Three very impressive versions there. I had it on C64 and loved it back in the day. Although it is rather dated now, it still looks impressive and pretty complex.

Not overly struck on the Speccy version.

CPC version looks the best of the 3.

But C64 will always be the one for myself, had it, loved it and was so lucky to meet chat (and buy drinks for!) Richard Joesph, who did the C64 audio, at a Retro event many years ago.

Richard was a sheer pleasure just to chat to, down to earth, funny, happy to talk about his work and life in general. RIP Richard, you are sadly missed.

Seeing this video brought back memory of that Retro event, so owe you one Laird.

Here are the BBC Micro and Atari 8-bit versions of Barbarian for comparison:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=p3hYL7OAAL4

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IiMTvKP99OA

But C64 will always be the one for myself, had it, loved it and was so lucky to meet chat (and buy drinks for!) Richard Joesph, who did the C64 audio, at a Retro event many years ago.

Richard was a sheer pleasure just to chat to, down to earth, funny, happy to talk about his work and life in general. RIP Richard, you are sadly missed.

Great that you met Richard Joseph - I particularly like his soundtrack to Wicked, both on the C64 and Amiga, particularly the somewhat spooky selection screen. Here's the Amiga version:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WCm229tVmxc

If anything though, I actually prefer the chiptune based C64 version:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vA8XM1sYGP4

On-topic: Barbarian - a run-of-the-mill fighter - not a patch on IK+, on any format. A8 version was clearly a quick-and-dirty port by Polish developers LK Avalon, whose original games for the A8 represent something of an Indian summer for the machine.

Quite impressed with the BBC Version.The A8 version however, not all that, but it's a quick port, so not surprised, just a little dissapointed.

There is at least some thought as to how to do something about the colours on the Beeb while not using the memory hungry 8-colour Mode 2. It's in 4-colour Mode 5 with a screen split between the status panel and main window with a different set of 4 colours in each.

Not a bad way of having access to all 8 colours whilst saving yourself a whole 10K to use for the program - useful on the 32K BBC B.

Amstrad version looks the best though, doesn't it?

That is a good looking game.

Anyone know anything on  the 3D adapation of this on PS2 by Saffire/Virgin?

Anyone know anything on  the 3D adapation of this on PS2 by Saffire/Virgin?

I'm 100% sure they're entirely different games, sorry. Entirely different setting, characters, gameplay styles, and no fatalities to be seen. Not an AWFUL game, really, just... eh...

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MDL81SSxtr0

Fun Fact: Even more confusingly, this was apparently called Warrior Blade: Rastan VS Barbarian in Japan. You know, named after the Taito arcade game. Which this has nothing to do with.

As for the original, it seemed decently fun, from what I played. The head chop seems pretty overpowered, but I figure this was long, long before the time developers gave half a crap about balance. Controls aren't perfect, either, but it's got a cool idea to it.

Anyone know anything on  the 3D adapation of this on PS2 by Saffire/Virgin?

I'm 100% sure they're entirely different games, sorry. Entirely different setting, characters, gameplay styles, and no fatalities to be seen. Not an AWFUL game, really, just... eh...

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MDL81SSxtr0

Fun Fact: Even more confusingly, this was apparently called Warrior Blade: Rastan VS Barbarian in Japan. You know, named after the Taito arcade game. Which this has nothing to do with.

As for the original, it seemed decently fun, from what I played. The head chop seems pretty overpowered, but I figure this was long, long before the time developers gave half a crap about balance. Controls aren't perfect, either, but it's got a cool idea to it.

Hmmn, not too keen on what is being shown in the video-looks very Powerstone inspired in places, but nowhere near as much fun, sadly.

The CPC version wins it for me, I played that and the C64 version as a nipper. The reviewer kept touching on the CPC version only being single screen when it in fact had 4, although they needed to be played individually. He also showed off arguably the weakest looking one out of the bunch lol.

Sonically, the 64 wins as usual. But not by its usual massive margin, the CPC version does a lovely job for once! Playability wise again I thought the CPC had the edge, marginally. Graphically far too superior to be awarded anything other than 1st imo.

I too had the C64 version and it still looks good today but yeah, CPC does win hands down.
Is it me though but is the Atari XL really damned fast?

Yep, barbarian turbo 2 hyper fighting. Or so it seems lol.

Probably because the Atari 8-bit has a faster version of the 6502 CPU than the C64 and BBC.