Barbarian
by Psygnosis Released 1 Jul 1987 0 views
Quick facts
- Developer
- Psygnosis
- Publisher
- Mastertronic, Melbourne House, Psygnosis
- Released
- 1 Jul 1987
- Platforms
- Amiga, Commodore C64/128/MAX, DOS, ZX Spectrum
- Game modes
- Single player
6.1/10
Our verdict
Barbarian is a curiosity from Psygnosis' early days.
Barbarian is a 1987 action adventure from Psygnosis, released for the Amiga, Atari ST, C64, ZX Spectrum, Amstrad CPC, MSX and DOS. You control the warrior Hegor on a quest through the world of Durgan.
Gameplay
Barbarian is controlled through a row of icons for moving, fighting and using items, operated with the mouse, joystick or keyboard.
- Icon controls: Commands for running, jumping, fighting and more.
- Context-sensitive animation: The same command produces different actions depending on the situation.
- Exploration: Explore a side-scrolling world full of traps.
- Combat: Fight monsters with your sword and other weapons.
The large, detailed sprites made it stand out in 1987, but the icon controls feel awkward, and there are many sudden deaths.
Verdict
Barbarian is an atmospheric but clunky early Psygnosis game. Its graphics impressed in 1987, but its controls and difficulty are frustrating today.
The Good
- Large, detailed sprites
- Atmospheric fantasy world
- Unusual icon controls
The Bad
- Awkward controls
- Many sudden deaths
- Frustrating
Trailer
Screenshots
