Spartan: Total Warrior

Mindless hack-and-whack style gameplay stays hot thanks to interesting objectives. Spartan is constantly throwing new gameplay elements at you.

When it's at its best, Spartan offers an unparalleled sense of size and scope. Some of the environments are truly massive, and even with over a hundred soldiers on screen at once, the frame rate remains consistently smooth. [Nov 2005, p.108]

While not the super-strategic romp some of you were expecting, Spartan: Total Warrior delivers the goods if you're looking for a solid chunk of challenging action from start to finish.

It's one of the most polished games I've played since "The Incredible Hulk: Ultimate Destruction." [Nov 2005, p.138]

The combat is satisfying, the setting is grand and the amount of troops on screen is amazing - this is war on a scale rarely seen in games and it puts the likes of "Dynasty Warriors" to shame for its combination of sheer numbers and exceptional graphics, with an outstanding soundtrack that completes the atmosphere of this historical adventure.

Visually the game is certainly impressive when you take into consideration the number of characters onscreen at one time - with only very infrequent episodes of slowdown - and the draw distance.

A very gratifying game, with a lot of minor problems that ultimately hold it back from greatness.

With its simple gameplay and involving story, Spartan: Total Warrior is a perfect blend of strategy game and hack'n'slash romp.

It's therefore unfortunate that the unrefined targeting system, cheap boss battles and generally unhelpful friendly AI make the experience a mixed bag of exhilarating and exasperating moments.

The boss fights are frustrating to the point of idiocy, and are made worse by the annoying checkpoint system... It sure beats the hell out of another "Dynasty Warriors" retreat, though. [Oct 2005, p.119]

I must say that while it doesn't even approach gaming's Pantheon of Gods nor does it really aspire to do as much, it does succeed as a pure action gaming experience.

We weren't particularly bothered that we had to wait while our health/power gauge increased slowly, but what we didn't like was the fact that Spartan couldn't protect himself at all when praying at the statues.

An accomplished and well-crafted battle-axe wielding warrior of a game. Just don't expect anything classic, historically speaking.

For the most part, Spartan: Total Warrior is a pretty good action effort. Unfortunately, the high production values and engaging gameplay of the Total War games are nowhere to be found here.

It only betrays itself completely once – in a dismally conventional boss battle around halfway through – though at times Spartan threatens to become routine, it never does, thanks to its strong character, handsome looks and sheer, irrepressible verve. [Nov 2005, p.96]

If "God Of War" never happened, Spartan: Total Warrior would have been a great example of a simple, gratuitous action game. As it is, it's merely a good one. [Nov 2005, p.124]

Though it can be an intense experience, Spartan does have a tendency to become quite repetitive at times. Having said that there is a solid combat system and enough variety that will please action fans.

Spartan doesn't offer much new material over games like "The Lord of the Rings: Return of the King" and "God of War," both of which are more balanced and have vastly superior production values.

If you are looking for an epic battle game that takes place in the ancient world, go get yourself a copy of "Rome Total War," if you want an awesome battle game where you are one soldier against many foes then go get yourself a copy of "God of War."

Given the high-standards the series has set in the PC strategy genre, it's a big shame that Total Warrior couldn't have done better for the name in the console action genre.

While the production values are pretty good, the gameplay is pretty shallow. If you're into action games, this is worth playing once.

After such an uneven effort, there can be no other assessment made: the game gods must be displeased.