The bloodsport of gladiators from ancient Rome has sparked the imagination of many throughout time, from writers to entertainment executives and everyone in between. With the recent success of Ridley Scott's "Gladiator" film an excellent example of what can be done with the right story and setting - and the popularity of fighting games like Street Fighter, Tekken, Soul Calibur and Virtua Fighter merely reinforce the attraction inherent in combatants battling to the bitter end. Very few titles have actually taken the gladiator arena popularized by the Roman stories and put them to pixel - Epyx's Death Sword for the Amiga and Commodore 64 comes to mind as a particularly bloody representation at the time - but Acclaim has snatched up the gauntlet with Gladiator: Sword of Vengeance.

Gladiator: SoV tells the tale of one warrior known as Invictus Thrax, who represented Rome well and stood as a true champion for the people to believe in. The evil Arruntius enters from stage right, topples the beloved Emperor Trajan, and prepares to raze Rome to build a new city dedicated to him and him alone. In order to erase every last vestige of the old order, the gladiator champion must die as well, but on the field of battle, entertaining the crowds one last time.

Battles do not only take place in the arenas - our hero travels to Elysium and receives instructions from Romulus and Remus, providing a way to increase his power and strength in order to topple the dictator and sever his alliance with the Gods of Fear and Terror, thereby restoring order to Rome. It is in Elysium where you enter mystic isles and caves, fighting monsters from Roman mythology and upgrading your killing skills. There are combination attacks to learn, and the targeting system is similar to Mark of Kri's - due to the nature of the fighting, you will be going up against multiple opponents on a regular basis. The targeting system implemented here isn't as fluid as MoK, though - it's all too easy to get bogged down flailing at targeted opponents who are out of range, while closer enemies cut you up with impunity. Certain opponents are a little bit bigger and badder than the rest, and it's here where Gladiator: SoV takes a page from Mortal Kombat's book. Beat down one of these larger guys into submission, and they'll become dizzied, allowing you to pull off a finishing move - all of which are extremely gory.

Sorry, I didn't mention the blood before? Gladiator: SoV pulls no punches when it comes to bathing the landscape with plasma. This is the original bloodsport, and this game takes its charge extremely seriously. Bloodstains cover the ground as you hack and slash at your enemies. The aforementioned finishing moves send geysers of red fluid flying skyward as the background darkens and a roaring fills your ears. It's visual feedback at its finest.

Graphically, this is a game that stands tall, especially in the outdoor environments. The sun dances along the beaches, your enemies are detailed and well-animated, and the battles in the arenas draw you into the bloodlust of the crowd thanks to the little touches included everywhere. Full marks to the artists at Acclaim Studios Manchester for making such a good looking game and taking advantage of the Xbox hardware.

Special mention must be made of the music and voice acting provided in Gladiator: SoV. While it would appear that everyone in Elysium and the surrounding areas of Rome speak with British accents, the scripting is remarkably non-cheesy for a hack-and-slash title. The music is suitably moody, and switches pacing when needed for the battles, while dialing down to a peaceful, comforting backdrop as you walk the fields of Elysium.

Sword of Vengeance is a slash and hacking title at heart, and not a very deep one at that - despite the different weaponry, rudimentary puzzles, great production values and extensive storyline, you're still running around hitting people with weapons in order to make them bleed. If the gameplay was a little more involved, with less button bashing and greater emphasis on using combos for effectiveness, it would provide a more fufilling experience. Golden Axe-style of gameplay aside, the additions provided here make Gladiator: Sword of Vengeance a fun pick up and play title that could easily fly under the radar if you're not paying attention. Occasionally wonky control system aside, it's a fun title that Golden Axe/Final Fight fans definitely need to see.