Barbarian (Palace Software)

Infobox VG
title = Barbarian / Death Sword (US title)


developer = Palace Software
publisher = Palace Software (Europe), Epyx (North America)
distributor =
designer = Steven Brown
engine =
version =
released = 1987
genre = Fighting game
modes = Single player, One-On-One
ratings =
platforms = Acorn Electron, Amiga, Amstrad CPC, Apple II, Atari ST, BBC Micro, Commodore 64, DOS, ZX Spectrum
media = Floppy disk, Compact audio cassette
requirements =
input = Joystick, keyboard

"Barbarian: The Ultimate Warrior" and its sequel, "Barbarian II: Dungeons of Drax" are computer games. The "Barbarian" name was used in Europe, and in USA, the games were marketed as "Death Sword".

Barbarian

"Barbarian" was released around 1987 and 1988 for most of the prominent 8-bit and 16-bit platforms. In general, the games were developed by British company Palace Software Ltd. Other companies did the porting for some platforms - Superior Software was responsible for the BBC Micro and Acorn Electron ports, and Designer Software did Apple II and PC conversions. Publishing was mostly done by Epyx and Palace Software themselves, depending on platform.

"Barbarian" is a one- or two-player fighting game. As the name suggests, the fighters are barbarians. The game offers sword combat in various locales. The game has also a one-player plot mode, where the player has to defeat several fighters to fight evil wizard Drax to rescue princess Mariana. The game was greatly inspired by sword and sorcery fantasy stories like Conan the Barbarian.

The original game received critical acclaim as one of the best hand to hand fighting games for the platformFact|date=February 2007, while generating controversy for the level of violence (players could decapitate one another) and depiction of women in skimpy bikinis.

Maria Whittaker and Michael Van Wijk are the models on the game cover photo.

Several sound samples which were used in the game were taken directly from the Arnold Schwarzenegger and Brigitte Nielsen movie Red Sonja.

Barbarian II

The sequel, "Barbarian II", is a flip screen fighting game. The story involves a final battle against Drax, who has secreted himself in his dungeon hideout. To get to him, the player must battle his way through four scenarios: a volcanic landscape, a system of caves, a dungeon, and the final three rooms where you encounter two bodyguard monsters and then Drax himself.

Before the start of the game, the player can choose between the male Barbarian from the first game (armed with a battleaxe) and Princess Mariana (who wields a sword).

The sequel was considered by many as being a disappointment as it moved away from the single-screen, two-player fighting action of the original, which was an unusual move by the publisher/developer as these were the elements that made the first game such a success.

ee also

*List of fighting games

External links

* [http://www.acornelectron.co.uk/eu/revs/superior_acornsoft/r-bar1.html Review of BARBARIAN, Electron User 5.09 June 1988 (Hosted by Acorn Electron World)]
* [http://www.acornelectron.co.uk/eu/revs/superior_acornsoft/r-bar2.html Review of BARBARIAN 2, Electron User 6.08 May 1989 (Hosted by Acorn Electron World)]
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