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 captures the nostalgic vibes of 80s and 90s games with beautiful graphics and a fun, challenging gameplay experience.
- It offers a rewarding learning curve, where players can improve their skills and enjoy intense combat mechanics.
- The homage to classic sword and sorcery themes, combined with a heavy metal soundtrack, creates an engaging atmosphere for fans of the genre.
- The game suffers from frequent crashes and bugs, making it frustrating and sometimes unplayable.
- Controls are often unresponsive and clunky, leading to a frustrating gameplay experience, especially during combat and platforming sections.
- The game has a strict timer and limited continues, which can feel punishing and detracts from the overall enjoyment.
- story21 mentions
- 14 % positive mentions
- 71 % neutral mentions
- 14 % negative mentions
The story aspect of "Arena: An Age of Barbarians" is criticized for its lack of depth and engagement, with many reviewers noting it feels rushed and linear, often comparing it unfavorably to its predecessor. While some appreciate the unique character stories and nostalgic elements, the overall consensus is that the game offers minimal narrative context and is primarily focused on combat rather than a rich storytelling experience. Additionally, the story mode's structure and mechanics are seen as limiting, detracting from the potential for a more immersive adventure.
“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.”
- gameplay20 mentions
- 15 % positive mentions
- 70 % neutral mentions
- 15 % negative mentions
The gameplay has received mixed reviews, with some players finding it clunky and frustrating due to unresponsive controls and bugs, while others appreciate the challenge and innovative mechanics that prevent button-mashing. The combat system is seen as a departure from traditional fighting games, incorporating unique features like a parry mechanic but lacking a dedicated guard button. Overall, while the visuals and soundtrack are praised, the gameplay experience varies significantly, with some players enjoying the challenge and others feeling it detracts from the overall enjoyment.
“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 zero 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.”
- graphics13 mentions
- 38 % positive mentions
- 38 % neutral mentions
- 23 % negative mentions
The graphics of 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 aesthetic appeal. However, some players have reported performance issues, including crashes and clumsy gameplay, which detracts from the overall experience. While the visuals are appreciated, 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 DLC further enriches the musical atmosphere.
“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 quirky character reactions, alongside numerous pop culture references that enhance the comedic experience. Overall, the game's art and humor create a fun atmosphere that prioritizes enjoyment over polish.
“Brutally hilarious & completely enjoyable.”
“There's plenty of references to movies, comics, etc. and a unique sense of humor.”
“The art is brilliant, the juvenile, dirty, and brutal humor is great and honestly, I wouldn't even bother getting better voiceovers or watching out for typos.”
- 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 in combat without enemies present. 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 gameplay is enjoyable and nostalgic, the limited number of playable characters and high difficulty may deter repeated attempts. Overall, it has potential for fun but may not appeal to those seeking extensive replay value.
“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 immersive and captivating, drawing you into the game's world.”
“The art style beautifully complements the overall atmosphere, creating a unique experience.”
“The game's atmosphere is rich and detailed, making every moment feel alive.”
- 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.”
