Swords and Sandals Immortals

Swords and Sandals Immortals is another chapter in the 17-year-long history of this series. You may be forgiven if you haven't heard of the game franchise, but if you have, this release might have you in for a treat. It's the most ludicrous, compelling version of the turn-based RPG yet, and if that isn't a reason to get involved, what is?

The game spawned from a series of online Flash releases and now sees its most refined release in Swords and Sandals Immortals. But how far can you take this comical RPG and turn it into something that will resonate among the masses? Initial impressions in early access gave us the idea that this game would feel like a complete release, so now it's time to offer our final thoughts.

Gladiators, Are You Ready?

Let's look back on the history of the Swords and Sandals franchise to get a bit of context of where this game is coming from. The series started as an online battle arena that incorporated all the more tongue-in-cheek elements of gladiator combat to present a turn-based RPG that looked as silly as immersive. Frankly, the games succeeded on that premise alone.

Fast-forward to 2022, and the core principles of gameplay remain in place for Swords and Sandals Immortals. However, mechanics have been refined to feel like a complete console release, with additional bits and pieces to make things more exciting. You'll have to use your wit and strategy to bash your way. Still, you'll need to invest more time into your character to become the gladiatorial superstar.

Swords and Sandals Immortals features the ability to create and customize your gladiator with various aesthetics. You'll grow your character by learning skills and garner the ridiculous possible arsenal. Is it still as fun as it ever was? Absolutely. Even more so now, with the multiplayer capabilities, you'll want to spend more time curating your character to retain a space as the internet's greatest gladiator.

The nuances of Flash-looking visuals and the ridiculousness of combat can be a dampener. However, Swords and Sandals Immortals is arguably the best game of the franchise. Even new players will enjoy building up their gladiators to successfully hack off the limbs or scream at the heads of their opponents. There's something consistently satisfying about gameplay, where fans and newbies will find it massively entertaining.

Built to Kill

Swords and Sandals Immortals still doesn't take itself too seriously after all these years is a breath of fresh air for the turn-based RPG genre. You'll find too many games like the Final Fantasy series that make their battle mechanics overly complex. Only to appease fans who desire an increasingly difficult challenge in their gameplay.

Round-Up - Pros & Cons

Pros:

• Extensive customization options
• Very entertaining turn-based combat
• A lighthearted approach to the game makes it easy to play

Cons:

• Visuals still look like from the Flash era
• The silliness of gameplay may not appeal to everyone