Wccftech gaming writer Chris Wray criticised the combat AI in Ludus Magnatus: Gladiator Manager Simulator on Sunday, despite praising its roster management and frequent updates.
Danish developer Contec Games released the title in Steam Early Access on July 21. Players manage a Roman gladiator school and compete across seven divisions featuring 112 teams.
Managers recruit fighters, buy equipment and improve training facilities. They must develop their gladiators while working towards promotion to the Imperium Romanum Allstar League.
The game offers five tactical slots and orders to attack, defend or protect teammates. However, Wray found that fighters sometimes ignored those instructions.
In several encounters, better-equipped gladiators reportedly stood idle while opponents attacked them. He argued that unreliable automated combat reduced the value of preparing fighters and developing tactics.
Training has its own restrictions. Instructors need higher attributes than the gladiators they teach, while the game uses just four core attributes.
Players can improve seven areas of their gladiator school. Upgrades cover training, recruitment and equipment, alongside medical and other support services. Wray praised the consequences of combat. Gladiators can die, while overusing fighters increases risks.
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Keeping them inactive for too long can reduce loyalty, making roster rotation an important management decision. Despite those features, he found progression repetitive and suggested more direct combat controls or an option to skip simulated matches.
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Contec Games has continued releasing updates during Early Access. Wray welcomed that support but considered the combat system unfinished.
He questioned whether the £20.99 asking price offered sufficient value in the game’s current state, although he saw potential for management-simulation enthusiasts.
The developer has indicated that work will continue beyond version 1.0, with future updates intended to improve the experience.
