Spartan: Total Warrior
Encyclopedia
Spartan: Total Warrior is a spin-off action game of the Total War series, developed by The Creative Assembly and published by Sega
. It was released on Xbox
, PlayStation 2
and GameCube
. The game has 14 different levels, in which the player is a lone Sparta
n warrior, fighting alongside his Greek allies against the Roman Empire
, guided by Ares
.
While the Total War series has traditionally focused upon historical and legendary scenarios with each instalment, Spartan: Total Warrior is more liberal in its approach to history, drawing elements from the Greek
and Roman mythology
, and has more in common with games such as God of War
. It is also the only instalment in the series thus far to be released for consoles, and not for a personal computer system.
The game takes place in the reign of Emperor Tiberius
, and the war between the Romans
and the Greeks
. Most of Greece has been overrun by the Roman Empire, and only Sparta
remains. The Sparta
ns prepare to go to war, and an unnamed Spartan is contacted by Ares
, the God of War, who offers aid in the war against Rome and to help the Spartan uncover who he is. The Spartan (controlled by the player) fights alongside the Spartans, led by the brothers Castor and Pollux
and their king, Leonidas, defending the walls. The Romans are repelled, but the Roman General, Crassus sends Talos
, a giant bronze man, to attack the walls. The Spartans hold the Romans off long enough for the Spartan to destroy Talos using catapults.
That night, Ares instructs the Spartan to infiltrate the Roman camp and recover the Blades of Athena
, which the Romans had looted from the Parthenon
in the conquest of Athens. He succeeds, aided by Castor, and in the process frees Electra
, leader of the Amazons
, and several other prisoners, before fighting their way out with the aid of Pollux and Spartan reinforcements. Electra warns the Spartans that the Romans have a new, powerful weapon, capable of obliterating the city. She is proved to be correct when the Romans attack with a weapon powered by Medusa
, with the capability to turn entire phalanxes of troops into stone. As the Spartan army makes its last stand
in the city ruins, the Spartan fights his way to the Roman headquarters in an abandoned temple, slays Crassus, and destroys the weapon, taking Crassus' enchanted sword and shield in the process.
In the battle's aftermath, Ares once more speaks to the Spartan, and instructs him to go to the ruins of Troy
and recover the spear of Achilles
in order to save Sparta. The Spartan travels through the Badlands north of Greece with Castor, Pollux and Electra to Troy, saving a village from barbarian warriors under the control of Beowulf
, and recovering his hammer, Death-Biter, along the way. Upon their arrival at Troy, the Spartan enters the underworld of Troy, alone. He fights his way to Achilles' tomb, where the spear is buried, along the way encountering Aelius Sejanus, the Praetorian Prefect, Tiberius' right-hand man, and a powerful necromancer. Sejanus resurrects many undead Roman, Trojan and Greek warriors to kill the Spartan, but he fights his way through the ruins of the city, passing by the tombs of Priam
, Hector
and even the Trojan Horse
. Upon reaching the tomb of Achilles, the Spartan is once more confronted by Sejanus, who makes him fight his Nemesis, an exact copy of him who has the same abilities, and who knows the Spartan's every move and thought. The Spartan again survives, and takes the spear of Achilles which his nemesis was armed with. The Spartan fights his way out of the underworld against the dead of Troy and Sejanus's minions (living and undead), rejoining his allies, and then tries to leave the city. However the Spartans are informed by Sejanus that Sparta fell to the Romans in their absence, as they were not there to protect it. After this conversation, the Spartan defeats the Hydra, awoken from its slumber by Sejanus to kill him.
The Spartan is now more determined than ever to kill Tiberius and destroy the Empire. He travels to Athens
, where he meets the scientist Archimedes
, who leads the Athenian Resistance against the Romans. The Spartan aids the resistance by protecting Archimedes from Roman assassins, saving several resistance members from execution, and leading the people of Athens in a revolution
and storming a mansion occupied by Sejanus and the Praetorian Guard
. The mansion is taken, and the Romans slaughtered, but Sejanus escapes. The Spartan then re-activates one of Archimedes' inventions, the Eye of Apollo
, to power a lightning gun, which he uses to shoot down the dragon Ladon
, employed by Sejanus as a steed. Once dismounted, Pollux charges Sejanus, but the Prefect defeats and kills Pollux easily, turning him into an undead minion, and Castor is forced to fight his brother, while Sejanus then proceeds to battle the Spartan and Electra. The Spartan prevails and cuts down Sejanus, remarking afterwards that Sejanus was right; he was more of a challenge than Crassus. The group mourn Pollux as the Romans are driven from Athens.
Leaving Athens, the Spartan and Castor travel to Rome, via the Gates of Saturn, a fortress in the Alps
that blocks the way to Rome, where they encounter an undead Sejanus, who has survived his death in Athens and escaped the underworld. The Spartan kills Sejanus' Priestesses, the sources of his power, before finally defeating Sejanus, destroying him for good, while the Spartan army massacres the Roman garrison. With Sejanus truly dead, the Spartan remarks to Castor, "Now Pollux can rest in peace." The Spartans then continue to Rome, where they plan to kill Tiberius. The Spartan goes through the Roman sewers and catacombs to get into the city, while the others travel on the surface to the Colosseum
, where Tiberius is attending an event, at which they hope to kill him by blowing up his stand. The Spartan succeeds in navigating the sewers, and reaching the surface, after killing a Minotaur
loose in the sewer. Unfortunately, the others are discovered and detonate the bombs too early, with the result that Tiberius survived. The Spartan saves Electra and Castor from being executed on the spot, and makes his way to Tiberius. The Spartan then confronts Tiberius, but the Roman Emperor commits suicide
out of fear of an unknown 'master'. The Spartan then makes his way to the arena, where he meets the true antagonist of the story: Ares, who reveals the truth to him.
The Spartan, who had never known his identity, in truth was the son of one of Aphrodite
's handmaids, who revealed Ares' affair with the goddess to Hephaestus
. Ares killed the handmaid, but was banished by the other gods. The Spartan had all knowledge of his past was removed from history, (including his name) and was sent to live with the Spartans, having been granted superhuman powers and abilities to protect himself. He was hidden from Ares, who had helped the Romans conquer Greece purely to find the Spartan and bring him to Rome. Ares also reveals that Leonidas is dead, having died calling for the Spartan to aid them: Ares sneers that had the Spartan stayed in the city, the Romans would never have taken Sparta. Driven by their desire for revenge, Ares and the Spartan duel, and the Spartan emerges victorious, killing Ares. After killing Ares, Castor, narrating, says,
"It was over. our epic quest to stop Tiberius and the Roman Empire had ultimately drawn us to this moment. The Spartan had discovered his true identity, defeated the Empire, and battled a vengeful God to free his people. A warrior
, a hero
, a legend
."
In Spartan; Total Warrior, the player is able to play two modes, the campaign or arena battle mode which the player and allied Spartan soldiers have to hold out in the arena against a variety of opponents.
gameplay. The player is able to use two main types of attack, a simple attack which damages one enemy, and a radial attack that damages multiple enemies over a large area around The Spartan. The simple attack is fast and causes the most amount of damage, whereas the radial attack is slower, but damages multiple enemies at a time with a moderate power.
As the player progresses through the game, he will unlock new weapons, including a basic sword and shield, a basic bow, an upgraded sword and shield (medusa shield), dual swords (blades of Athena), an upgraded bow, a hammer (Death-Biter) and a spear (Spear of Achilles). Each of these weapons have some good and bad points. The blades of Athena supply very fast attacks but cause a moderate amount of damage, the Death-Biter is extremely powerful and causes a great amount of damage but is very slow, and the spear of Achilles is very fast with semi-powerful attacks, a good all-round weapon. Aside from melee attack the player can use a bow and arrow with limited ammo to destroy enemies from a distance. It is also possible to use the 'power of the gods': when the magic tank is full, the player can use a simple or radial magic attack, and each weapon has a special magic power. Another important feature of the game is that when the spartan lands a certain amount of attacks, his rage meter fills, and then he can utilise powerful attacks with each weapon which causes a lot of damage.
The Spartan has some Greek allies who help him in his battles, and they play an important role about the fate of each mission. The Spartan is their leader and they follow him in his missions.
Combat is focused on large battles with multiple combatants. The player will often take on scores of enemies at once, often completely surrounded and totally outnumbered. In the midst of battle, a small flash is placed on an attacking enemy's weapon to indicate the danger of an impending strike. Care must be taken to block incoming attacks in between offensive blows, balancing offence and defence to avoid taking damage. The player's shield can also be used to shove enemies back and maintain control of the flow of combat in crowded scenarios.
In addition to the main heroes the player will mostly be aided by large numbers of Spartan swordsmen, spearmen and archers.
, who also wrote the music for the other games in The Creative Assembly's Total War franchise
, who claims that "with just a bit more effort, Spartan could have been great. But it's still worth playing if you're especially interested in the subject matter or in hack-and-slash action games in general."
Sega
, usually styled as SEGA, is a multinational video game software developer and an arcade software and hardware development company headquartered in Ōta, Tokyo, Japan, with various offices around the world...
. It was released on Xbox
Xbox
The Xbox is a sixth-generation video game console manufactured by Microsoft. It was released on November 15, 2001 in North America, February 22, 2002 in Japan, and March 14, 2002 in Australia and Europe and is the predecessor to the Xbox 360. It was Microsoft's first foray into the gaming console...
, PlayStation 2
PlayStation 2
The PlayStation 2 is a sixth-generation video game console manufactured by Sony as part of the PlayStation series. Its development was announced in March 1999 and it was first released on March 4, 2000, in Japan...
and GameCube
Nintendo GameCube
The , officially abbreviated to NGC in Japan and GCN in other regions, is a sixth generation video game console released by Nintendo on September 15, 2001 in Japan, November 18, 2001 in North America, May 3, 2002 in Europe, and May 17, 2002 in Australia...
. The game has 14 different levels, in which the player is a lone Sparta
Sparta
Sparta or Lacedaemon, was a prominent city-state in ancient Greece, situated on the banks of the River Eurotas in Laconia, in south-eastern Peloponnese. It emerged as a political entity around the 10th century BC, when the invading Dorians subjugated the local, non-Dorian population. From c...
n warrior, fighting alongside his Greek allies against the Roman Empire
Roman Empire
The Roman Empire was the post-Republican period of the ancient Roman civilization, characterised by an autocratic form of government and large territorial holdings in Europe and around the Mediterranean....
, guided by Ares
Ares
Ares is the Greek god of war. He is one of the Twelve Olympians, and the son of Zeus and Hera. In Greek literature, he often represents the physical or violent aspect of war, in contrast to the armored Athena, whose functions as a goddess of intelligence include military strategy and...
.
While the Total War series has traditionally focused upon historical and legendary scenarios with each instalment, Spartan: Total Warrior is more liberal in its approach to history, drawing elements from the Greek
Greek mythology
Greek mythology is the body of myths and legends belonging to the ancient Greeks, concerning their gods and heroes, the nature of the world, and the origins and significance of their own cult and ritual practices. They were a part of religion in ancient Greece...
and Roman mythology
Roman mythology
Roman mythology is the body of traditional stories pertaining to ancient Rome's legendary origins and religious system, as represented in the literature and visual arts of the Romans...
, and has more in common with games such as God of War
God of War (video game)
God of War is an action adventure video game for the PlayStation 2 first released by Sony Computer Entertainment's Santa Monica division in March 2005...
. It is also the only instalment in the series thus far to be released for consoles, and not for a personal computer system.
Story
The story is told using a five-act, three-scene structure made popular by Ancient Greek plays.The game takes place in the reign of Emperor Tiberius
Tiberius
Tiberius , was Roman Emperor from 14 AD to 37 AD. Tiberius was by birth a Claudian, son of Tiberius Claudius Nero and Livia Drusilla. His mother divorced Nero and married Augustus in 39 BC, making him a step-son of Octavian...
, and the war between the Romans
Roman Empire
The Roman Empire was the post-Republican period of the ancient Roman civilization, characterised by an autocratic form of government and large territorial holdings in Europe and around the Mediterranean....
and the Greeks
Greeks
The Greeks, also known as the Hellenes , are a nation and ethnic group native to Greece, Cyprus and neighboring regions. They also form a significant diaspora, with Greek communities established around the world....
. Most of Greece has been overrun by the Roman Empire, and only Sparta
Sparta
Sparta or Lacedaemon, was a prominent city-state in ancient Greece, situated on the banks of the River Eurotas in Laconia, in south-eastern Peloponnese. It emerged as a political entity around the 10th century BC, when the invading Dorians subjugated the local, non-Dorian population. From c...
remains. The Sparta
Sparta
Sparta or Lacedaemon, was a prominent city-state in ancient Greece, situated on the banks of the River Eurotas in Laconia, in south-eastern Peloponnese. It emerged as a political entity around the 10th century BC, when the invading Dorians subjugated the local, non-Dorian population. From c...
ns prepare to go to war, and an unnamed Spartan is contacted by Ares
Ares
Ares is the Greek god of war. He is one of the Twelve Olympians, and the son of Zeus and Hera. In Greek literature, he often represents the physical or violent aspect of war, in contrast to the armored Athena, whose functions as a goddess of intelligence include military strategy and...
, the God of War, who offers aid in the war against Rome and to help the Spartan uncover who he is. The Spartan (controlled by the player) fights alongside the Spartans, led by the brothers Castor and Pollux
Castor and Pollux
In Greek and Roman mythology, Castor and Pollux or Polydeuces were twin brothers, together known as the Dioscuri . Their mother was Leda, but Castor was the mortal son of Tyndareus, king of Sparta, and Pollux the divine son of Zeus, who visited Leda in the guise of a swan...
and their king, Leonidas, defending the walls. The Romans are repelled, but the Roman General, Crassus sends Talos
Talos
In Greek mythology, Talos or Talon was a giant man of bronze who protected Europa in Crete from pirates and invaders by circling the island's shores three times daily while guarding it.- History :...
, a giant bronze man, to attack the walls. The Spartans hold the Romans off long enough for the Spartan to destroy Talos using catapults.
That night, Ares instructs the Spartan to infiltrate the Roman camp and recover the Blades of Athena
Athena
In Greek mythology, Athena, Athenê, or Athene , also referred to as Pallas Athena/Athene , is the goddess of wisdom, courage, inspiration, civilization, warfare, strength, strategy, the arts, crafts, justice, and skill. Minerva, Athena's Roman incarnation, embodies similar attributes. Athena is...
, which the Romans had looted from the Parthenon
Parthenon
The Parthenon is a temple on the Athenian Acropolis, Greece, dedicated to the Greek goddess Athena, whom the people of Athens considered their virgin patron. Its construction began in 447 BC when the Athenian Empire was at the height of its power. It was completed in 438 BC, although...
in the conquest of Athens. He succeeds, aided by Castor, and in the process frees Electra
Electra
In Greek mythology, Electra was an Argive princess and daughter of King Agamemnon and Queen Clytemnestra. She and her brother Orestes plotted revenge against their mother Clytemnestra and stepfather Aegisthus for the murder of their father Agamemnon...
, leader of the Amazons
Amazons
The Amazons are a nation of all-female warriors in Greek mythology and Classical antiquity. Herodotus placed them in a region bordering Scythia in Sarmatia...
, and several other prisoners, before fighting their way out with the aid of Pollux and Spartan reinforcements. Electra warns the Spartans that the Romans have a new, powerful weapon, capable of obliterating the city. She is proved to be correct when the Romans attack with a weapon powered by Medusa
Medusa
In Greek mythology Medusa , " guardian, protectress") was a Gorgon, a chthonic monster, and a daughter of Phorcys and Ceto. The author Hyginus, interposes a generation and gives Medusa another chthonic pair as parents. Gazing directly upon her would turn onlookers to stone...
, with the capability to turn entire phalanxes of troops into stone. As the Spartan army makes its last stand
Last stand
Last stand is a loose military term used to describe a body of troops holding a defensive position in the face of overwhelming odds. The defensive force usually takes very heavy casualties or is completely destroyed, as happened in "Custer's Last Stand" at the Battle of Little Big HornBryan Perrett...
in the city ruins, the Spartan fights his way to the Roman headquarters in an abandoned temple, slays Crassus, and destroys the weapon, taking Crassus' enchanted sword and shield in the process.
In the battle's aftermath, Ares once more speaks to the Spartan, and instructs him to go to the ruins of Troy
Troy
Troy was a city, both factual and legendary, located in northwest Anatolia in what is now Turkey, southeast of the Dardanelles and beside Mount Ida...
and recover the spear of Achilles
Achilles
In Greek mythology, Achilles was a Greek hero of the Trojan War, the central character and the greatest warrior of Homer's Iliad.Plato named Achilles the handsomest of the heroes assembled against Troy....
in order to save Sparta. The Spartan travels through the Badlands north of Greece with Castor, Pollux and Electra to Troy, saving a village from barbarian warriors under the control of Beowulf
Beowulf
Beowulf , but modern scholars agree in naming it after the hero whose life is its subject." of an Old English heroic epic poem consisting of 3182 alliterative long lines, set in Scandinavia, commonly cited as one of the most important works of Anglo-Saxon literature.It survives in a single...
, and recovering his hammer, Death-Biter, along the way. Upon their arrival at Troy, the Spartan enters the underworld of Troy, alone. He fights his way to Achilles' tomb, where the spear is buried, along the way encountering Aelius Sejanus, the Praetorian Prefect, Tiberius' right-hand man, and a powerful necromancer. Sejanus resurrects many undead Roman, Trojan and Greek warriors to kill the Spartan, but he fights his way through the ruins of the city, passing by the tombs of Priam
Priam
Priam was the king of Troy during the Trojan War and youngest son of Laomedon. Modern scholars derive his name from the Luwian compound Priimuua, which means "exceptionally courageous".- Marriage and issue :...
, Hector
Hector
In Greek mythology, Hectōr , or Hektōr, is a Trojan prince and the greatest fighter for Troy in the Trojan War. As the first-born son of King Priam and Queen Hecuba, a descendant of Dardanus, who lived under Mount Ida, and of Tros, the founder of Troy, he was a prince of the royal house and the...
and even the Trojan Horse
Trojan Horse
The Trojan Horse is a tale from the Trojan War about the stratagem that allowed the Greeks finally to enter the city of Troy and end the conflict. In the canonical version, after a fruitless 10-year siege, the Greeks constructed a huge wooden horse, and hid a select force of men inside...
. Upon reaching the tomb of Achilles, the Spartan is once more confronted by Sejanus, who makes him fight his Nemesis, an exact copy of him who has the same abilities, and who knows the Spartan's every move and thought. The Spartan again survives, and takes the spear of Achilles which his nemesis was armed with. The Spartan fights his way out of the underworld against the dead of Troy and Sejanus's minions (living and undead), rejoining his allies, and then tries to leave the city. However the Spartans are informed by Sejanus that Sparta fell to the Romans in their absence, as they were not there to protect it. After this conversation, the Spartan defeats the Hydra, awoken from its slumber by Sejanus to kill him.
The Spartan is now more determined than ever to kill Tiberius and destroy the Empire. He travels to Athens
Athens
Athens , is the capital and largest city of Greece. Athens dominates the Attica region and is one of the world's oldest cities, as its recorded history spans around 3,400 years. Classical Athens was a powerful city-state...
, where he meets the scientist Archimedes
Archimedes
Archimedes of Syracuse was a Greek mathematician, physicist, engineer, inventor, and astronomer. Although few details of his life are known, he is regarded as one of the leading scientists in classical antiquity. Among his advances in physics are the foundations of hydrostatics, statics and an...
, who leads the Athenian Resistance against the Romans. The Spartan aids the resistance by protecting Archimedes from Roman assassins, saving several resistance members from execution, and leading the people of Athens in a revolution
Revolution
A revolution is a fundamental change in power or organizational structures that takes place in a relatively short period of time.Aristotle described two types of political revolution:...
and storming a mansion occupied by Sejanus and the Praetorian Guard
Praetorian Guard
The Praetorian Guard was a force of bodyguards used by Roman Emperors. The title was already used during the Roman Republic for the guards of Roman generals, at least since the rise to prominence of the Scipio family around 275 BC...
. The mansion is taken, and the Romans slaughtered, but Sejanus escapes. The Spartan then re-activates one of Archimedes' inventions, the Eye of Apollo
Apollo
Apollo is one of the most important and complex of the Olympian deities in Greek and Roman mythology...
, to power a lightning gun, which he uses to shoot down the dragon Ladon
Ladon
Ladon may refer to:*Ladon , one of the dragons in Greek mythology*Ladon in Arcadia, Greece*Ladon, Loiret, a commune in the Loiret département of France*Ladon, the dragon god in the video game Breath of Fire III...
, employed by Sejanus as a steed. Once dismounted, Pollux charges Sejanus, but the Prefect defeats and kills Pollux easily, turning him into an undead minion, and Castor is forced to fight his brother, while Sejanus then proceeds to battle the Spartan and Electra. The Spartan prevails and cuts down Sejanus, remarking afterwards that Sejanus was right; he was more of a challenge than Crassus. The group mourn Pollux as the Romans are driven from Athens.
Leaving Athens, the Spartan and Castor travel to Rome, via the Gates of Saturn, a fortress in the Alps
Alps
The Alps is one of the great mountain range systems of Europe, stretching from Austria and Slovenia in the east through Italy, Switzerland, Liechtenstein and Germany to France in the west....
that blocks the way to Rome, where they encounter an undead Sejanus, who has survived his death in Athens and escaped the underworld. The Spartan kills Sejanus' Priestesses, the sources of his power, before finally defeating Sejanus, destroying him for good, while the Spartan army massacres the Roman garrison. With Sejanus truly dead, the Spartan remarks to Castor, "Now Pollux can rest in peace." The Spartans then continue to Rome, where they plan to kill Tiberius. The Spartan goes through the Roman sewers and catacombs to get into the city, while the others travel on the surface to the Colosseum
Colosseum
The Colosseum, or the Coliseum, originally the Flavian Amphitheatre , is an elliptical amphitheatre in the centre of the city of Rome, Italy, the largest ever built in the Roman Empire...
, where Tiberius is attending an event, at which they hope to kill him by blowing up his stand. The Spartan succeeds in navigating the sewers, and reaching the surface, after killing a Minotaur
Minotaur
In Greek mythology, the Minotaur , as the Greeks imagined him, was a creature with the head of a bull on the body of a man or, as described by Roman poet Ovid, "part man and part bull"...
loose in the sewer. Unfortunately, the others are discovered and detonate the bombs too early, with the result that Tiberius survived. The Spartan saves Electra and Castor from being executed on the spot, and makes his way to Tiberius. The Spartan then confronts Tiberius, but the Roman Emperor commits suicide
Suicide
Suicide is the act of intentionally causing one's own death. Suicide is often committed out of despair or attributed to some underlying mental disorder, such as depression, bipolar disorder, schizophrenia, alcoholism, or drug abuse...
out of fear of an unknown 'master'. The Spartan then makes his way to the arena, where he meets the true antagonist of the story: Ares, who reveals the truth to him.
The Spartan, who had never known his identity, in truth was the son of one of Aphrodite
Aphrodite
Aphrodite is the Greek goddess of love, beauty, pleasure, and procreation.Her Roman equivalent is the goddess .Historically, her cult in Greece was imported from, or influenced by, the cult of Astarte in Phoenicia....
's handmaids, who revealed Ares' affair with the goddess to Hephaestus
Hephaestus
Hephaestus was a Greek god whose Roman equivalent was Vulcan. He is the son of Zeus and Hera, the King and Queen of the Gods - or else, according to some accounts, of Hera alone. He was the god of technology, blacksmiths, craftsmen, artisans, sculptors, metals, metallurgy, fire and volcanoes...
. Ares killed the handmaid, but was banished by the other gods. The Spartan had all knowledge of his past was removed from history, (including his name) and was sent to live with the Spartans, having been granted superhuman powers and abilities to protect himself. He was hidden from Ares, who had helped the Romans conquer Greece purely to find the Spartan and bring him to Rome. Ares also reveals that Leonidas is dead, having died calling for the Spartan to aid them: Ares sneers that had the Spartan stayed in the city, the Romans would never have taken Sparta. Driven by their desire for revenge, Ares and the Spartan duel, and the Spartan emerges victorious, killing Ares. After killing Ares, Castor, narrating, says,
"It was over. our epic quest to stop Tiberius and the Roman Empire had ultimately drawn us to this moment. The Spartan had discovered his true identity, defeated the Empire, and battled a vengeful God to free his people. A warrior
Warrior
A warrior is a person skilled in combat or warfare, especially within the context of a tribal or clan-based society that recognizes a separate warrior class.-Warrior classes in tribal culture:...
, a hero
Hero
A hero , in Greek mythology and folklore, was originally a demigod, their cult being one of the most distinctive features of ancient Greek religion...
, a legend
Legend
A legend is a narrative of human actions that are perceived both by teller and listeners to take place within human history and to possess certain qualities that give the tale verisimilitude...
."
In Spartan; Total Warrior, the player is able to play two modes, the campaign or arena battle mode which the player and allied Spartan soldiers have to hold out in the arena against a variety of opponents.
Gameplay
Spartan Total Warrior features fast hack and slashHack and slash
Hack and slash or hack and slay, abbreviated H&S or HnS, refers to a type of gameplay that emphasizes combat. "Hack and slash" was originally used to describe an aspect of pen-and-paper role-playing games , carrying over from there to MUDs, MMORPGs, and video games in general...
gameplay. The player is able to use two main types of attack, a simple attack which damages one enemy, and a radial attack that damages multiple enemies over a large area around The Spartan. The simple attack is fast and causes the most amount of damage, whereas the radial attack is slower, but damages multiple enemies at a time with a moderate power.
As the player progresses through the game, he will unlock new weapons, including a basic sword and shield, a basic bow, an upgraded sword and shield (medusa shield), dual swords (blades of Athena), an upgraded bow, a hammer (Death-Biter) and a spear (Spear of Achilles). Each of these weapons have some good and bad points. The blades of Athena supply very fast attacks but cause a moderate amount of damage, the Death-Biter is extremely powerful and causes a great amount of damage but is very slow, and the spear of Achilles is very fast with semi-powerful attacks, a good all-round weapon. Aside from melee attack the player can use a bow and arrow with limited ammo to destroy enemies from a distance. It is also possible to use the 'power of the gods': when the magic tank is full, the player can use a simple or radial magic attack, and each weapon has a special magic power. Another important feature of the game is that when the spartan lands a certain amount of attacks, his rage meter fills, and then he can utilise powerful attacks with each weapon which causes a lot of damage.
The Spartan has some Greek allies who help him in his battles, and they play an important role about the fate of each mission. The Spartan is their leader and they follow him in his missions.
Combat is focused on large battles with multiple combatants. The player will often take on scores of enemies at once, often completely surrounded and totally outnumbered. In the midst of battle, a small flash is placed on an attacking enemy's weapon to indicate the danger of an impending strike. Care must be taken to block incoming attacks in between offensive blows, balancing offence and defence to avoid taking damage. The player's shield can also be used to shove enemies back and maintain control of the flow of combat in crowded scenarios.
Allies
- The Spartan is the ultimate warrior. Abandoned at birth, his unknown past hides a dark and terrible secret...
- CastorCastor and PolluxIn Greek and Roman mythology, Castor and Pollux or Polydeuces were twin brothers, together known as the Dioscuri . Their mother was Leda, but Castor was the mortal son of Tyndareus, king of Sparta, and Pollux the divine son of Zeus, who visited Leda in the guise of a swan...
serves as the Spartan's second in command. He is more calm and analytical than his hot-headed brother. - PolluxCastor and PolluxIn Greek and Roman mythology, Castor and Pollux or Polydeuces were twin brothers, together known as the Dioscuri . Their mother was Leda, but Castor was the mortal son of Tyndareus, king of Sparta, and Pollux the divine son of Zeus, who visited Leda in the guise of a swan...
is Castor's twin brother and is one of Sparta's best swordsmen. He serves as one of the Spartan's lieutenants, but is slain by Sejanus in Athens. - Electra is an Amazonian princess and a skilled warrior. She serves as one of the Spartan's lieutenants after he and Castor rescue her from Crassus's camp.
- Leonidas is Sparta's king. While initially uncertain about the Spartan, Leonidas grows to respect his courage and skill. However, he is killed in Sparta after the Spartan leaves on his quest for the Spear of Achilles.
- ArchimedesArchimedesArchimedes of Syracuse was a Greek mathematician, physicist, engineer, inventor, and astronomer. Although few details of his life are known, he is regarded as one of the leading scientists in classical antiquity. Among his advances in physics are the foundations of hydrostatics, statics and an...
is a great scientist and philosopher, leader of the Athenian Resistance and inventor of the Eye of Apollo lightning gun used to shoot down Ladon.
In addition to the main heroes the player will mostly be aided by large numbers of Spartan swordsmen, spearmen and archers.
Enemies
- CrassusMarcus Licinius CrassusMarcus Licinius Crassus was a Roman general and politician who commanded the right wing of Sulla's army at the Battle of the Colline Gate, suppressed the slave revolt led by Spartacus, provided political and financial support to Julius Caesar and entered into the political alliance known as the...
is the Roman general in charge of the siege of Sparta. Egotistical and arrogant, he lives to enjoy the spoils of war and enjoys using extravagant, grand weapons to fight his battles. - BeowulfBeowulf (hero)Beowulf is a legendary Geatish hero and later turned king in the epic poem named after him, one of the oldest surviving pieces of literature in the English language.-Etymology and origins of the character:...
is a fierce warrior, chieftain of the Danes and commander of the barbarians. He wields Deathbiter, the undefeatable hammer and seeks to make his tale known across the world by killing the Spartan. - SejanusSejanusLucius Aelius Seianus , commonly known as Sejanus, was an ambitious soldier, friend and confidant of the Roman Emperor Tiberius...
is the Praetorian Prefect. The leader of the Praetorian Guard, he is also an amoral, sadistic lunatic and a powerful necromancer with extensive knowledge of black magic. - TiberiusTiberiusTiberius , was Roman Emperor from 14 AD to 37 AD. Tiberius was by birth a Claudian, son of Tiberius Claudius Nero and Livia Drusilla. His mother divorced Nero and married Augustus in 39 BC, making him a step-son of Octavian...
is the Roman Emperor who has gone mad with power. He fears the Spartan, and demands that he be killed on sight. - The Priestesses are Sejanus's spiritual guides, the means by which he is able to cheat death and his Achilles' heelAchilles' heelAn Achilles’ heel is a deadly weakness in spite of overall strength, that can actually or potentially lead to downfall. While the mythological origin refers to a physical vulnerability, metaphorical references to other attributes or qualities that can lead to downfall are common.- Origin :In Greek...
to his sorcery.
Featured mythical creatures
- TalosTalosIn Greek mythology, Talos or Talon was a giant man of bronze who protected Europa in Crete from pirates and invaders by circling the island's shores three times daily while guarding it.- History :...
: Crassus uses Talos as a weapon to break down the gates of SpartaSpartaSparta or Lacedaemon, was a prominent city-state in ancient Greece, situated on the banks of the River Eurotas in Laconia, in south-eastern Peloponnese. It emerged as a political entity around the 10th century BC, when the invading Dorians subjugated the local, non-Dorian population. From c...
. However, Talos is felled by Spartan catapults before the attack succeeds. - MedusaMedusaIn Greek mythology Medusa , " guardian, protectress") was a Gorgon, a chthonic monster, and a daughter of Phorcys and Ceto. The author Hyginus, interposes a generation and gives Medusa another chthonic pair as parents. Gazing directly upon her would turn onlookers to stone...
: Crassus uses Medusa to power a weapon that fires deadly beams of light which can turn men to stone. She is believed to have perished when the Spartan destroys the weapon. - GigantesGigantesIn Greek mythology, the Giants were the children of Gaia, who was fertilized by the blood of Uranus, after Uranus was castrated by his son Cronus...
: The barbarians keep these feral giants as pets and beasts of war. - MinotaurMinotaurIn Greek mythology, the Minotaur , as the Greeks imagined him, was a creature with the head of a bull on the body of a man or, as described by Roman poet Ovid, "part man and part bull"...
: Having escaped from its cage at the ColosseumColosseumThe Colosseum, or the Coliseum, originally the Flavian Amphitheatre , is an elliptical amphitheatre in the centre of the city of Rome, Italy, the largest ever built in the Roman Empire...
, the Minotaur goes on the rampage in the sewers of RomeRomeRome is the capital of Italy and the country's largest and most populated city and comune, with over 2.7 million residents in . The city is located in the central-western portion of the Italian Peninsula, on the Tiber River within the Lazio region of Italy.Rome's history spans two and a half...
. - HydraLernaean HydraIn Greek mythology, the Lernaean Hydra was an ancient nameless serpent-like chthonic water beast, with reptilian traits, that possessed many heads — the poets mention more heads than the vase-painters could paint, and for each head cut off it grew two more — and poisonous breath so virulent even...
: Sejanus awakens this beast from its lair in the ruins of Troy, in the hope it will kill the Spartan. - LadonLadon (mythology)Ladon was the serpent-like dragon that twined and twisted around the tree in the Garden of the Hesperides and guarded the golden apples. He was overcome by Heracles...
: This undead dragon is used by Sejanus as a powerful steed in the final battle in AthensAthensAthens , is the capital and largest city of Greece. Athens dominates the Attica region and is one of the world's oldest cities, as its recorded history spans around 3,400 years. Classical Athens was a powerful city-state...
. - AresAresAres is the Greek god of war. He is one of the Twelve Olympians, and the son of Zeus and Hera. In Greek literature, he often represents the physical or violent aspect of war, in contrast to the armored Athena, whose functions as a goddess of intelligence include military strategy and...
: The God of War and the Spartan's protector and guide.
Music
The original music soundtrack for the game was composed by Jeff van DyckJeff van Dyck
Jeff van Dyck is a Canadian video game music composer. Born in 1969 and raised in Vancouver, Canada, van Dyck is the Audio Director of The Creative Assembly's offices in Fortitude Valley, Brisbane, Australia....
, who also wrote the music for the other games in The Creative Assembly's Total War franchise
Reception
The game had received generally positive response, garnering a 7.1 by GameSpotGameSpot
GameSpot is a video gaming website that provides news, reviews, previews, downloads, and other information. The site was launched in May 1, 1996 by Pete Deemer, Vince Broady and Jon Epstein. It was purchased by ZDNet, a brand which was later purchased by CNET Networks. CBS Interactive, which...
, who claims that "with just a bit more effort, Spartan could have been great. But it's still worth playing if you're especially interested in the subject matter or in hack-and-slash action games in general."