Metacritic Games

Barbarian (Xbox)

Barbarian is an action game of fighting and conquest in combat arenas across the land of Barbaria. Play in different battle modes against one or more opponents or experience the rich history of each Barbarian by playing their own Quest. [Titus]

Titus Software
Fighting, Action
Players: 4
T (Teen)
Developer: Saffire
Released September 16, 2003

Overall Metascore

This is a weighted, normalized average of all individual scores given by critics, on a scale of 0 (worst) to 100 (best).

71 / 100

Critic Reviews

74 IGN
While it is a solid attempt at fighting greatness, too many gameplay flaws hold it back from breaking through into the massively popular fighting kingdom.
73 Game Informer
While the graphics are nice and the character models diverse, the controls are clunky and their combo timing lacks logic (insert barb on Xbox controller here). [Nov 2002, p.144]
70 Official Xbox Magazine
Crucially, the controls and collision detection feel surprisingly good for a non-traditional fighter. [Dec 2002, p.155]
70 Play Magazine
One of the prettiest fighters around, packed with seamless models applied to superb character design. [Nov 2002, p.90]
55 TotalGames.net
In most instances victory can be achieved by simply hammering away at the buttons and hoping for the best – hardly the stuff of great gaming.