 Review By: Jared Black |
Developer: | Nihilistic Software |
| Publisher: | THQ | |
| Genre: | Action Adventure | |
| ESRB: | Mature | |
| # Of Players: | 1 | |
| Online Play: | No | |
| Accessories: | HDTV 720p, PlayStation Network (leaderboards) | |
| Buy Now: |   |
In general, the selection of enemies here is pretty diverse. Along with various human types, Conan also faces off against giant rock-throwing apes, winged creatures, lions, and various environmental hazards. The humans are the most diverse group, throwing several different fighting styles at the player and classes including infantry and archers. Boss fights are often multi-tiered; usually ending with a series of specific button presses ala God of War for the dramatic pay off at the end. Navigating the environment also requires a series of specific button presses as well, to knock over statues, climb up walls, etc.
Unfortunately the enemy AI isn’t always up to par, simplistic overall (as is usually the case in these types of games) with enemies following the same basic attack patterns. Especially bad though are the laughable archers that attack fine from a distance, but stand there waiting to be beat down at close range without even trying to run away or attack first. They also have a tendency to swarm a bit too much, so prepare to get cheap-shot on numerous occasions.
Conan isn’t on a mission to retrieve his armor just because he has good fashion sense (although it is snazzy), as he also earns four different magical abilities by reassembling it over the course of the game. These include turning enemies in front of him to stone, unleashing a rain of fire down upon the immediate area, turning loose a flock of ravens to pick at his enemies, and finally opening up a void in the very fabric of space and time. Since the use of these is governed by a meter and each successive one uses up more of that meter, picking the right time to use them is crucial. Of course, this totally flies in the face of everything Conan has stood for in the past, as he has always hated magic, but only purists should really care about that and it’s only temporary anyway (saying anything more would spoil it).
Unfortunately, all of this carnage is presented in a very lackluster package. While the graphics aren’t horrible, they seem more appropriate for an Xbox 360 launch title than a late 2007 next-gen title. That’s not because of the animation however, which is excellent. Attacks flow together very well, enemies react appropriately, and the little touches such as armor falling off an enemy’s body before it takes major damage are very welcome indeed. As good as the animation is though, it can’t mask the engine’s deficiencies, such as the clumps of hair that move as one in cutscenes, the lackluster environments, the short draw-in distance (particularly in caves), and the rock and debris from the parts of the environment that can be destroyed that Conan can walk straight through and quickly disappear into nothingness. Then there’s the issue of the camera, which is not user-controllable. Usually this means the developer has a lot of scenic vistas and gorgeous environments they want to show off, but not in this case as there are very few scenic views. As a result of the fixed camera, the player occasionally has to endure cheap hits from off-screen enemies he cannot see, without even the graphic goodness as payoff that can sometimes provide.
Bottom Line:
Conan is an intense experience, and features some of the most visceral combat found in the industry. However, while the fighting engine is solid and fun, the technical issues, lackluster presentation, and somewhat repetitive nature of the game keep it from being among the genre’s greatest. A guilty pleasure, but not a must-own.
| Pros: | Cons: | Final Score: |
|---|---|---|
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| 7.0 |
Posted: 2008-03-02 14:05:46 PST