Star Gladiator - Episode 1: Final Crusade (Japanese: スターグラディエイター, Hepburn: Sutāguradietā) is a 1996 weapon-based 3D fighting game released by Capcom for the PlayStation-based ZN-1 arcade hardware.

Instead of the six-button configuration system seen in past Capcom fighting game series such as Street Fighter II and Darkstalkers, Star Gladiator utilizes a Soulcalibur series-esque four-button configuration system, which consists of two attack buttons for a character's weapon, a kick attack, and a guard defense.

If a character strings together five hits and presses a specific button at the end of the combo, they initiate a Plasma Final, which unlocks a technique that inflicts a large amount of damage upon their opponent if used.

In the year 2348, humans have been exploring the vast reaches of outer space for four centuries and have established peaceful contact with various alien civilizations.

He is arrested and exiled from Earth, imprisoned in a satellite that orbits the Planet Zeta, while development of the Plasma weapon is indefinitely suspended.

Four years later, an Earth Federation army base is attacked and destroyed by a small group of rebels calling themselves the "Fourth Empire".

In his true ending, Hayato returns to the orphanage a month later finding the director closing the doors, and presents her with rolls of money, promising to reform himself.

June Lin Milliam - A talented young British-Chinese rhythmic gymnast who fights with a Plasma Ring to avenge the death of her parents by Bilstein (she is unaware that her father is in fact Rimgal).

Saturn Dyer - A green-skinned cone-headed alien who is named after the planet where he comes from in the Andromeda Galaxy of the universe (but not the one present in Earth's Solar System), he fights with Plasma Yo-Yos while having quite an eccentric yet friendly personality.

Gamof Gohgry - A brown-furred ape-like alien who comes from the forest planet of De Rosa which lies from within the Andromeda Galaxy of the universe and who fights with a Plasma Axe.

It was discovered that a type of thistle that can only be grown on Planet DeRosa is the raw material for a drug called "White Heaven," which is 3,000 times more potent than heroin.

When Gamof learns about the threat of the Fourth Empire, he joins the Star Gladiator project along with Hayato so that he can protect both his home planet and his family.

Vector makes a cameo appearance in Roll's ending in Tatsunoko vs. Capcom: Ultimate All-Stars, in which he is reprogrammed to do household tasks.

Rimgal - June's father, the former English scientist Michael Milliam turned into a Velociraptor dinosaur who fights with a Bone Club after Bilstein experimented on him.

Following the empire's return to terrorize the universe in the second game, Zelkin joins the Star Gladiators to redeem himself.

His human counterpart in the second game is an American superhero wearing a suit similar to Zelkin, named Eagle.

According to Japanese materials, Gore's alien-esque appearance is due to the side effects of the constant abuse of Plasma Wizardry, which had deformed him into his current state.

A Nobel Prize-winning German-American prestigious physicist and cybernetic mad scientist emperor who fights with a Plasma Broadsword.

After escaping his prison and forming his "Fourth Empire" organization while placing himself in a powerful cyborg body, Bilstein seeks to conquer the entire universe and establish a new order.

Blood Barbarians - A robust young American expert swordsman who fights with a Plasma Broadsword and has a flying robotic left arm.

Because his left arm was dependant on Bilstein's existence, Blood is willing to sacrifice his life to save the universe in the second game.

[14] A Next Generation reviewer called Star Gladiator "a quirky, stylish game that is more subtle than obvious, with innovative gameplay and likeable character design."

[11] GamePro approved of the game's graphical effects, unique combo system, and characters, and deemed it a satisfying first foray into 3D for Capcom.

[15] The PlayStation conversion also received positive reviews, with critics almost universally praising the characters and the variety of their fighting techniques,[9][10][16] as well as the game's graphics, particularly the 3-D animated backgrounds.

[12] GameSpot assessed that "All in all, the surreal alien characters, weapon-based fighting, and overall quality make Star Gladiator yet another peal of the thunder in the resounding Capcom storm.

"[10] IGN praised the graphics, backgrounds and characters, although that the gameplay "isn't as complex or as deep as Tekken 2" but still an enjoyable game overall.