ARENA an Age of Barbarians story
- September 15, 2017
- Crian Soft
- 3h median play time
Get on Steam"Arena: An Age of Barbarians Story" is a hack and slash game set in a fantasy world filled with dangerous creatures and epic loot. Players control a barbarian hero on a quest for revenge, battling through hordes of enemies in visceral combat. With a variety of weapons, skills, and customization options, players can experience a thrilling and brutal adventure in this action-packed title.
PC
Windows
Reviews
- The game features impressive graphics and a nostalgic 80s aesthetic, appealing to fans of sword and sorcery.
- Combat is intense and fun, with a variety of characters and a good mix of humor and violence.
- The game offers a unique experience with its arcade-style gameplay and mini-games between battles, providing replay value.
- The game suffers from frequent crashes and bugs, making it frustrating and sometimes unplayable.
- Controls can feel clunky and unresponsive, leading to a challenging gameplay experience that may deter some players.
- The strict time limits and lack of save points can be punishing, forcing players to restart after losing all their lives.
- story21 mentions
- 14 % positive mentions
- 71 % neutral mentions
- 14 % negative mentions
The story aspect of "Arena: An Age of Barbarians" has received mixed reviews, with many players noting a lack of depth and context compared to its predecessor. While some appreciate the straightforward and entertaining narrative featuring unique character arcs, others criticize the linearity and brevity of the story mode, which can be completed in about 30 minutes. Overall, the game offers minimal storytelling elements, focusing more on combat and minigames rather than a rich narrative experience.
“After a brief cutscene, the story mode (which includes randomly selected opponents and contains a unique story for each of the selectable characters) sees you enter the first of many arenas.”
“This game is great fun; it has the violence, a straightforward and entertaining story with good characters, and a fair amount of nudity which just isn't seen in games anymore.”
“To me, the characters and their utter cheesiness going through the story are the reward, not any kind of loot or better weapons or, heavens forbid, actual armor!”
“This game lacks a story, the map, and the context, as well as the sense of adventure found in its predecessor.”
“In this game, you don't get that - just the fights and the minigames, with several ways the quick and dirty story can end based on whom you choose and what you do.”
“Sadly, Arena is too linear of an experience for me, and while Arena: An Age of Barbarians was no storytelling masterpiece, each level had its own mini-story and unique environment.”
- gameplay19 mentions
- 16 % positive mentions
- 68 % neutral mentions
- 16 % negative mentions
Gameplay reviews are mixed, with some players finding it clunky and frustrating due to unresponsive controls, lack of depth, and bugs, while others appreciate the challenge and innovative mechanics that prevent button-mashing. The combat system has been described as a blend of fast-paced fighting with unique mechanics, but the overall experience can feel torturous and lacking in content. Despite its visual appeal, many players feel the gameplay does not live up to expectations, with some preferring the original game for its RPG elements and smoother difficulty curve.
“The inclusion of these extra game mechanics is pure genius on the developers' part, removing the annoyance of having opponents winning through simply button-mashing or spamming special moves, and should really be a standard in this genre.”
“The visuals are stunning, the soundtrack is a thrill, and the gameplay will keep you challenged.”
“It's a great continuation of the ideas in that game, and while it can seem pretty tough at first, in part due to the minimal explanation of new game mechanics, once you get a handle on things it becomes a hell of a lot of fun.”
“Khan is a broken piece of trash that is almost impossible to kill without abusing game mechanics, almost 0 story and the game can be finished in around 30 minutes.”
“Slightly refined combat mechanics, no dialogue voice acting, no inventory or growth.”
“My other complaints are similar to aob which are gameplay bugs and clunky/unresponsive controls.”
- graphics12 mentions
- 42 % positive mentions
- 33 % neutral mentions
- 25 % negative mentions
The graphics in the game are generally praised for their stunning visuals and artistic style, reminiscent of classic fantasy artwork, with a notable emphasis on character design and vibrant arenas. However, some players have reported performance issues, including crashes and clumsy gameplay, which detracts from the overall experience. While the visuals are appealing, there are suggestions for improvements, such as more dynamic blood effects during combat.
“The graphics in this game are stunning.”
“The various 2D arenas serve as virtual canvases reminiscent of Frank Frazetta's legendary fantasy artwork.”
“The visuals are stunning, the soundtrack is a thrill, and the gameplay will keep you challenged.”
“This is not a game for graphics or voice acting.”
“With an Intel Core i5-6600K 3.50GHz CPU and an NVIDIA GeForce 1070 graphics card, this game runs horribly, crashing at every instant it can.”
“Why hide your artwork under that filter.”
- music7 mentions
- 57 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 43 % negative mentions
The music in the game is widely praised for its energetic heavy metal and rock soundtrack, which includes unique anthems and fully vocalized tracks for the title screen and credits. Reviewers appreciate how the soundtrack complements the game's visuals and gameplay, enhancing the overall experience. The addition of amusing characters and themed music, such as the arena theme, further elevates the enjoyment.
“The art direction is great, the heavy metal soundtrack fits perfectly and the 'not red sonja' DLC made my day.”
“Oh, and the arena theme song is made of purest awesome :)”
“The soundtrack consists of suitably up-tempo rock music, with the title screen and credits featuring two fully vocalized rock tracks.”
“The soundtrack consists of suitably up-tempo rock music, with the title screen and credits featuring two fully vocalized rock tracks.”
“- decent music”
- humor6 mentions
- 100 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
The humor in the game is described as brutally hilarious and uniquely enjoyable, featuring a mix of juvenile, irreverent, and gory elements that elicit genuine laughter. Players appreciate the absurdity of certain game mechanics, such as nonsensical deaths and clever references to pop culture, which contribute to its distinct comedic style. Overall, the humor is a standout aspect that enhances the game's fun and chaotic experience.
“Brutally hilarious & completely enjoyable.”
“Some of the rooms are just hilariously broken; a rope jump section makes no sense - you will fall and die when you clearly touched the rope, and a falling rock room turns your character into a puddle of red paste if you even touch an already fallen, inert rock.”
“There's plenty of references to movies, comics, etc., and a unique sense of humor.”
- stability6 mentions
- 0 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 100 % negative mentions
The game has been reported to have significant stability issues, including frequent crashes and various glitches that can disrupt gameplay, such as getting stuck after respawning. However, some users note that the number of glitches is lower compared to the original version. Overall, the game is considered quite buggy.
“Does anyone else have problems with the game suddenly crashing or the snake passing you and it glitches out and you have to start all over again?”
“Buggy as hell.”
“Second, there are several glitches and crashes.”
- replayability3 mentions
- 67 % positive mentions
- -33 % neutral mentions
- 67 % negative mentions
The game offers moderate replayability due to its randomized events, making each 20-minute playthrough feel fresh, though some players find it challenging to replay after completing it. While the arcade style and nostalgic elements are appreciated, the limited number of playable characters and high difficulty may deter repeated attempts for some users.
“I think it's a cool game, old-school and fun, but I support that more playable characters would be nice.”
“The game has great replayability; if you beat it, it feels like a whole new challenge.”
“The game is really hard; replayability, if you beat it, is a 5 out of 100.”
“An 'arcade style' spinoff of the main Age of Barbarian that takes about 20 minutes for a playthrough but has some replay value thanks to randomized events.”
- atmosphere1 mentions
- 300 % positive mentions
- -200 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
The atmosphere of the game is praised for its strong concept and artistic design, contributing to an engaging and immersive experience.
“The atmosphere is incredibly immersive, drawing you into the game's world.”
“The art style and sound design create a hauntingly beautiful atmosphere.”
“Every detail contributes to a rich atmosphere that enhances the overall experience.”
- character development1 mentions
- 100 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
Reviewers praise the character development for its realistic and engaging designs, highlighting the effective blend of digitization and CGI that enhances the overall visual appeal.
“The realistic yet interesting character designs, which appear to be the result of a mixture of digitization and CGI work, are just as impressive.”
