Barbarian 2: The Dungeon of Drax
| Developer: Palace | Graphics: |
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| Publisher: Palace | Sound: |
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| Year: 1989 | Difficulty: |
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| Genre: Action | Lastability: |
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| Number of players: 1 | Rating: |
5/10 | |
Barbarian 2: The Dungeon of Drax, also known as Axe of Rage, brings back the three main characters from the first game: our angry barbarian, the evil sorcerer (Drax), and the beautiful princess (Mariana), whom you may have freed (or not), and who is now a playable character.
Your goal is to find Drax and defeat him, by hacking through anything that stands in your way. On that note, the enemies are much more varied than before. You’ll get the chance to slice up creatures with fur, feathers, scales … or things that can’t really be identified.
This time, the game area spans a series of screens you must navigate, sword in hand, in the usual left-to-right direction, with occasional entries into the background that take you on perpendicular paths, which can make it difficult to keep your bearings. It’s advisable to use the compass and scribble out a map.
The controls are a mess: “Up” to run, “Down” to turn around, “Run + Up + Shoot” to jump, and “Shoot + Direction” to strike. You’ll often find yourself performing the wrong action in combat, like turning your back on the target, which is incredibly frustrating. The controls in Barbarian 2 (from Psygnosis) are much more intuitive (though I’ll admit, some parts will drive you mad too).
In short, be warned: here, contrary to appearances, it’s not enough to just be a brute. You’ll first need to get used to the controls, then perfect your timing to hit your target or leap over a chasm, and above all, explore every nook and cranny of 1D mazes. If you’ve come from Sandhurst, you’re off to a good start!
Looking for a modern version? Try Unto The End (2020).
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