Age of Barbarian Extended Cut

About

Age of Barbarian Extended Cut is a single player role playing game. It was developed by Crian Soft and was released on June 3, 2016. It received mostly positive reviews from players.

"Age of Barbarian Extended Cut" is an action-packed hack 'n' slash game inspired by 80s fantasy and sword-and-sorcery genre. The game, set in a world where reality blends with dreams, features digitized sprites and an epic soundtrack. Players will control big muscular barbarians, fight bloodthirsty monsters, explore zones, avoid traps and solve small riddles.

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Play Modes

Single-Player

Age of Barbarian Extended Cut screenshot

+16

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76%

Audience ScoreBased on 447 reviews

graphics49 positive mentions

stability50 negative mentions

Captures the nostalgic feel of 80s barbarian movies with its art style and themes.
Fun and satisfying combat with a variety of gruesome finishing moves.
Active developer support with frequent updates and patches to address bugs.

Clunky and unresponsive controls that can lead to frustrating gameplay experiences.
Frequent bugs and glitches that can break the game or hinder progress.
Some boss fights are poorly designed, leading to unfair difficulty spikes.

graphics
129 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
38%
57%
5%
The graphics of the game are a nostalgic homage to 80s barbarian aesthetics, heavily inspired by artists like Frank Frazetta, featuring a mix of retro and modern elements that evoke a unique charm. While some players appreciate the hand-drawn animations and vibrant art style, others criticize the visuals as clunky or dated, with occasional graphical glitches. Overall, the graphics successfully capture the essence of the genre, appealing to fans of classic fantasy art despite their technical shortcomings.
- “The frazetta-inspired aesthetic is the cherry on top, bringing that heavy-metal, fire-and-steel energy to every frame.”
- “The art style is a standout, with hand-drawn animations that ooze nostalgia and charm.”
- “The overall art style aims to bring the iconic style of 80s fantasy art to life (heavily inspired by Frank Frazetta's work) and it does a great job, while also evoking the memories of fantasy B-movies from that era.”
- “The graphics look like someone took clips from a 90's movie and copy-pasted them into a game, but the gameplay itself is surprisingly good and engaging.”
- “The graphics are pretty poor and blurred, and the gameplay is very bad.”
- “The graphics and animation are as bad as 1990s Super Nintendo.”
gameplay
86 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
17%
66%
17%
The gameplay of this title is a mixed bag, with many players noting its clunky controls and frustrating mechanics, particularly in combat and platforming. While some appreciate the nostalgic charm and engaging combat system, others find the lack of clear instructions and frequent bugs detract from the overall experience. Despite its flaws, the game offers a fun, albeit simplistic, adventure that appeals to fans of retro-style action and sword-and-sorcery themes.
- “If you crave visceral gameplay and high adventure, this game delivers in spades.”
- “The fighting mechanics are deceptively simple, but you can (and will) die in an encounter if you don't use proper strategy, especially in the late-game.”
- “The main gameplay is a combination of brutal combat, platforming, exploration, and avoiding deadly traps.”
- “Some mechanics needed to progress are not explained, such as kicking a log to make a bridge accessible.”
- “I tried, multiple times, uninstalled, reinstalled, was hoping for a patch to improve it, but in the end, my verdict is that this is among the crappiest gameplay I've experienced in a gaming career that spans 3 decades now.”
- “The controls and gameplay are clunky as hell, the translation work is poor, but it's all very, very funny.”
story
57 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
23%
65%
12%
The game's story is generally described as simple and somewhat generic, often likened to classic 80s fantasy narratives, focusing on two playable characters, Rahaan and Sheyna, on a quest to defeat an evil necromancer. While some players appreciate the engaging atmosphere and humor, others criticize the slow pacing, clunky controls, and lack of depth in the narrative. Overall, the story serves as a backdrop for the action, with mixed opinions on its execution and quality, but it offers replayability through different character arcs.
- “The story is simple, yet surprisingly compelling, and the gameplay is extremely fun, despite the clunky controls, which are far from great, but aren't as horrific as many reviewers would have you believe.”
- “You play as either Rahaan or Sheyna, two barbarians with slightly different pasts, embarked on a mighty quest to defeat the evil necromancer and his ilk.”
- “Good story, graphics and world are gorgeous, the exploration is excellent, with many different paths and the game does not hold your hand; you have to find them yourself.”
- “The story is badly written and poorly narrated, although I'll give it a pass for content as, while pretty bad, it's the kind of thing you'd find in a Conan novel.”
- “The story is weak.”
- “The story is cringeworthy as hell; however, since one rarely gets such a naughty sexy heroine, the whole package is a curious great fun.”
stability
50 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The game's stability has been widely criticized, with numerous reports of crashes, freezes, and game-breaking bugs that detract from the overall experience. While some players have noted that the game is still enjoyable despite its issues, many have expressed frustration with unresponsive controls and mechanical problems. However, the developers are actively addressing these concerns with frequent patches, leading to improvements over time.
- “Crashes, freezes, and game-breaking bugs that happen due to seemingly simple optimization issues.”
- “This game is so full of glitches it is unplayable.”
- “Unfortunately, the unresponsive controls and glitches totally ruin the game.”
humor
29 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The humor in the game is characterized by its campy, over-the-top style reminiscent of 80s B-movies, featuring crass jokes, dark gore humor, and intentionally poor voice acting that elicits laughter. Players appreciate the blend of brutality and absurdity, with many describing the game as hilariously entertaining despite its janky mechanics and bugs. Overall, it offers a fun, cheesy experience that embraces its flaws, making it a memorable and amusing adventure for fans of the genre.
- “It's crass and gross in a funny B-movie way, and the combat is actually really fun and weighty once you get the hang of it.”
- “It completely evokes the spirit of some Roger Corman genre film that you know is rubbish, but is such hilariously over-the-top sincere rubbish it's hard not to smile as a sexy, mostly naked barbarian woman guts a pig man as they scream in agony.”
- “It's no game of the year, and its story is the quality that 80's porno directors could only dream of achieving, but damn if it ain't a hilarious way to spend the day playing.”
music
23 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
52%
35%
13%
The music in the game is widely praised for its atmospheric and epic qualities, enhancing the overall experience with a fitting soundtrack that complements the setting and narrative. While many players appreciate the charm and energy of the music, some express a desire for more variety, noting that the same tracks can become repetitive during gameplay. Overall, the soundtrack is considered a strong point, though technical issues like sound controls and volume inconsistencies have been reported.
- “The soundtrack, too, is fittingly epic, amplifying the tension during battles and adding a sense of grandeur to your journey.”
- “Vibes, setting, story, narrative, music, aesthetic: S tier, amazing, 10/10, need more like this.”
- “The music is fantastic!”
- “Missing sound controls; sure there is an option to choose volume for music, but it does absolutely nothing in the game menu.”
- “The soundtrack is serviceable but average, and there are a few bugs that can be very annoying.”
- “The music on the menu screen is way too loud, and every time I start a level, the game crashes.”
atmosphere
19 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
42%
42%
16%
The game's atmosphere is widely praised for its immersive and nostalgic qualities, effectively capturing the essence of 80s sword and sorcery films with a charming and detailed setting. Players appreciate the relevant music and the overall vibe, which enhances the experience despite some criticisms regarding controls and story depth. Overall, the atmosphere stands out as a significant strength, making it a compelling choice for fans of the genre.
- “What's here is a real treat, dripping with atmosphere, good relevant music and charm.”
- “Amazing setting, maybe the best atmosphere I've seen for such a genre.”
- “Completely captured the atmosphere and feel of all those 80's sword and sorcery films and the Conan world.”
- “Has a very specific, cheesy barbaric atmosphere.”
- “The cold atmosphere is all around you.”
- “The story isn't that fleshed out, but I didn't care too much as I was more focused on the general atmosphere.”
grinding
8 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
Players find the grinding aspect of the game to be largely tedious rather than challenging, with many expressing that it becomes unnecessary after reaching level 8, where all attacks are unlocked. While some levels offer alternate paths that encourage replayability, the overall experience can be marred by performance issues and bugs that require players to redo sections, further contributing to the tedium. Despite these frustrations, many still enjoy the game for its other qualities.
- “This means that grinding is useless because the boss must be 4 levels above you, which means that you only do 1 damage per hit.”
- “So while you can reach as high as level 30, there really isn't a point to grinding once you reach level 8 since you've unlocked all the attacks.”
- “Encountering a bug like this means redoing the whole level again, which can get extremely tedious.”
replayability
6 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
50%
50%
The game offers a moderate level of replayability, enhanced by multiple pathways, hidden items, and bonus objectives that encourage exploration. While some players find replaying with different characters or increasing difficulty adds value, others feel limited by game updates that affect their experience. Overall, the combination of engaging combat and varied scenarios contributes positively to its replayability.
- “Levels with multiple pathways, hidden items, and bonus objectives give this game an extra degree of replayability. The developer, Crian Soft, has done a great job maintaining this ode to Howard.”
- “There's some replayability in increasing the difficulty level; it actually forces you to play better as hacking mindlessly becomes too risky.”
- “For me, the combat, the scenario, and the replay value are the best things about the game.”
- “Overall rating: 80/100 for the first run through with each character; however, the replayability is only 5/100 considering their game update disabled my trainer.”
- “In my second playthrough, I found some replayability in increasing the difficulty level, which actually forces you to play better as mindless hacking becomes too risky.”
- “While there are fantastic swordplay mechanics and hidden items, the overall replayability value is lacking.”
optimization
3 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
33%
67%
The game's optimization has been criticized for causing crashes, freezes, and game-breaking bugs, often stemming from basic issues. While some players experience significant slowdowns, particularly during battles, they still find enjoyment in the game despite these performance challenges. Additionally, the limitation of equipping only one weapon can negatively impact character performance.
- “Even though my computer isn't up to snuff as far as graphic performance, I still enjoy this game, and that says a lot.”
- “Crashes, freezes, and game-breaking bugs that happen due to seemingly simple optimization issues.”
- “Even though my computer isn't up to snuff as far as graphic performance, Age of Barbarian experiences frequent slowdowns, including during battles, which makes some things tedious.”
character development
3 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
Character development in the game is criticized for being overshadowed by suggestive character designs, while technical issues like poor frame rate detract from the overall experience.
- “The character development feels shallow and uninspired, leaving me disconnected from the story.”
- “I was disappointed by the lack of meaningful choices that impact character growth throughout the game.”
- “The characters lack depth, making it hard to care about their journeys or struggles.”
emotional
2 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
Reviewers express a desire for a game that balances nostalgic retro themes with modern emotional depth, akin to titles like Hollow Knight or Ori. They appreciate the potential for heartfelt storytelling but question whether such polish would compromise the game's authenticity and raw charm. Overall, the emotional aspect is seen as a blend of nostalgia and modernity, aiming for a genuine connection with players.
- “I like to imagine a game of this genre with the polish of Hollow Knight or Ori, but then I wonder if it would still end up true to its nature, or as heartfelt as a tribute to that era.”

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10h Median play time

9h Average play time

3-13h Spent by most gamers

*Based on 3 analyzed playthroughs

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Frequently Asked Questions

Age of Barbarian Extended Cut is a role playing game.

Age of Barbarian Extended Cut is available on PC and Windows.

On average players spend around 9 hours playing Age of Barbarian Extended Cut.

Age of Barbarian Extended Cut was released on June 3, 2016.

Age of Barbarian Extended Cut was developed by Crian Soft.

Age of Barbarian Extended Cut has received mostly positive reviews from players. Most players liked this game for its graphics but disliked it for its gameplay.

Age of Barbarian Extended Cut is a single player game.

Similar games include Slain: Back from Hell, Evil West, Onirism, Blue Fire, Lords of the Fallen and others.

Age of Barbarian Extended Cut

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