Conan the Barbarian Review (x360)

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Conan is a video game that is a PlayStation 3 and Xbox 360 exclusive. It is defined as a action journey of the protagonist Conan the Barbarian. In terms of storyline, it is virtually nonexistent. The game has a plot that revolves around Conan retrieving some armor that allows him to use magic. There is an incomprehensible storyline that is horribly written. It appeared like there was little to no effort put into the plot.

The gameplay plays in a mildly similar fashion as the God of War
games. Conan has a bevy of maneuvers he can execute. Theses range from sword attack to evasive rolls. Gamers are even rewarded with red runes when they defeat adversaries. Players can utilize combinations attacks that can be linked together, blocks, and magical moves. You can also switch the type you have equipped on the fly because they are mapped to the directional pad. Furthermore, dodging is done with the right analog stick. Counterattacking can be utilized via the contact sensitive moments. You will see a button icon above Conan’s head that will designate when you can counterattack. Gamers can collect blue runes and green runes to replenish their magic and health respectively. Sound familiar? Yes, I know. It looks like a pseudo God of War. Another aspect that was stolen from the God of War games was the ability to use a special attack when you had enough power. If that is not a blatant God of War emulation, then I do not know what is. That is where the gameplay similarities between Conan and God of War end. Conan is strictly an action game with a heavy emphasis on action. Unlike God of War, there are no intricate puzzles in Conan. It is all about the brutal violence you can accentuate on foes. Now that I think about it, the only puzzles in the game that I encountered was when I had to turn a switch or something along those lines. For the most part, the puzzles can be solved fairly easily. Instead of the blades of chaos that Kratos wielded, Conan wields a myriad of swords. The gameplay is engrossing, but it has its flaws. Jumping from one platform to another is a cumbersome task to accomplish; moreover, some of the contact sensitive moments with the bosses were incongruous.

In terms of graphics, this game is gory. Blood is seen in just about every throat slash or every attack. The game is not for the faint of heart. In addition, nudity is a prevalent throughout the duration of Conan. The graphics are dismal. I was immensely disappointed with these next generation visuals. Consoles like the PlayStation 3 and Xbox 360 have the hardware that enables game developers to impress gamers. Unfortunately, the game developers of this particular title were not listening. To make matters worse, there are several glitches with the frame rate. Did I also mention that there are flaws with the camera? I would have at least expected that something as rudimentary as having adequate camerawork would have been a top priority, but I was obviously mistaken. The camera is absolutely brilliant in the God of War games; however, Conan does not even come close. Can anyone explain to me why the hell the camera is zooming in and out at all the wrong moments? A few of the animations needed some improvement, and the prolonged load screens are time-consuming.

The audio in the game had its moments. For instance, the music fit the style of the game perfectly. Regrettably, the voice acting is unbearable to hear. The game is definitely not on the same level as Heavenly Sword, God of War, and God of War 2. Overall, Conan is a mixed bag of pros and cons. It is good for a quick fix, but I cannot advocate buying this game.

Sayed Islam
Final Verdict: 7 out of 10

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http://www.heroesofgaming.com/xbox_360_conan/p2_articleid/180