The Barbarian
The player-controlled warrior and the game’s central fighter, armed with a broadsword.
How it plays
The game presents side-view, one-on-one arena fights. The objective is to defeat the opposing warrior before losing all of your energy, usually by exploiting openings with sword attacks, kicks, and movement.
Single-player bouts pit the barbarian against increasingly dangerous opponents, while two players can fight each other when the version and input setup support it. Progress is based on winning duels rather than collecting equipment or developing statistics. Precise timing matters because a missed attack can leave the fighter open to a counterattack.
Plan your run
Stay at a useful distance and wait for an opponent to commit to an attack. Short sword strikes and kicks are safer than repeatedly attempting the slow spinning attack.
Duck or move away when the opponent closes in, then counter during the recovery animation. Watch energy levels carefully, since a single well-timed finishing blow can end a duel immediately.
Meet the cast
The player-controlled warrior and the game’s central fighter, armed with a broadsword.
The princess whose rescue provides the game’s fantasy-adventure premise.
A wizard and antagonist associated with Mariana’s captivity and the tournament’s conflict.
Before you begin
Learn the timing of the decapitating attack, but do not use it indiscriminately; it leaves the fighter vulnerable if it misses.
Use movement and ducking to make the opponent swing first, then counter while the attack recovers.
Barbarian: The Ultimate Warrior is a one-on-one fantasy fighting game developed by Palace Software for DOS and other home-computer platforms. Players take the role of a heavily armed barbarian competing in lethal sword duels, with the story framed by the rescue of Princess Mariana from the wizard Drax. Its combat is deliberately compact: fighters can slash, kick, duck, move, and attempt a powerful decapitating spin attack. The game is notable for its large character animation, colorful presentation, and graphic finishing moves, including the appearance of a small goblin that removes a defeated fighter’s head. Reception was mixed but generally recognized the game as a fast, visually striking home-computer fighter.
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