Sands of the Coliseum Single-Player is a good time waster. Nothing better, though.
Depth of gameplay is limited to random variables, and it seems that any input the player has, like attributes (with the exception of strength) and weapons, doesn't affect the gameplay whatsoever. For example, a gladiator with 100 strength and 10 dexterity shouldn't be able to touch another gladiator with 10 strength and 100 dexterity, but it seems he can in this game. Charisma seems to be upgraded on its own, so i don't understand why its an upgradable attribute. Defense is pointless. I upgraded it several times and experienced no change. The same goes with Speed. Finally, vitality means nothing since most of the time the CPU can hardly crack your armor.
On another topic, the chances of hitting never seem to waver between a weak attack and a strong attack, along with the differences in damage. This completely destroys the concept of weak and strong attacks in my opinion (which seemed to be ripped off poorly from Swords and Sandals), and makes players want to continuously choose strong attacks for hardly any penalty whatsoever.
While on the topic of combat, the single-player CPUs are absolutely awful. There seems to be no set AI in the choice of attack or where to attack. A good strategy, one that I'm pretty sure everyone uses, would be to target the weakest person, and then target their head or body (or an exposed limb) and attack only that part until it loses all of its health. The CPU, however, seems to target a random body part on a random person and attack it, with no plan whatsoever. Thus, combat is ridiculously easy and boring. Finally, the whole live or die idea, while it is a great idea, is absolutely pointless as well. I feel like this part of the game, like a lot of other parts, could add more depth to the element of the game, but does nothing to enhance the play.
Also, the bonuses and abilities in the game were alright. Like a lot of RPG games, some abilities were absolutely nifty while others were completely pointless, once again making a preferred path that most players choose and destroying gameplay features. However, since you're not the only studio that's done that (I should stop myself before I begin venting about the RPG elements in Diablo 3), I'll forgive you.
Now for the good part. Multi-player combat is especially fun and enticing, and it is a highly redeeming quality of the game... when it works. However, small technical issues that can be fixed or one that happens to a few people can be annoying but shouldn't reflect the quality of a game. The art of the game is superb, and enhances the dark and powerful mood feel of being a gladiator. Also, the historical context of the game is refreshingly accurate.
Overall, this is obviously a game that has been well taken care of, and has enjoyed the touch of talented artists. Sadly, where this game attempted to succeed in single-player turn-based combat, it faltered with poorly thought-out RPG elements and added nothing new to the genre. While I understand some things can be poor, I still expected better from professionals like yourselves, and I hope you'll work out a lot of kinks in the gameplay that frustrated many players like myself.
My advice for the future? Continue making RPGs and games, you have a talent for it, you just need to accommodate it with more player input. Like I said before, it seems no matter what you do to a character in this game, there is always that one path that makes it the best for anyone. Regardless, this is a good time waster, as I have lost many hours playing it, and that's why I am rewarding you with 3.5 stars.
Goin Up 
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Fade