Tiny Barbarian DX

Developer: StarQuail Games | Publisher: StarQuail Games | Release Date: 2013 | Genre: Indie / Platformer | Website: Official Website | Purchase: Steam

You know a game means business when, instead of a title screen, it starts by throwing a never-ending horde of enemies at you until your character inevitably succumbs to the onslaught. Your valiant barbarian somehow survives the ordeal, and after starting the game, you have to help him turn the tables on some vultures that want him for lunch. After this somewhat rocky start, it’s time for some pure platforming action to save the girl and exact some good old-fashioned revenge.

Tiny Barbarian DX is a game that sets out to provide a retro-themed platform adventure without any of the twists and gimmicks associated with modern interpretations of the genre. You only need one button to jump and one button to attack the enemies with your sword. There are no special powers, complicated puzzles, or ability upgrades to confuse the barbarian. All the barbarian has to do is make his way from left to right while killing anything that gets in his way.

The developer cites sword and sorcery style fiction, such as Conan the Barbarian, as sources of inspiration. Still, veteran players will also find that the game pays homage to dozens of classic platform titles. We don’t know if it is just the combination of retro, 8-bit style visuals and a rocking chiptune soundtrack, but the game immediately made us feel like we were back in the glory days of the 2D platform genre.

This first episode (of four planned) pits the barbarian against the evil serpent lord and his minions. While playing, we were reminded of titles such as Rygar, Mega Man, Battletoads, Prince of Persia, and even Elevator Action, believe it or not. These games are certainly not bad company to keep and speak volumes about the quality of Tiny Barbarian DX, which we can mention in the same breath without any hesitation.

You spend most of your time jumping around slashing enemies, so it is a good thing that the controls are very responsive. Enemies have their own patterns, which you must learn, but your barbarian has a three-hit combo attack that can lay waste to his opponents. His sole “special” move is a vicious elbow drop that requires precision to pull off but is helpful for enemies with a longer reach, such as the spearmen. Some enemies lob fireballs at you, which can be batted back with your sword. In contrast, others, such as the annoyingly bats that flap about endlessly over some platforms, brought back not-so-fond memories of Ninja Gaiden and Castlevania.

When not bashing heads in, you can collect coins for extra points and smash blocks to reveal health-giving meat. Occasionally, you’ll also encounter a bag-carrying gnome that can be mugged for coins and food in true Golden Axe tradition. Levels are filled with spike pits, so you must hone your jumping skills to unscathed. The challenge steadily increases, but the game is rather generous with checkpoints and even provides you with full health if you continue, so it never becomes too frustrating. Just be careful when you exit the game, as only the first checkpoint of the level is saved, so if you quit close to the end of a level, you will lose a lot of progress.

The game features some entertaining boss battles that are challenging without becoming too frustrating. It is all a matter of figuring out their attack patterns and then watching for an opening to attack. Combat is not as deep as titles such as Guacamelee or Rain Blood Chronicles, but bashing enemies into each other is no less satisfying. The only thing that caused us some trouble was the mechanic for grabbing hold of objects such as vines, ropes, chains, and ledges. You must press “Up” to grab hold, which can be tricky when jumping, dodging, and fighting enemies. We eventually got the hang (pun intended) of the technique, but there is a learning curve involved. The game also supplies you with a beastie you can saddle up and ride for a few sections in what we assume is another nod at Golden Axe.

Tiny Barbarian DX features some lovely pixel art that perfectly captures the retro atmosphere, but special mention should go to the outstanding audio. Jeff Ball is responsible for the chiptune soundtrack, featuring some of our favorite tunes of 2013. There is not a bad song anywhere in the mix, and we stopped a few times when there was a lull in the action just to soak in the music. We played the game using a wired Xbox 360 controller, and, apart from the tricky ledge-grabbing mechanic, we had no other issues controlling the barbarian.

While episode one, “The Serpent Lord,” is not particularly long, it is fun, and we are looking forward to the next installment. The good news is that if you buy Tiny Barbarian DX, all future episodes will be unlocked as they become available at no extra cost. The game includes all the usual Steam features, including trading cards, achievements, and leaderboards. It took us just under two hours to complete the first episode as levels are pretty linear with no backtracking, but we managed to miss all 14 “hidden diamonds,” so there is some replay value. The game also keeps track of your time, so speedrunners should have a blast.

Tiny Barbarian DX is currently available on Steam with a special promotion that nearly slashes the already modest price tag in half, making it a steal. The developer promises that future episodes will all feature new settings, enemies, and music, and believe us, you will be psyched for more after finishing episode one. Tiny Barbarian DX proves that a game can still be great and loads of fun to play without any unnecessary gimmicks tacked on. (All four episodes have been released since the publication of this review, along with new unlockable game modes and a new two-player cooperative mode.)

*Review originally published in 2013.