The Kung Fu Factory-developedSpartacus Legends
*will be a free-to-play game on XBLA, Ubisoft has announced.Spartacus Legends*is the first third-party entry in Microsoft's free-to-play pilot program on XBLA, following*Ascend: New Gods
*and*Happy Wars
.*Spartacus Legends*will also be available (and free) on PSN when it launches in Q1 2013.

Outside of combat, players can develop their own staple of warriors in*Spartacus Legends*and control their progress, equipping them with personal weapons and training them in one of eight different fighting styles.

I spent some time playing it during Ubisoft's unveiling event and, at first glance, it's very reminiscent of*Deadliest Warrior
*� though combatants inSpartacus Legends*can withstand a lot more punishment. The combat is more combo-focused, so you won't lose an arm with a single swipe.

It's a bit less realistic, but since permadeath is in play you may be glad fighters can take more of a beating. Yes, once your gladiator dies, he's dead forever.