Barbarian (2002 video game)

Barbarian

Developer(s)| Saffire
Publisher(s)| Titus Interactive
Platform(s)| PlayStation 2, GameCube, Xbox
Release| PlayStation 2

* NA: June 26, 2002[1]
* JP: April 3, 2003
* EU: December 5, 2003

GameCube

* JP: March 27, 2003

Xbox

* EU: December 12, 2003

Genre(s)| Fighting game
Mode(s)| Single-player, multiplayer

Barbarian is a 3D fighting video game developed by Saffire, published by Titus Interactive and distributed in Europe by Avalon Interactive. The game was released in North America in 2002, and in Europe in December 2003. The Japanese title is Warrior Blade: Rastan vs. Barbarian.

## Contents

* 1 Gameplay
* 2 Release
* 3 Reception
* 4 References
* 5 External links
* 6 Features
* 7 History
* 8 See also
* 9 References
* 10 External links

## Gameplay

The game features 11 different fighters, each with different weapons and abilities. The player may freely destroy the environment, and use destroyed objects as weapons against their opponents. The characters each have alternate costumes, which, depending on which the player chooses, may change their default weapon. However, it does not affect the weapon's damage capabilities or uses.

The game plays much like Power Stone with its arena-style gameplay.

## Release

The GameCube version was originally planned for a U.S. release in late 2002 and in Europe in 2004, but was canceled while it was released in Japan in 2003.

A scaled-down port of Barbarian was originally planned for release on the Game Boy Advance, but was later canceled.

## Reception

Reception

| Review scores

Publication| Score
GC| PS2| Xbox
AllGame| N/A| [2]| N/A
Edge| N/A| 6/10[3]| N/A
EGM| N/A| 4/10[4]| N/A
Game Informer| N/A| 6/10[5]| 7.25/10[6]
GamePro| N/A| [7]| N/A
GameSpot| N/A| 5.9/10[8]| N/A
GameSpy| N/A| 61%[9]| N/A
GameZone| N/A| 5.9/10[10]| N/A
IGN| N/A| 7.8/10[11]| 7.4/10[12]
Nintendo Power| 3/5[13]| N/A| N/A
OPM (US)| N/A| [14]| N/A
OXM (US)| N/A| N/A| 7/10[15]
Maxim| N/A| 8/10[16]| N/A
Aggregate score
Metacritic| 52/100[17]| 63/100[18]| 71/100[19]

The game received "mixed reviews" on all platforms according to video game review aggregator Metacritic.[17][18][19] Many video game websites and publications gave earlier reviews and average scores on the GameCube and Xbox versions in late 2002, months before the release dates for both of those versions were canceled in the U.S. due to mediocre reception for the PS2 version.[6][12][13][15]

## References

1. ↑ "Titus Interactive announces Barbarian on PlayStation 2 in the U.S". June 26, 2002. Archived from the original on January 9, 2003. https://web.archive.org/web/20030109064536/http://www.titusgames.com:80/index.php?lang=en&pg=press/020626. Retrieved July 24, 2022.
2. ↑ Marriott, Scott Alan. "Barbarian (PS2) - Review". AllGame. Archived from the original on November 15, 2014. https://web.archive.org/web/20141115095059/http://www.allgame.com/game.php?id=35614&tab=review. Retrieved November 25, 2015.
3. ↑ Edge staff (August 2002). "Barbarian (PS2)". Edge (113).
4. ↑ EGM staff (July 2002). "Barbarian (PS2)". Electronic Gaming Monthly (156): 115.
5. ↑ Barber, Chet (August 2002). "Barbarian (PS2)". Game Informer (112): 79. Archived from the original on July 30, 2009. https://web.archive.org/web/20090730203414/http://www.gameinformer.com/Games/Review/200208/R03.0801.1550.29878.htm. Retrieved November 25, 2015.
6. ↑ 6.0 6.1 "Barbarian (Xbox)". Game Informer (115): 144. November 2002.
7. ↑ Four-Eyed Dragon (July 2002). "Barbarian Review for PS2 on GamePro.com". GamePro: 76. Archived from the original on February 6, 2005. https://web.archive.org/web/20050206195325/http://gamepro.com/sony/ps2/games/reviews/23963.shtml. Retrieved November 26, 2015.
8. ↑ Varanini, Giancarlo (July 3, 2002). "Barbarian Review (PS2)". http://www.gamespot.com/reviews/barbarian-review/1900-2873458/. Retrieved November 25, 2015.
9. ↑ Suciu, Peter (July 26, 2002). "Barbarian". PlanetPS2. Archived from the original on August 2, 2002. https://web.archive.org/web/20020802221135/http://www.planetps2.com/features/reviews/2002/barbarian/. Retrieved November 25, 2015.
10. ↑ Valentino, Nick (July 15, 2002). "Barbarian Review - PlayStation 2". GameZone. Archived from the original on February 10, 2008. https://web.archive.org/web/20080210213904/http://ps2.gamezone.com/gzreviews/r17246.htm. Retrieved November 26, 2015.
11. ↑ Dunham, Jeremy (June 28, 2002). "Barbarian (PS2)". http://www.ign.com/articles/2002/06/28/barbarian. Retrieved November 25, 2015.
12. ↑ 12.0 12.1 Simmons, Todd (July 31, 2002). "Barbarian Review (Xbox)". http://www.ign.com/articles/2002/07/31/barbarian-review. Retrieved November 25, 2015.
13. ↑ 13.0 13.1 "Barbarian". Nintendo Power 160: 164. September 2002.
14. ↑ "Barbarian". Official U.S. PlayStation Magazine: 97. June 2002.
15. ↑ 15.0 15.1 "Barbarian". Official Xbox Magazine: 155. December 2002.
16. ↑ Porter, Alex (July 3, 2002). "Barbarian (PS2)". Maxim. Archived from the original on July 19, 2002. https://web.archive.org/web/20020719134608/http://www.maximonline.com/entertainment/reviews/review_games_3502.html. Retrieved November 25, 2015.
17. ↑ 17.0 17.1 "Barbarian for GameCube Reviews". https://www.metacritic.com/game/barbarian/critic-reviews/?platform=gamecube. Retrieved November 25, 2015.
18. ↑ 18.0 18.1 "Barbarian for PlayStation 2 Reviews". https://www.metacritic.com/game/barbarian/critic-reviews/?platform=playstation-2. Retrieved November 25, 2015.
19. ↑ 19.0 19.1 "Barbarian (xbx: 2003): Reviews". Archived from the original on September 13, 2008. https://web.archive.org/web/20080913101635/http://www.metacritic.com/games/platforms/xbx/barbarian. Retrieved November 25, 2015.

## External links

* MobyGames is a commercial database website that catalogs information on video games and the people and companies behind them via crowdsourcing. This includes over 300,000 games for hundreds of platforms.[1] Founded in 1999, ownership of the site has changed hands several times. It has been owned by Atari SA since 2022.

## Features

Edits and submissions to the site (including screenshots, box art, developer information, game summaries, and more) go through a verification process of fact-checking by volunteer "approvers".[2] This approval process after submission can range from minutes to days or months.[3] The most commonly used sources are the video game's website, packaging, and credit screens. There is a published standard for game information and copy-editing.[4] A ranking system allows users to earn points for contributing accurate information.[5]

Registered users can rate and review games. Users can create private or public "have" and "want" lists, which can generate a list of games available for trade with other registered users. The site contains an integrated forum. Each listed game can have its own sub-forum.

## History

Logo used until March 2014

MobyGames was founded on March 1, 1999, by Jim Leonard and Brian Hirt, and joined by David Berk 18 months later, the three of which had been friends since high school.[6][7] Leonard had the idea of sharing information about computer games with a larger audience. The database began with information about games for IBM PC compatibles, relying on the founders' personal collections. Eventually, the site was opened up to allow general users to contribute information.[5] In a 2003 interview, Berk emphasized MobyGames' dedication to taking video games more seriously than broader society and to preserving games for their important cultural influence.[5]

In mid-2010, MobyGames was purchased by GameFly for an undisclosed amount.[8] This was announced to the community post factum , and the site's interface was given an unpopular redesign.[7] A few major contributors left, refusing to do volunteer work for a commercial website.{{Citation needed|date=June 2025} On December 18, 2013, MobyGames was acquired by Jeremiah Freyholtz, owner of Blue Flame Labs (a San Francisco-based game and web development company) and VGBoxArt (a site for fan-made video game box art).[9] Blue Flame Labs reverted MobyGames' interface to its pre-overhaul look and feel,[10] and for the next eight years, the site was run by Freyholtz and Independent Games Festival organizer Simon Carless.[7]

On November 24, 2021, Atari SA announced a potential deal with Blue Flame Labs to purchase MobyGames for $1.5 million.[11] The purchase was completed on 8 March 2022, with Freyholtz remaining as general manager.[12][13][14] Over the next year, the financial boost given by Atari led to a rework of the site being built from scratch with a new backend codebase, as well as updates improving the mobile and desktop user interface.[1] This was accomplished by investing in full-time development of the site instead of its previously part-time development.[15]

In 2024, MobyGames began offering a paid "Pro" membership option for the site to generate additional revenue.[16] Previously, the site had generated income exclusively through banner ads and (from March 2014 onward) a small number of patrons via the Patreon website.[17]

On February 13, 2025, Freyholtz stepped down as the site lead to move onto new projects, leaving operations to Tracy Poff, a veteran coder on the site, and Atari staff.[18]

## See also

* IGDB - game database used by Twitch for its search and discovery functions

## References

1. ↑ 1.0 1.1 Sheehan, Gavin (2023-02-22). "Atari Relaunches The Fully Rebuilt & Optimized MobyGames Website". https://bleedingcool.com/games/atari-relaunches-the-fully-rebuilt-optimized-mobygames-website/.
2. ↑ Litchfield, Ted (2021-11-26). "Zombie company Atari to devour MobyGames". https://www.pcgamer.com/zombie-company-atari-to-devour-mobygames/.
3. ↑ "MobyGames FAQ: Emails Answered § When will my submission be approved?". Blue Flame Labs. 30 March 2014. http://www.mobygames.com/info/faq7#g1.
4. ↑ "The MobyGames Standards and Practices". Blue Flame Labs. 6 January 2016. http://www.mobygames.com/info/standards.
5. ↑ 5.0 5.1 5.2 Miller, Stanley A. (2003-04-22). "People's choice awards honor favorite Web sites". Milwaukee Journal Sentinel.
6. ↑ "20 Years of MobyGames" (in en). 2019-02-28. https://trixter.oldskool.org/2019/02/28/20-years-of-mobygames/.
7. ↑ 7.0 7.1 7.2 Plunkett, Luke (2022-03-10). "Atari Buys MobyGames For $1.5 Million". https://kotaku.com/mobygames-retro-credits-database-imdb-atari-freyholtz-b-1848638521.
8. ↑ "Report: MobyGames Acquired By GameFly Media". Gamasutra. 2011-02-07. https://www.gamedeveloper.com/game-platforms/report-mobygames-acquired-by-gamefly-media.
9. ↑ Corriea, Alexa Ray (December 31, 2013). "MobyGames purchased from GameFly, improvements planned". http://www.polygon.com/2013/12/31/5261414/mobygames-purchased-from-gamefly-improvements-planned.
10. ↑ Wawro, Alex (31 December 2013). "Game dev database MobyGames getting some TLC under new owner". Gamasutra. https://www.gamedeveloper.com/business/game-dev-database-mobygames-getting-some-tlc-under-new-owner.
11. ↑ "Atari invests in Anstream, may buy MobyGames". November 24, 2021. https://www.gamesindustry.biz/articles/2021-11-24-atari-invests-in-anstream-may-buy-mobygames.
12. ↑ Rousseau, Jeffrey (2022-03-09). "Atari purchases Moby Games". https://www.gamesindustry.biz/atari-purchases-moby-games.
13. ↑ "Atari Completes MobyGames Acquisition, Details Plans for the Site's Continued Support". March 8, 2022. https://www.atari.com/atari-completes-mobygames-acquisition-details-plans-for-the-sites-continued-support/.
14. ↑ "Atari has acquired game database MobyGames for $1.5 million" (in en-GB). 2022-03-09. https://www.videogameschronicle.com/news/atari-has-acquired-game-database-mobygames-for-1-5-million/.
15. ↑ Stanton, Rich (2022-03-10). "Atari buys videogame database MobyGames for $1.5 million". https://www.pcgamer.com/atari-buys-videogame-database-mobygames-for-dollar15-million/.
16. ↑ Harris, John (2024-03-09). "MobyGames Offering “Pro” Membership". https://setsideb.com/mobygames-offering-pro-membership/.
17. ↑ "MobyGames on Patreon". http://www.patreon.com/mobygames.
18. ↑ "An update on MobyGames leadership". 2025-02-13. https://www.mobygames.com/forum/3/thread/269628/an-update-on-mobygames-leadership/#post-269628.

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