Gaming Target - PlayStation 2: Barbarian

Written by Matt Swider on August 07, 2002

Full Review: All these people need to do to get along is communicate!

Barbarian represents Saffire's latest effort to provide more than just a standard fighting game. Despite its shortcomings with the genre in the past, the developer has returned with a more balanced setup resulting in a solid competitor on the system. Prior titles such as Bio Freaks in 1998 and Xena: Warrior Princess the following year featured some of the richest graphics, but at the same time offered nothing more than shallow gameplay. In an attempt to apply diversity to the regular fighting style, both games failed to create balanced mechanics. Now that a couple years have gone by and more powerful consoles are at Saffire's disposal, the company has ventured to improve upon the downfalls within its past trials. While Barbarian isn't without shortcomings of its own, the entry provides more wonderful visuals, an inspiring single player storyline, and enough fun to keep four players occupied, thus pushing the game farther than any past attempt to come from the company.

The game no doubt centers on barbaric warriors within the barren and cursed world only known as Barbaria. Here, a wizard name Zaugg rules the land under grim control, but there stands a hope. Cue the entrance music and come forth your warrior. Players will go up against several opponents leading to the battle against Zaugg, however the story doesn't remain that simple. Instead of ending with this basic approach, the developer has given Barbarian a rich and detailed storyline deeper than anything we commonly see in a fighting game. Upon exploring the game's quest mode and selecting a warrior, a creepy tale will unfold as you play through the rounds. The engrossing plot thickens till the last battle where a certain twist waits to be uncovered.

While each of the ten warriors have a unique storyline, what makes things more interesting is the chance to decide where the plot will lead. Depending on when the opponents are fought, the storyline will vary, differing the experiences many times over like a chose the ending type book. Although this is a serious draw for those who are willing to follow along, several gamers out there could care less about the setup and only desire to focus on the fighting aspects. Nevertheless, those who do will be treated to a comprehensive storyline along with wonderful narration accompanying the scrolling text.

Barbarian depicts its era with great illustration in both level design and character makeup. Recreations of sandy wastelands, eerie stone structures, and other various temples of doom only touch on the framework within the arenas. In addition to 12 stages, each contains several hidden expansions leading from the initial battleground. This will open up a vast amount of exciting territory riddled with just as much interactive elements. Cluttered around each stage are lingering objects and debris that can be picked up and thrown. While not as abundant as games like Power Stone, which Barbarian greatly mimics, objects are rooted into the settings more and seem less blatantly obvious. Parts from a whole fossilized skeleton can be drawn from the ground, fallen stone columns can be swung, and trees can be ripped from the earth to use against an opponent. The ability to pick up and throw opponents is also available as well as battling it out while hanging of building ledges. This is almost like a little American Gladiator event known as hang tough, only minus the American since all this game is all about the Gladiators.

While warriors are able to grab a hold of just about anything the eye can see, it's not always possible to pick objects up off the ground. To do this players will have to increase the warrior's lifting skill level, which is part of the RPG elements consistent throughout Barbarian. In progressing and defeating opponents, players can upgrade the skills of they're warrior and watch them rise in level through experience points. Attributes include damage, life, defense, magic and lift. This not only adds great value and diversity to the gameplay experience, but can also help in the most critical situations. Opponents will become stronger as time goes on and during certain instances, players will be forced to overcome rulers and the many minion guards accompany them when fighting. Once again, fighting more than one opponent in the single player quest mode adds ton of variety already present, and also ties in nicely with the storyline.

Besides using lingering objects as throwing projectiles, players are equipped with weapons and attacks making the gameplay mostly focused on hacking and slashing. While the game adds a bit of complexity with its RPG elements, Barbarian remains quite the opposite when analyzing its fighting methods. Players are sure to find the controls straightforward as can be with concept, unlike titles that emphasize technique and skill like Tekken. Other than having two attacks of weak and strong, magic abilities, and jumping and defense buttons, there's no mystery in mastering these controls. The thing players will need to learn is the best combos to perform and when. Getting caught up in an opponent's string of attacks can be deadly, so Barbarian provides a simple practice mode for assistance in learning the basics.

Previous titles from Saffire used a hovering or flying ability as well as firepower. This clearly limited the close combat fighting since players would never run out of bullets and keep large distances between each other. Luckily, Saffire has learned from that mistake and has given players a magic meter which they will need to use sparingly and only when vital for attacks. Along with excellent visuals, Barbarian also claims victory in providing a great soundtrack and spectacular narration. The tunes really fit with the Barbarian theme with the sound of ancient tribal drums and various concert ensembles working the background. Everything heard is fitting and subtle, yet the narrator is clear and very articulate when speaking. He really grabs the attention of an audience in telling one of the captivating tales set in Barbaria. While the sound effects don't display a great deal of variety, what's heard is satisfying to say the least, and overall worth listening to.

Lastly, I have to touch on the multiplayer aspects undertaken in Barbarian. Normally fighters feature up to two players and rarely include all four since players must already have a multi-tap accessory to take advantage of it. Well, not only did Saffire allow four players to join the fight, but also four more computer-controlled opponents. With eight players running around, Barbarian provides the fun needed for party games. Despite slowdown occurring to an already sluggishly paced game, other titles can't really compare in this area.