Conan has been hero to many who grew up in the 80’s for his brutality and way with the ladies. But this isn’t Arnold here. How well does the character translate from the big screen to the digital realm? Here is a breakdown of some of the facets of Conan for the PS3:

Presentation and Graphics: Conan isn’t the best looking game we’ve ever seen here at Loot Ninja. The character models are decent, but show a good big of jaggies. Environments are about the same. The game’s camera leaves little to be desired. You will experience many issues with collision detection and clipping, especially when near walls or rock outcroppings. Thankfully, the is the only real problem with the game. 3 of 5

Sound and Music: Conan has a great orchestral score that fits very well in the game. The voice acting is pretty good, with some funny lines from Conan. Listening to the behemoth talk about servicing a woman is priceless. General sounds in the game work well, such as arrows flying through the air and swords clanking off each other. 4 of 5

Gameplay: Fortunately, Conan has a solid gameplay mechanic to make up for the lack in graphics. The combat system is solid and works well, with multiple combos available depending on your weapon type. By picking up enemy weapons and shields, Conan can change his combat abilities. One sword (with or without a shield), two light swords, or carrying one heavy weapon each have their own set of combos, as well as their advantages and disadvantages. If you want to attack enemies faster, you should choose lighter weapons, which do less damage. This can be offset by dual wielding, which leaves you vulnerable with no shield. Your choice of weapon greatly affects how you survive in Conan, and various enemy types require different weapons and combat styles. Each combo in the game can be upgraded to a higher level for more damage. The upgrading process happens automatically as you use the combo. More use gives more experience, so you don’t have to worry about allocating experience points yourself. By collecting red runes in the game, you are able to purchase more combos for Conan to use against enemies. 4 of 5

Lasting Appeal: Conan offers a fun hack and slash combat experience with an emphasis on the gore. Make no mistake about it, this game is bloody, with limbs and heads coming off left and right. With the gore and nudity, this game might not be for everyone. If these situations don’t turn you off right away, Conan will provide a good deal of fun, albeit with little replay value. 3.5 of 5

Final Word: I went into my experience with Conan with a bad taste in my mouth. The demo that was released wasn’t very good at all. I expected much of the same from the full retail game. I was pleasantly surprised with the great gameplay mechanics in the final game and am happy I’ve played through it. With a cramped lineup this Holiday season, this one might not make the top of your list, but definitely give Conan a try when you have some time.

Overall: 3.5 of 5

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