While most gamers have quite the stash of time-killing systems and games, the majority of us have found ourselves staring at a computer screen with nothing to do. Boredom's a pain, right? Whether you're at school or work (or even somewhere in between) a good way to do away with those mind-numbing blues is to hop onto your favorite search engine and look for a free online game site. There are plenty out there; you can decide which is best for yourself. But, if you'd like a game suggestion that's bound to kill an hour or two, I can help you out.
Swords and Sandals is a flash-based RPG wherein you create a unique gladiator who grows stronger by winning battles in 'The Arena'. It's fast-paced and very easy to pick up and start playing. The animations are humorous and enjoyable to watch, with what I thought to be a South Park-like quality to them. The music, too, leaves nothing to be desired (I absolutely love the level-up 'song'), having a fairly wide range of sound effects and short music pieces.
The game starts off at the character creation screen, where you select your gladiator's appearance, which includes purely aesthetic choices like skin color and hair style. You also upgrade his skills here. There are seven different skills to choose from. These include strength and agility, with obvious benefits to a gladiator, but also skills like charisma, which reduces the cost of equipment in shops.
This is another interesting aspect of the game: two different shops, one specializing in weapons, while the other sells armor, with more powerful items requiring a higher-leveled gladiator. As with most RPGs, you gain gold and experience (as well as the occasional weapon) from defeating enemies. Fights are held in the Arena between your character and another randomly-generated opponent around your level, so that no two battles are exactly the same.
All in all, Swords and Sandals is one of the best free flash-based games I've played. You can find both versions of the game with a quick internet search (I prefer google); just type in Swords and Sandals. The sequel to the game (which is just called 'Swords and Sandals 2') adds two new shops, more weapons, more character creation options, the ability to name your gladiator, a more detailed storyline, and the 'Magicka' stat, which gives your gladiator spell-casting abilities. It's basically an upgraded, slightly more complex version of the first. You might want to skip straight to this one, since it's all the first was and better! But, no matter which you choose, you're bound to have fun.
Happy gaming!
