantation of a hit metre mechanic during combat. Common points of criticism included an insubstantial storyline, inconsistent graphics, a slow pace, and the game's length, with some critics feeling it was unnecessarily long.

Gameplay[edit]

Gladius is a turn-based tactical role-playing game.[4] There are two main gameplay components - combat and a world map, as well as an extensive menu system. The primary game mechanic tasks the player with building a school of gladiators and taking them into battle against opposing schools, winning regional tournaments so as to earn the right to compete in more prestigious tournaments.[5][6] Upon beginning the game, the player must choose their player character from two options; Valens runs a school in the Roman-like Imperia, whilst Ursula is a member of a school run by her brother in the Nordic-like Nordagh.[7] The storyline plays out differently depending on which character is used, but the gameplay is identical across both characters.[6][8]

Combat[edit]

Combat in Gladius uses an interleaved turn-based system.[4] The player issues an order to a gladiator (such as "move", "strike", or "defend") and the gladiator carries out that order. The player then either issues an order to another gladiator, or a computer controlled gladiator will perform an action, and so on.[9] Each gladiator is free to move around the grid-pattern of the arena, but they can only move a certain distance per turn, determined by their character class, type of equipment, and status effects.[10][11] This means that not every opponent is open to attack every turn. Different gladiators have different attacks and range, and an opponent must be within range for the attack option to be available to the player.[11][12] Also important for attacking is the direction the opponent is facing and whether or not they are on elevated ground. Gladiators attacked from the side and from behind will take significantly more damage than when attacked from in front, and will have no chance to block the attack. Gladiators on elevated ground receive less damage from those below them, whilst also causing more damage.[13][14]

After issuing an attack order, the game presents the player with a "swing meter" that is used to determine the accuracy and effectiveness of the attack by having the player press a button or sequence of buttons at a particular time.[11][13][15] All meters can be disabled in the options menu, with the game automatically and randomly determining the strength of attacks.[16]

As well as a basic attack, each gladiator has access to certain skills. These skills are either active (the gladiator must be ordered to use them) or innate (they are activated automatically).[17] As gladiators fight, they gain experience points, which eventually allows them to level up. When they do, they receive a number of "Job Points", which the player can use to purchase and/or upgrade skills. The available skills are different for each class of gladiator, and all skills are broken down into categories; attack, affinity (magic infused attacks), combo, innate, and special (stat boosting, prompting crowd involvement, increasing initiative, etc.).[17] To use skills during combat, the gladiator must have sufficient skill points, which are built up at the rate of one per turn.[18]

Affinity attacks are special attacks imbued with one of the game's six magic elements; earth, water, fire, wind, light, and dark.[19] Each affinity attack requires a certain amount of affinity power before it can be used. The player can charge the gladiator's affinity power simply by attacking the enemy with a weapon imbued with that affinity. Once they have enough power, the player can then order an affinity attack.[14][20] Armor and defensive equipment can also be imbued with an affinity. In this case, if a gladiator is attacked with a weapon imbued with the same affinity as their armor, they will receive very little damage.[21]

There are several different types of combat in the game. The basic match type is to defeat all of the opponents. Other match types include timed combat where the team who scores the most hit points will win, timed combat where the team who break the most barrels will win, timed King of the Hill combat where the objective is to occupy the highest point in the arena and hold onto it for as long as possible, and combat where the first team to destroy the opposing team's statue will win.[7][22] Different battles also have different restrictions; some battles will limit the player to using only gladiators of a particular class, affinity, or gender, meaning the player must build up a diverse school of different types of gladiators.[7]

World map[edit]

There are four regions in the game. Depending on whether the player character is Valens or Ursula, the game begins in either Imperia and then moves to Nordagh (Valens), or Nordagh and then moves to Imperia (Ursula).[23] Upon completion of these two regions, the game moves onto the Windward Steppes, (grasslands region), followed by the Southern Expanse, (desert region).[24]

Within each region, there are multiple towns, each of which has an arena. Each arena hosts a number of leagues, and each league hosts a number of battles. The player must win enough battles to win the league, and enough leagues to compete in the town's tournament.[7][14] Once all the town tournaments have been completed, a regional tournament becomes available.[25] The player must win the regional tournament to be able to move on to the next region.[26]

Travel between the towns takes place on the world map, with the player free to visit any town in the region.[27] As well as facilitating travel, the world map also features merchants who sell items not available in the regular shops, and NPCs to whom the player can speak, possibly getting side quests, hints, or local history.[28][29] As in traditional RPGs, the world map features random combat encounters. Unlike in the arenas, however, if a gladiator is killed in a random encounter, they are permanently removed from the player's school. If the player character is defeated, it is game over and the player must reload from the last save.[7][27]

The menu system is available within each town, and is where the player selects the league in which to compete, accesses the shop, recruits gladiators to their school, and learns the background of the town.[7] Players can also examine their gladiatorial school via submenus that allow them to read journals, equip their gladiators, customise each gladiator's appearance, examine their gladiators' stats, access a "rogues gallery" of defeated enemies, check to see what leagues the school has won, access a Q&A about the game, expel gladiators from their school, and spend job points to upgrade their gladiators' skills.[30]

Multiplayer[edit]

There are two multiplayer modes. Co-op allows up to four players (the PlayStation 2 version of the game is limited to two players) to play side-by-side in story mode. The first player controls the movement on the world map and the menu screens.[31] Once that player has entered a battle, the other players can control the gladiators of their choice.[31] The other multiplayer mode is Versus, where up to four players (two on PlayStation 2) can compete in exhibition battles. This mode only becomes available when the player has reached Chapter II in the single-player game.[31]

Plot[edit]

The game takes place in the fictional lands of Gladius where, decades earlier, the Empire of Imperia had conquered most of the territory, with only the barbarians of Nordagh resisting.[32] The ensuing conflict, known as the Great War, was vicious and bitter, and although it quickly reached a military stalemate, the slaughter senselessly continued. So pronounced was the violence that it led to the rebirth of the dragon-like Dark God, Mortuus, who began to lay waste to both armies. In response, the benevolent Affinity Gods lent their strength to Galltyr, Queen of the Valkyrie, and with her Warriors of Light, she attacked Mortuus. The Valkyrie were wiped out, but they succeeded in defeating him.

The few human survivors vowed never to allow something like this to happen again, and Imperia withdrew from Nordagh, with a temple built over the body of Mortuus, sealing in his evil. The two kingdoms then negotiated a return of the non-lethal gladiator games of old, hoping that this would be where society's lust for violence could be channelled.[33] Schools of gladiators from all over Gladius were soon vying to win regional tournaments so as to earn the right to compete in the High League Tournament in Imperia.

Valens[edit]

As the game begins, Valens and his father, Munio (widely regarded as the greatest gladiator ever), are returning from the arena when they are attacked by an unidentified group of men. Munio is killed, but Valens survives. Later, Valens takes over Munio's school, joined by his closest friend, Ludo, who was raised alongside Valens after his own father was killed in the games a decade prior.[34] Before leaving to begin competing in the regional games, Munio's most trusted advisor, Usus, gives Valens Munio's amulet, which was broken in the attack, telling him it is a symbol for Munio's love of the games.[35]

Having won their first battle, Valens and Ludo are approached by two Channelers of the High Sept, who wish them good luck and speak of their respect for Munio. As they depart, one notes, "he was wearing the amulet. I hope he understands the responsibility that comes with it." Shortly thereafter, Valens, Ludo, and Usus encounter the belligerent Mutuus. After offering Valens and Ludo a place in his school, which they reject, Mutuus mocks them, with Usus explaining that he fought alongside Mutuus in the Great War, but after the defeat of Mortuus, Mutuus wanted Imperia to attack the weakened Nordagh, but Munio refused.[36][37] As the trio departs, Mutuus muses to himself, "Just as I hoped, the boy has no recollection of me."

Upon winning the Imperia regional championship, the party heads to Roanor in Nordagh, location of Mortuus's body, where they learn the temple has been broken into and Mortuus's heart stolen.[38][39] Travelling through Nordagh, they encounter Ursula and Urlan, children of King Orin II. Helping the siblings escape an ambush, Ursula invites the party to meet the king. In Orin's court, Valens suggests that Ursula and Urlan join the school. Orin agrees, much to Ursula's delight. Ludo, however, seems unimpressed. As the school continues to win, Ludo becomes increasingly arrogant. The party again encounters Mutuus, who reiterates his offer to join him, and although Valens again turns him down, Ludo asks to hear the terms. Ludo turns down the offer, telling Valens, "I just wanted to make him feel foolish. We're a team; he's not going to change that."

Meanwhile, the heart of the Dark God is brought by the thieves, led by Mutuus, to the summoner Nyphelia, who imbues Mutuus and his men with the power of darkness, creating the Dark Legion.[40] As Ludo grows increasingly antagonistic, he eventually leaves the school, accusing Valens of lacking ambition, and saying he has disgraced Munio's legacy.[41] As the school continues to work through the tournaments, Valens and Ursula start to bond, noting that they feel a strange power growing within them when they fight.[42]

Having won all of the regional tournaments, the school travel back to Imperia to compete in the High Tournament. They emerge victorious, but immediately, a massive stone gladiator statue comes alive, killing the Emperor and his retinue. The gladiators flee, all except Mutuus who slays the giant. Hailing him as a hero, the people are unaware that this is all part of Nyphelia's plan to resurrect Mortuus. Valens, Ursula, Urlan, and Usus guess that the people of Imperia will now follow Mutuus's lead, so they head to the High Sept for advice. There, they learn that Munio played a vital role in the peace that came about after the Great War, and he was chosen to be humankind's champion should the darkness ever arise again. That responsibility has now fallen to Valens.[43] However, he cannot stand against Mortuus alone. The only way to defeat the darkness is by combining the powers of Valens and Ursula, who is descended from the Valkyrie.[44]

As the Dark Legion march north, laying waste to everything in their path, the school confronts Mutuus at Roanor. Bragging that it was he who killed Munio, they defeat him in combat, but after the battle, Nyphelia approaches him and kills him. Mortuus is then reborn from Mutuus's body. Ursula, Valens, and Urlan battle the dragon, with Ursula sacrificing herself to strike a mortal blow. A smiling Nyphelia then disappears from the battlefield as Ursula's body floats into the air. Before she leaves, she bids goodbye to Valens, who tells her he loves her.[45]

In an undisclosed location, Nyphelia receives a report telling her that despite the setback in Roanor, Nordagh has fallen, and "soon all nations shall tremble as our army marches across the land." Nyphelia then imbues one of her legionnaires with the same power of darkness she used on Mutuus. That legionnaire is Ludo.

Ursula[edit]

In Nordagh, twenty years before the game begins, the Galdr witches, prophesize that Mortuus will return with the aid of a young girl. They come to believe that this girl is King Orin II's unborn child. When Orin's wife gives birth to a boy, it seemingly disproves the Galdr, but she then secretly gives birth to a girl. Orin hides the children (Urlan and Ursula) in Sloan Forest, where they grow up in seclusion, with the Galdr unaware of the deception.[46] Urlan grows to become an accomplished gladiator, whilst Ursula yearns to explore. As he prepares to lead a school to the regional games, he agrees that if she can beat him in combat, she can accompany him. She does so, but only after using a magical ability, the origin of which is a mystery to both her family and herself.[47]

Joined by Orin's most trusted advisor, Usus, the school begins competing. Having won their first tournament, they encounter a woman who tells Ursula, "there is a great darkness coming, and it has eyes upon you." As the party moves away, the woman muses to herself, "at long last we have found the child. Her destiny is tied to the Dark God, but there is a spark of light. How can this be?" The party heads to Roanor, location of Mortuus's body, where they learn the temple has been broken into and Mortuus's heart stolen.[38][48]

Continuing to win tournaments, they travel to Imperia, where they encounter the belligerent Mutuus. He fought alongside Usus in the Great War, but after the defeat of Mortuus, Mutuus wanted Imperia to attack the weakened Nordagh, with the Emperor refusing.[49] Meanwhile, Ursula encounters a young man from Imperia called Valens. He inherited his father's school, but since he tried to run it, the school has fallen apart, with even his childhood friend, Ludo, abandoning him. When Usus sees Valens, he recognizes him, saying he knew Valens' father. He then asks Valens to join their school.

Meanwhile, the heart of the Dark God is brought by the thieves, who are led by Mutuus, to the summoner Nyphelia, who imbues Mutuus and his men with the power of darkness.[40] As the school continues to work through the tournaments, Valens and Ursula start to bond, noting that they feel a strange power growing within them when they fight.[42] Having won all of the regional tournaments, the school travels back to Imperia to compete in the High Tournament. After a series of battles, they emerge victorious, but immediately, a massive stone gladiator statue comes alive, killing the Emperor and his retinue. The gladiators flee, all except Mutuus who slays the giant. Hailing him as a hero, the people are unaware that this is all part of Nyphelia's plan to resurrect Mortuus. Ursula, Urlan, Valens, and Usus guess that the people of Imperia will now follow Mutuus's lead, so they head back to Nordagh to warn Orin.

As Mutuus and his army march towards Nordagh, Nyphelia visits Orin, mortally wounding him. When Ursula and the others arrive, Nyphelia taunts them, saying they can do nothing to stop Mortuus's rebirth. With his dying words, Orin tells Ursula about the Galdr prophecy, urging her to seek their advice.[50] As Ursula and Valens become romantically involved, the party meets with the High Priestess of the Galdr, who states, "sisters, we have read the prophecy wrong; she does not only bring about the coming darkness. She is also the one to stop it." She then tells Ursula, "you are the last of the Valkyrie, the last spark of the light affinity in this world, the only one who can keep us from plunging into total darkness."

At Roanor, they confront Mutuus, who brags that he will control Mortuus. They defeat him in combat, but after the battle, Nyphelia approaches him and kills him. Mortuus is then reborn from Mutuus's body. Ursula, Valens, and Urlan battle the dragon, with Ursula sacrificing herself to strike a mortal blow. A smiling Nyphelia then disappears from the battlefield as Ursula's body floats into the air. Before she leaves, she bids goodbye to Valens, who tells her he loves her.[45] In the halls of Valhalla, Ursula then reignites the Valkyrie's fire, recalling the spirits of her ancestors.[51]

In an undisclosed location, Nyphelia receives a report telling her that despite the setback in Roanor, Nordagh has fallen, and "soon all nations shall tremble as our army marches across the land." Nyphelia then imbues one of her legionnaires with the same power of darkness she used on Mutuus. That legionnaire is Ludo, Valens's childhood friend.

Development[edit]

Gladius was first announced in May 2002, slated for a Spring 2003 release. At this point, the game had already been in development for 18 months.[6] The press release emphasised the two storylines, the mixture of single-player and multiplayer modes, and the core game mechanic of building up and managing a gladiatorial school. LucasArts estimated that it would take around 72 hours to complete both storylines, emphasising the size of the game's four distinct regions. They also cited the game's 16 character classes, 100+ character types, 200+ skills, and 400+ pieces of equipment.[52] According to Sam Saliba, product marketing manager for LucasArts;

Gladius takes action RPGs to a whole new level. Besides signaling LucasArts' return to original game development, Gladius features a distinct style of play that is wrapped in an epic storyline. Players will experience a game that has incredible depth in terms of character development, but also has a unique layer of strategy related to how players manage and balance their team.[52]

The game was first shown at E3 2002, with a playable demo of a 40% complete build of the Xbox version.[11]

Speaking to GameSpot in September 2002, the game's director and co-writer, Robert Blackadder, explained why LucasArts had decided to make a gladiatorial game; "as a company we are trying to build our own brands outside of the standard licensed material. The high concept of Gladius struck a chord with people, and we've been running with it ever since." In terms of influence, Blackadder cited Final Fantasy Tactics, Vagrant Story, Madden NFL, Mario Party, and "lots of RPGs."[53] The game's world, weaponry, and human character classes are based on the real world of the 3rd to 6th centuries, with the base classes being Secutors, Samnites, Legionnaires and Peltasts.[54] The game also features fantastical elements, such as gods and magic, and additional non-human classes such as Valkyrie, yetis, undead, satyrs, cyclopes, ogres, and minotaurs.[54]

Originally, the concept for the game had been much smaller than it ultimately became.[55] As the world of the game continued to expand, the developers decided to create a second player character and split the story between them. The designers also elected to try to introduce "a new twist in the RPG genre", thus pushing the concept even further.[55] According to Q&A lead, Chuck McFadden, the team constantly sought to push things; "[we] wanted to take this game genre farther than anyone else has. Is one console enough? Not a chance! Put this game on all three next-gen consoles at the same time! Is one main hero enough? Nope. We'll have two! Is one land in peril enough? Heck no! We'll have no less than four! Is 600 battles too many?"[56]

The game's engine was developed in-house by LucasArts and was built with the foreknowledge that the game would be released on multiple platforms. To that end, there were specific programmers working specifically on each version with their primary role being to ensure that the game takes advantage of each platform's architecture, all while maintaining a constant 60-frames-per-second frame rate across all three consoles.[6] In terms of the game being multi-platform, Blackadder said, "I see it as standard procedure going forward. For me it's meant focusing more on the game and not what machine it will be on." He also explained, "we have a separate programmer heading platform-specific work. We are looking at taking advantage of different material modes and lighting effects available to each [platform]."[53]

Reception[edit]

Gladius received "generally favorable reviews" across all three platforms; the PlayStation 2 version holds an aggregate score of 78 out of 100 on Metacritic, based on 27 reviews; the Xbox version holds a score of 79 out of 100 from 31 reviews; and the GameCube version holds a score of 82 out of 100 from 13 reviews.[57][58][59]

Game Informer's Matthew Kato scored the GameCube version 9 out of 10 and was especially impressed with the depth of the combat mechanics, particularly lauding the hit meters and the need for strategy. He concluded, "Gladius is the convergence of a lot of successful elements working in tandem."[61] Also writing for Game Informer, Andrew Reiner scored the PlayStation 2 version 9 out of 10, calling it "a compelling and ingenious romp." He too praised the strategic elements of combat and the use of hit meters, as well as the depth of character customisation. He concluded, "it has all of the makings of a bona fide classic."[62] Jeremy Zoss scored the Xbox version 9.3 out of 10, also praising the range of customisation, the depth of the combat mechanics, and, especially, the hit meters.[63]

GameSpy's Zach Meston scored all three versions 4.5 out of 5, calling it one of LucasArts' best games, and praising the developers "for having [...] the skill to deliver a game that competes with the best in the genre." Although he found the pace "sluggish", and the graphics somewhat under-par, he praised the simplicity of the gameplay, the implementation of hit meters, and the depth of customisation, calling it "one of the deepest games of the year."[66][67][68]

Nintendo Power scored the game an average of 4.3 out of 5. Steven Grimm called it "a must-own." Scott Pelland found it to be "an excellent strategy RPG." George Sinfield called it "an involving experience." Alan Averill found it to be "an ambitious title that ultimately falls victim to repetitiveness."[71]

GameSpot's Greg Kasavin scored all three versions 8.4 out of 10, writing "Gladius [is] not just a great game but, in certain ways, a pioneering one." He praised the depth of the combat, citing the character classes, the range of equipment, the use of affinity points, and, especially, the hit meters. He was also impressed with the graphics. On the other hand, he was critical of the story, finding it insubstantial. He concluded, "at the heart of this game is an interesting and well-thought-out combat system, and there are so many viable combinations of characters and skills to experiment with that this game could easily keep you busy for much longer than most games do these days."[7][64][65]

IGN's Mary Jane Irwin scored the PlayStation 2 version 8 out of 10, the GameCube version 8.1 out of 10, and the Xbox version 8.3 out of 10, citing "an odd clashing of ideas that works surprisingly well." As with other critics, she was impressed with the hit meters, but she found the AI "unbalanced", and was critical of the story. Whilst she praised the graphics in the cutscenes ("facial animations are simply amazing"), she was critical of the in-game graphics ("hands and feet are blocky and claw looking, and clothes and skin textures aren't clearly defined"). She concluded, "Gladius doesn't try to be a Japanese RPG or a straight out tactics game. It has plucked elements from several strategy games and patched them together into something that feels fresh."[14][69][70]

Official U.S. PlayStation Magazine's Chris Baker scored the PlayStation 2 version 4 out of 5, praising the range of moves and attacks, the locations, the hit meters, the story, and "the sheer depth of the game."[72] Writing for PlayStation: The Official Magazine, Ryan McCaffrey scored it 8 out of 10. He was critical of the plot and some of the graphics, but felt "there's a lot to love", arguing "its shortcomings are minor [and] weaknesses are swept away by the sheer size and depth of the game."[74]

Electronic Gaming Monthly scored the game an average of 7.2 out of 10. Joe Fielder scored it 6 out of 10, praising the characters and storyline, but was critical of the pacing; "if the number of battles were cut by at least a third and its combat speed doubled, the game could be on track for star status." Greg Stewart, on the other hand, was impressed, scoring it 8.5 out of 10. He praised the combat mechanics, the depth of customisation, and the story. Greg Orlando scored it 8 out of 10, criticising it for being too long, but praising the customisation and range of weapons, as well as the need for strategy.[60]

In 2007, Official Xbox Magazine included the game in their "best Xbox games most people never played" list.[75]

References[edit]

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  30. ^ "School". Gladius PlayStation 2 Instruction Manual (NA) (PDF). LucasArts. 2003. pp. 22–25. Archived (PDF) from the original on January 26, 2024. Retrieved January 26, 2024.
  31. ^ a b c "Multiplayer". Gladius PlayStation 2 Instruction Manual (NA) (PDF). LucasArts. 2003. p. 33. Archived (PDF) from the original on January 26, 2024. Retrieved January 26, 2024.
  32. ^ LucasArts (2003). Gladius. LucasArts. Level/area: Introduction. Narrator: The Imperial Emperor sought to conquer Nordagh once and for all, but the barbarian king resisted. His was the only land to withstand the power of Imperia.
  33. ^ LucasArts (2003). Gladius. LucasArts. Level/area: Chapter I: Imperia (Valens). Usus: Munio felt the games were an outlet for mankind's violence and rage, which kept them from waging war.
  34. ^ LucasArts (2003). Gladius. LucasArts. Level/area: Chapter I: Imperia (Valens). Ludo: It's been eleven years since my father died. Munio took me in and treated me like a son, and Valens has always treated me like a brother.
  35. ^ LucasArts (2003). Gladius. LucasArts. Level/area: Chapter I: Imperia (Valens). Usus: It was a symbol of Munio's dedication to the sport. He felt the games were an outlet for mankind's violence and rage, which kept them from waging war. Carry on that tradition.
  36. ^ LucasArts (2003). Gladius. LucasArts. Level/area: Chapter I: Imperia (Valens). Usus: That was Mutuus. I fought at his side in the Great War. / Valens: Then he fought alongside my father as well? / Usus: Yes. But he did not share the same beliefs as Munio and I did. / Ludo: He wanted the War to continue? / Usus: Yes. And the games have only increased his frustration.
  37. ^ LucasArts (2003). Gladius. LucasArts. Level/area: Chapter II: Nordagh (Valens). Mutuus: This should be our land, we shouldn't need permission to travel here, but your father Munio ordered a retreat. He pulled us away from certain victory.
  38. ^ a b LucasArts (2003). Gladius. LucasArts. Level/area: Chapter I: Nordagh. Narrator: In the eternal struggle between light and dark, man always makes the first move. The heart of the Dark God is free to draw upon the long-dormant powers of evil. Its darkness begins to spread across the lands.
  39. ^ LucasArts (2003). Gladius. LucasArts. Level/area: Chapter II: Nordagh (Valens). Usus: Does anyone know who did it? / Conall: Nobody knows. It was such a horrible act, desecrating that holy place. It must have been the Imperials. / Usus: Sounds more like the work of the berserker tribes that run rampant in the north. / Conall: Well, either way, an investigation might root out those responsible. / Valens: What was stolen? / Conall: The remains of the Dark God. The heart of the beast, stored deep within the Temple.
  40. ^ a b LucasArts (2003). Gladius. LucasArts. Level/area: Chapter III: Windward Steppes. Narrator: The heart of the Dark God is taken to a barren land, where the summoner Nyphelia imbues the power of darkness into her loyal servant, Mutuus, and his most trusted warriors. This new legion of evil now sows seeds of darkness throughout the lands, bringing them one step closer to the return of the Dark God itself.
  41. ^ LucasArts (2003). Gladius. LucasArts. Level/area: Chapter III: Windward Steppes. Ludo: We're wasting too much time. / Valens: What do you mean? / Ludo: We should be done qualifying by now, but we've been wandering, picking up stragglers on the way. / Valens: Look, I know you and Urlan don't see eye to eye but - / Ludo: It's not just him. It's all of them. / Valens: What? You can't be serious. / Ludo: You fear weakening the heart of the school. Imperials are the best gladiators in the world. By bringing in outsiders, you've done an injustice to your father's school. / Ludo: Don't forget, this is my school and you agreed to fight by my side./ Ludo: I did. For as long as you deserved it. I no longer find you worthy of such respect.
  42. ^ a b LucasArts (2003). Gladius. LucasArts. Level/area: Chapter IV: Southern Expanse. Eiji: What's going on with you two? / Ursula: I'm not sure, but I'm feeling a strange power. / Valens: As do I. / Eiji: I don't feel anything. / Ursula: It's as if we've awakened something. / Valens: Something strange is happening here and I'm not sure what it is. I've never felt such a presence.
  43. ^ LucasArts (2003). Gladius. LucasArts. Level/area: Chapter V: Imperia. Channeler:: We've been expecting you. I had hoped you'd naturally grow into the role that your father held for us. / Valens: What role? What are you talking about? / Channeler: Your father proved himself to be a man of uncompromising character, and because of this, he represented humankind in the Promise with the Affinity Gods. / Valens: The Promise? / Channeler: After the Dark God was banished at the end of the Great War, the Valkyrie were nearly extinct, so the Gods tied their powers with the fading light of the Valkyrie to seal the portal of darkness. Since it was man's hatred which invoked the Dark God, they were charged with maintaining the balance and keeping the world from falling to evil. The amulet you wear symbolizes the promise; it was given to your father by our order, as he alone was deemed worthy of such a great responsibility. / Valens: What responsibility? / Channeler: Should the powers of darkness ever rise again, he would stand as humankind's champion.
  44. ^ LucasArts (2003). Gladius. LucasArts. Level/area: Chapter V: Imperia. Channeler:: Only the champion's powers combined with the Light Affinity can stop the darkness now. / Valens: But where do I find this light? / Channeler: [to Ursula] Can you feel that power flowing through your veins? It is the light affinity of the Valkyrie, your birthright. Valens cannot bear this burden alone. When the time comes Ursula, you must aid him.
  45. ^ a b LucasArts (2003). Gladius. LucasArts. Level/area: Chapter V: Imperia. Ursula: We did it Valens, we fulfilled our destiny and banished the Dark God. / Valens: I haven't come all this way to lose you now. This can't be. / Ursula: It was preordained; a sacrifice is required. That is the fate of the Valkyrie. Goodbye Valens. / Valens: Wait. Don't go. I love you. / Ursula: This is not our time Valens.
  46. ^ LucasArts (2003). Gladius. LucasArts. Level/area: Introduction (Ursula). Narrator: The children grew up in seclusion; the outside world knew Ursula only as Urlan's younger sister, not his twin. The witches need never know what they lost.
  47. ^ "Heroes". Gladius PlayStation 2 Instruction Manual (NA) (PDF). LucasArts. 2003. p. 7. Archived (PDF) from the original on January 26, 2024. Retrieved January 26, 2024. Ursula possesses mysterious magical powers that nobody in her family can explain.
  48. ^ LucasArts (2003). Gladius. LucasArts. Level/area: Chapter I: Nordagh (Ursula). Conall: The Temple seal was broken and several guards were killed. / Ursula: Do you know who's responsible? / Conall: Nobody knows. It was such a horrible act, desecrating that holy place. It must have been the Imperials. / Usus: Sounds more like the work of the berserker tribes that run rampant in the north. / Conall: Well, either way, an investigation might root out those responsible. / Ursula: What did the thieves take? / Conall: The remains of the Dark God. The heart of the beast, stored deep within the Temple.
  49. ^ LucasArts (2003). Gladius. LucasArts. Level/area: Chapter II: Imperia (Ursula). Usus: That was Mutuus. I fought at his side in the Great War, but he was not satisfied with how the War ended. / Urlan: He wanted Nordagh to fall? / Usus: Yes. And the games have only increased his frustration.
  50. ^ LucasArts (2003). Gladius. LucasArts. Level/area: Chapter V: Imperia. Orin: You are Urlan's twin sister; I hid that from you to keep you safe from the Galdyr, who feared you were the key to their dark prophecy. / Urlan: Father, you would risk sacrificing your own daughter to the witches? / Orin: They may be our only hope. We cannot hold back Imperia this time.
  51. ^ LucasArts (2003). Gladius. LucasArts. Level/area: Chapter V: Imperia. Narrator: Reigniting the Valkyrie fire recalls the spirits of the fallen warriors who wandered aimlessly for years, bringing them home, to rest eternally.
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External links[edit]

Category:2003 video games Category:Cooperative video games Category:LucasArts games Category:GameCube games Category:Multiplayer and single-player video games Category:PlayStation 2 games Category:Tactical role-playing video games Category:Video games about gladiatorial combat Category:Video games developed in the United States Category:Video games featuring female protagonists Category:Video games scored by Mark Griskey Category:Video games set in schools Category:Video games set in the Roman Empire Category:Xbox games

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