High Voltage's violent fighter is more Punch-Out!! than Street Fighter.
High Voltage Software showed off their recently revealed one-on-one fighting game Gladiator A.D. at E3 last week. While we didn't get to play it, we did get to see it in action.
The game, very reminiscent of Punch-Out!!, looked beautiful despite only being a few months along in the development process. Three characters were revealed: Decimus, a Roman who uses a gladius and a shield; Bastet, an Egyptian; and Marcus, a mace-wielding Persian.
During gameplay, the camera is set behind the back of the character in a similar method to Super Punch-Out!! where you can see through them. The combat shown off was fairly basic with weapon attacks, melee moves, and dodging.
The two fighters' health bars dominate the top of the screen along with the endurance gauge, which depletes as you perform moves. You can regain endurance by not attacking or doing a taunt. On the upper left and right hand corners of the screen there is a medallion representing each fighter. It slowly fills up as you fight and once it does, you can perform a powerful grappling move.
The violence during battles is apparent, but the gore really comes out in the fatality-esque finishing moves. After a character is defeated, the victor performs an extremely gory finisher after the Emperor makes his judgement. For example, Marcus shoved his mace through Decimus' chest and removed it so he could knock his head clean off. In another one, the winner stomped on the testicles of the loser for a good long while.
There will also be local multiplayer in the game. Two players will be able to duke it out via split-screen or on one screen.
Gladiator A.D. is currently still searching for a publisher.