Shortly after a brief session of play, it became obvious that a great deal of effort was put forth to offer elements that both casual and experienced fighting game types could identify with. In some respects, Barbarian reminds me a lot of a Powerstone, only more advanced. Featuring a cast of 10 characters, each with their own storyline and agenda. The entire cast possess their own selection of special moves, and share a set of standard moves (i.e. blocking, picking up objects, and jumping). The universal commands consist of a light/heavy attacks (respectively Square and Triangle) that can be used in conjunction with magic or rune attacks (more on that later). Additional gameplay functions consist of picking up various objects such as rocks, poles, and other interactive elements. One of the most appealing features would have to be the fact that you can knock down opponents and hurl them about - even at other enemies which may be on screen. Generally all the levels are vast in size, composed of multiple levels ala Dead or Alive 3 (oddly enough, knocking an opponent down a level doesn't seem to have any effect on their life bar).

Compared to other fighting games, the combo system is basic enough so that even most even the most unsavvy player can easilyl recall the commands and gain fulfillment. However, this is not to say that the system rewards button mashing. It actually does in fact require...*gasp* coordination. Not much, but enough so as to successfully initiate the various sequences of attacks. Doing so will allow your character to perform special abilities, such as hurling your opponent(s) across the screen, and in turn awarding you a Rune which can be used for Rune Magic. The runes are the key to acquiring different effects to use against your opponent, respectively for offense and defensive purposes. There are four types of Rune which can be acquired - Combo, Object, Throw, and Counter. Each respective rune type is earned by performing the corresponding action as the name implies. For example, object runes are rewarded by successfully picking up objects and attacking your opponents, while Combo Runes are earned by executing any type of combo against your enemies. While each rune is significant, some are more effective then others. Needless to say, it took some time to discover the extent of this revelation (while getting my butt kicked in the process). Unfortunately, the manual does a very poor job of informing you of all of this, so chances are, you'll be consulting to a more resourceful guide (like GameFAQs) for additional details. For instance, in order to execute a character's Super Move, you must successfully complete attacks using objects in any given level to earn Object Runes. In turn, your magic bar fills up, and then - well, that's when you let your opposition have it.

As highlighted earlier, the combo moves performed by your character consist of sets like Square, Square, Triangle, Triangle. Compared to the sequences in Marvel vs. Capcom 2, these are a breeze to execute. But...remember, this doesn't mean you get to mash to your hearts content. Saffire actually developed the system in such a manner that you must be aware of the frames of animation before tapping away to execute the next sequence. Timing is critical, but far from impossible. It's definitely important, especially in the more advanced levels when faced with multiple opponents on screen and you're endeavoring to complete a push back command (somewhat similar to MvC2's Push Block), only to hit the button incorrectly and get nothing at all. It should also be noted that Combo Runes have the lowest denomination for effectiveness. I practically consider them insignificant and you'll get these a lot throughout the course of the game. If you really expect to deliver any major damage, you'll have to make use of your magic and more powerful combos to be successful.

You're probably thinking that the game is highly complex, but compared to Street Fighter 2 or Virtua Fighter 4, the mechanics here are a walk in the park. And despite what it might seem, this is not your typical fighting game. Saffire has incorporated RPG style elements in which players can upgrade their selected character's attributes via experience points. These are earned each time you successfully clear a stage (there are over 300 different story branches). Before entering a new level, a Character Advancement screen is displayed, indicating the current number of points you've acquired and the different abilities that can be upgraded. Note: You'll have to carefully map out a strategy as to how you'll divide your points though. Once you've reached Level 10, you'll be maxed out and won't be able to upgrade your character anymore. Some of the abilities include: Life (increases your life gauge); Magic (raises the magic recovery rate); Second Wind (provides a one-time recovery from death per round). There's even an ability that Versus players will recognize, known as the Airwalk, which will unlock the ability to perform double-jumps (of course, aerial raves and DHC will be nowhere to be found). I discovered a few other elements of fighting games sprinkled about, including launcher combos, juggles, and the aforementioned counter system. There's even a button that allows novice players to perform auto-combos. Saffire has definitely gone to great lengths to combine the best features derived from many of the popular fighting game franchises. As an added bonus, you can save your customized character and bring them over to a friend's house to compete. Better yet, get three friends in on the action and engage in an intense free-for-all and see who will be the last man standing!

To the game's credit, the controls are tight and responsive. However, it's likely that you'll be a tad overwhelmed with the overall mechanics. Fortunately, there's a tutorial mode which highlights the basics from the types of combo moves to countering to learning how to make use of the various rune types available. Such a tool should definitely be considered a staple in future fighting games, as not everyone can be expected to grasp the fundaments so quickly. The AI may seem tough at first, especially if you're subject to button-mashing your way throughout the game. Here's a tip: learn the game, you won't be rewarded for anything else but solid button execution (especially if you can master the counter system). Initially, I was guilty of this and the first character slapped me around so badly that I was forced to knock the difficulty down a few notches (and even then, it seemed like there wasn't any difference...in fact, I almost felt it was getting harder). Your best bet will be to learn how to effectively execute combos, blocking (so that you can perform counters) and above all, sizing up your competition when faced with multiple enemies at once.

Barbarian is a solid throughout in visuals and sound, unfortunately, moving about can be rather awkward and deterrent to your overall enjoyment. This is mainly due to the fact that the game makes no use of transparencies when 3D objects are directly in front of you, blocking your vision. This tends to occur too often, and as a result - you end up getting attacked and not being totally unaware as to what action to take. I am not sure how such a vital graphic element could be overlooked, but it's simply one drawback that's hard to ignore.

To its credit though, as highlighted earlier, stages are vast in size and there's a variety of objects which you can interact with - typically you'll want to pick them up to throw at others, but the option to slice and dice is available too. There's a variety of lighting and particle effects used throughout the game to depict power-up and magic spells, complimented by sharp texture designs, a rich assortment of architectures and floral designs. It wouldn't be uncommon for one to conclude that some inspirations were derived from Conan, composed of drums and bold chords that tie well with the overall theme. I wish I could say the narration was as pleasant - just sounds a bit forced and too dull for my tastes.

Bottom Line: After playing through a variety of 3D fighting games over the years, I consider Barbarian as a game that offers a rather balanced medium which casual players (and even fighting game purists) can find enjoyment with. The game's main attraction lies with its character upgrade development and the 4-player multiplayer feature. Despite some camera angle complications, the game remains enjoyable throughout, offering an extensive degree of replay value. Without a doubt, this is quite an refreshing concept to be introduced to the fighting game genre. Grab your sword and engage this title, today!

· · · Bahn