Gladiator Sword of Vengeance
↗ 31%
(Playstation 2 - US, Action & Adventure)
.png)
.png)
.png)
.png)
Complete
$14.99
Loose $8.71
Manage Collection
Developed_By:
Acclaim
Published_By:
Acclaim
Released On:
28 Nov 2003
Also available on:
Gladiator Sword of Vengeance , a thrilling action-adventure game, takes you on a perilous quest through ancient Rome. You play as a legendary gladiator, driven by a thirst for vengeance against those who have wronged you and your family. With the help of a magical sword, you must navigate treacherous landscapes, battle formidable enemies, and unravel the mysteries of your past.
Gameplay is fast-paced and intense, with an emphasis on combat and exploration. You'll need to master various sword-fighting techniques and utilize your environment to outmaneuver your foes. As you progress through the game, you'll encounter a range of challenges, from navigating treacherous ruins to battling rival gladiators.
Part #:
SLES-51766 (Europe)
YouTube
Reddit
Twitch
Wikipedia
DB
IGDB
RG
RAWG
M
Metacritic
HowLong
GF
GameFAQs
Prices as of 30 Jul 2026
Typical $14.99–$14.99 (last 90 days)
New
Complete
Loose
Box
Manual
Smoothed
Log · Auto
Medians
Volume
More Playstation 2 Action & Adventure
24 the Game
$11.75 (Complete)
Feb 2006
😐 4.7/10
25 to Life
$20.00 (Complete)
Jan 2006
50 Cent Bulletproof
$44.99 (Complete)
Nov 2005
Action Replay Ultimate Codes: God of War II
$11.99 (Complete)
Jan 2003
Aeon Flux
$18.95 (Complete)
Nov 2005
🙂 6.5/10
Alias
$10.25 (Complete)
Apr 2004
🙂 7.1/10
Alone in the Dark
$11.30 (Complete)
Jun 2008
🙂 6.6/10
Alter Echo
$11.99 (Complete)
Aug 2003
😐 5.9/10
Ant Bully
$7.48 (Complete)
Jul 2006
Ape Escape Pumped and Primed
$44.99 (Complete)
Oct 2004
Manual
Game Guide
Extracted from the original game manual
This is an action-adventure game where players control Invictus Thrax, a gladiator slave, on a quest to avenge Emperor Trajan and restore the Roman Empire's glory. Players will engage in combat against various enemies, including other gladiators and mythic foes, as they navigate the war-torn streets of Rome.
Story
INTRODUCTION
A warrior slave, chosen by the gods, to restore the glory of an Empire.
In the Year 106AD, the Roman Empire is in terrible decline. After the mysterious and untimely death of the much-liked Emperor Trajan, the despotic Arruntius has had himself declared Emperor and bled once powerful Rome to its knees.
Badly fought wars, famine, and plague are rife in all corners of the Empire, while the Emperor and his elite enjoy every excess and vice that the emptying coffers can afford. As herald to this age of degradation, Arruntius has destroyed large portions of the city of Rome to create the ultimate battleground for the bloodiest gladiator event ever staged.
Invictus Thrax, a Thracian slave who rose to become the greatest gladiator of the era, was promised his freedom by his Emperor. Thrax alone can avenge the death of Trajan and restore Rome's former glory.
Thrax must now battle wherever the gods guide him, with whatever weapons he can find, with whatever outcome the Fates decree. May fortune favor the brave.
MAIN MENU
•
GLADIATOR
•
SWORD OF VENGEANCE
•
Load Game
•
Options
•
Controls
•
Cre
•
OK
LOAD GAME
Continue a previously saved game.
NEW GAME
Start a new game from the beginning.
OPTIONS
Adjust various settings to your liking.
CONTROLS
View control settings.
CREDITS
View the team behind this entertainment.
DIMACHAERI
The literal translation of Dimachaeri is "two-dagger men". As their name suggests they wield dual falcate swords.
These gladiators are a favorite of Emperor Arruntius, who recruits almost solely from Numidian slave ranks. Keen to earn favor with the Emperor, they will not hesitate to carve you up for his pleasure.
Mythic Enemies
As you progress, you will encounter certain mythic enemies. If you have fought well so far you might have a chance against them.
THE ADVENTURE BEGINS
Streets of Rome 1 (introductory training level)
The game opens in the streets of Rome around the Colosseum, which has been turned into a battleground for the Roma Gregatim. Invictus Thrax, gladiator champion of the now deceased Trajan, waits in a darkened holding cell.
Arruntius gleefully announces both the Roma Gregatim and the champion. Stepping out into the Streets of Rome, Thrax begins to fight his way around the outskirts of the Colosseum and to his final destiny.
Here is where you will learn all the skills and controls needed to compete. From this point on you must fight to survive on your own.
How to Play
GETTING STARTED
•
MEMORY CARD slot 2
•
MEMORY CARD slot 1
•
USB connector
•
S400 i.LINK connector
•
controller port 1
•
controller port 2
•
disc tray
•
/RESET button
•
/OPEN button
Set up your PlayStation®2 computer entertainment system according to its Instruction Manual. Ensure the MAIN POWER switch (located on the back of the console) is turned on.
Press the RESET button. When the power indicator lights up, press the open button to open the disc tray. Place the GLADIATOR SWORD OF VENGEANCE™ disc on the disc tray with the label side facing up. Press the open button again to close the disc tray.
Attach game controllers and other peripherals as appropriate. Follow on-screen instructions and refer to this manual for information on using the software.
Memory Card (8MB) (for PlayStation®2)
GLADIATOR SWORD OF VENGEANCE™ only supports MEMORY CARD slot 1. To save game settings and progression, insert a memory card (8MB) (for PlayStation®2) into MEMORY CARD slot 1.
GLADIATOR SWORD OF VENGEANCE features an AutoSave system, and the game will automatically save your game progression at certain points. Insertion or removal of the memory card (8MB) (for PlayStation®2) after switching the console on may cause data to be overwritten or lost.
GLADIATOR SWORD OF VENGEANCE also sports manual save and load of game data from the Main Menu. After performing a manual save/load, the game will again AutoSave your progression at the relevant points.
OPTIONS
SFX VOLUME
Use sliders to adjust the sound effects volume.
MUSIC VOLUME
Use sliders to adjust the music volume.
VIBRATION
Choose to play with vibration effect ON or OFF.
PLAYING GLADIATOR
Game Display
•
Enemy Health
•
Fight Gauge
•
Currently Usable Magic
•
Health Meter
•
Blood Meter
NEW GAME
When you first start the game, only the New Game option will be available.
LOAD GAME
Select from a previously saved game slot in order to resume playing.
PAUSING THE GAME
Press the START button at any time to pause the game. On the pause screen, you will have these choices:
•
RETURN TO GAME
•
OPTIONS
•
CONTROLS
•
RETURN TO ELYSIUM
•
QUIT GAME
You can also view your inventory of health slots, tablets, coins and amulets.
Note: Returning to Elysium causes you to lose certain items such as: keys, levers (from broken levers), the jupiter idol, the ferrycoin, etc.
SECONDARY TARGET LOCK
While locked onto a primary target, other enemies become potential secondary lock targets. Holding down the secondary target lock trigger (L1 button) will select the enemy currently indicated by a gray health bar as the secondary target lock.
While holding down the secondary target lock button, Thrax's attacks will be aimed at this enemy. To return Thrax's attention to the primary lock target, simply release the secondary target lock button.
LOCK ICONS
Lock icons contain health bars that allow you to gauge how much health an enemy has remaining. Lock icons are gray in color until locked onto, at which point they turn gold.
Gray lock icons also signify potential lock targets (either primary or secondary). When an enemy is outside of the screen/frame, the lock icons will move to the side of the screen which Thrax must turn to face them.
ATTACK BUTTONS
Press combinations of the two attack buttons in a measured manner to perform attack chains (strings of attacks). Each successive press of the button after the last adds a new attack to the last until the chain is completed (3 attacks long). The attack sequence for each weapon depends on the weapon used.
The Fight Gauge
Once collected, a weapon's Fight Gauge rewards you with mid-combat bonuses for skillful fighting. The Fight Gauge is displayed at the top of the screen and shows successful maneuvers you've just pulled off as well as showing you how far along the gauge you currently are.
Successive maneuvers (hits, evades, switch attacks, kills, etc.) will make the Fight Gauge increase more quickly. Icons sit on the Fight Gauge at measured points and once the Fight Gauge reaches them you will be awarded with bonuses. Such bonuses include:
•
DOUBLE ARMOR - reduces the amount of damage received from enemy hits
•
DOUBLE DAMAGE - increases damage dealt out to enemies
•
SHIELD BREAK - breaks through enemies who attempt to block Thrax's attacks
•
REFLECT ARMOR - deals out damage to enemies who land a hit on Thrax.
...plus many more for you to discover.
Each weapon type (sword, axe and gauntlets) has its own Fight Gauge with the rewards along it distributed at different points. Further, each Fight Gauge is split into four sections.
Collecting the first Fight Gauge for a weapon will only allow the lower end rewards to be awarded during combat. Later, you will be able to collect Fight Gauge Extenders, which extend the Fight Gauge, allowing you to build it up further, and therefore award you with greater bonuses during combat.
Building up the Fight Gauge requires the player to pull off evades between attack chains and maneuvers during them. Button-mashing and/or uninspired fighting will cause the Fight Gauge to drop (accelerate towards zero) until a successful maneuver is pulled off.
Kill Moves (Executions)
Champion enemies are set apart visually from the others in terms of coloration, armor differentiation and size.
Controls
R1 button
TOGGLE PRIMARY TARGET LOCK
L1 button
SECONDARY TARGET LOCK
button
EVADE/ACTION/KILL MOVE
START button
PAUSE
LEFT ANALOG STICK
MOVE THRAX
RIGHT ANALOG STICK
ZOOM CAMERA
right analog stick (pressed)
RETURN CAMERA TO DEFAULT ZOOM
SELECT button
TOGGLE WEAPONS
Tips & Maps
Diagonal Slash (Right to Left)
A sword attack performed by pressing X.
Diagonal Slash (Left to Right)
A sword attack performed by pressing XX.
Punch
A sword attack performed by pressing XOX.
Pommel Strike
A sword attack performed by pressing OXX.
Shoulder Barge/Rush
A sword attack performed by pressing OOO.
Overhead Strike
A sword attack performed by pressing XOO.
Spin Reverse Kick
A sword attack performed by pressing OOX.
Axe Swing (Left to Right)
An axe attack performed by pressing X.
Axe Swing Down
An axe attack performed by pressing XXX.
Axe Butt
An axe attack performed by pressing OO.
Kick
An axe attack performed by pressing O.
Lunge Kick
An axe attack performed by pressing XO.
Side Swipe
An axe attack performed by pressing X.
Upward Swipe
An axe attack performed by pressing XXO.
Left to Right Gauntlet Attack
A gauntlet attack performed by pressing XX.
Backhand Gauntlet spin attack
A gauntlet attack performed by pressing XXX.
Right Gauntlet Attack
A gauntlet attack performed by pressing OOO.
Round House Spin Kick
A gauntlet attack performed by pressing O.
Left & Right Swipe
A gauntlet attack performed by pressing XOX.
Jump attack
A gauntlet attack performed by pressing OX.
SWITCH HIT
The player switches to a different target and hits that enemy.
DOUBLE SWITCH HIT
The player hits a target and then switches to a different target and hits that enemy within the same attack chain.
TRIPLE SWITCH HIT
The player hits a target, switches to a different target and hits that one, then hits either of those two targets again.
SWITCH KILL
The player switches to a different target and hits that enemy, killing it.
The Power of Hercules
When activated, Thrax gains the strength of Hercules, bursting into flames, increasing attack speed and power, and becoming invulnerable to enemy attacks for a short time.
Herculean Blast Attack
Performed by pressing a specific button at the end of a three-string attack chain while The Power of Hercules is engaged, this attack totally depletes the blood meter.
The Power of Pluto
When activated, Thrax calls upon Wraith Knights to attach to enemies, fending off attacks and inflicting severe damage on tagged targets when an opponent is killed, draining their life force and feeding it back to Thrax.
Items & Weapons
SWORD
The traditional Roman Gladius, specifically the Spatha variant, a longer version used by Roman cavalry. It is a mid-range weapon in terms of speed and power.
AXE
A very large, two-handed battle-axe that is powerful but slow to use, leaving Thrax potentially open to damage.
GAUNTLETS
Thrax's starting close-range weapon, incredibly fast for face-to-face combat but the least damaging of weapons.
HEALTH
Thrax's maximum health is measured in 'slots', with more slots meaning higher maximum health. Losing all health slots results in Thrax's death.
PARTIAL HEALTH
When received, Thrax will regain a small increment of health.
DOUBLE ARMOR
While possessing this, Thrax will receive less damage from enemy hits.
DOUBLE DAMAGE
While possessing this, the damage that Thrax inflicts on the enemy will be increased.
MAX HEALTH INCREASE (HEALTH SLOT)
When received, Thrax's health is increased to maximum, filling all current slots.
Enemies & Characters
SECUTOR (OR SECUTORES)
Literal translation of Secutor is 'chaser'. He has a round or high vizored helmet and large shield. Armed with a traditional infantry sword, the Gladius, they fight with tremendous vigor and are surprisingly adept given their severely limited hearing and vision.
HOPLOMACHUS
A very heavily armored gladiator of massive size (in order to carry the weighty armor). Often recruited from within captured Germanic tribes, you can expect any damage received from the two-handed axe they carry to be nothing less than devastating.
Search Games
Popular Consoles
Trending Now
By Year
1978
1979
1980
1981
1982
1983
1984
1985
1986
1987
1988
1989
1990
1991
1992
1993
1994
1995
1996
1997
1998
1999
2000
2001
2002
2003
2004
2005
2006
2007
2008
2009
2010
2011
2012
2013
2014
2015
2016
2017
2018
2019
2020
2021
2022
2023
2024
2025
2026
© 2026 RetroGold. All rights reserved.