Conan

Conan is an action game that has you slicing and dicing your way through hordes of enemies.

Overview

Conan is an action game published by THQ in 2007 for Playstation 3, and Xbox 360. Motivated by game series such as God of War and Ninja Gaiden, Nihilistic Software desired to create a more mature experience. Conan features a plethora of gore and nudity, granting the title an M rating by the E.S.R.B.

Plot and Setting

The game takes place in the world of Hyboria which is a fantasy version of Earth or around the stone or iron age. The story starts at Parad Isle where Conan is raiding a tomb. Instead of finding treasure, he unknowingly frees Graven, a creature who had been trapped in a magical prison for his past. Showing no gratitude, the creature curses Conan's armor, scatters it across the world, and teleports Conan away. He vows to find his missing armor all the while meeting allies such as A'kanna a pirate princess. Along the journey, Conan fights many mythical beasts such as dragons or undead elephants.

Gameplay

After unlocking an ancient evil, Conan has lost his armor and seeks to reclaim it. While unraveling the mystery of the magic that is imbued in his armor pieces, he comes across Warrior Queen A'Kanna who also has a role to play in whatever enemy pulls the strings behind their quest. Conan utilizes weapon combinations such as a sword and shield, a two-handed weapon, a weapon in each hand, or no weapon at all. Through killing enemies, Conan gains experience that the user uses to purchase new attack combinations and upgrade old ones. Throughout the game, Conan obtains new abilities such as turning his foes into stone and summoning firestorms. Conan also features Quick Time Events in which the player is prompted to hit a series of buttons in order to interact with their environment, such as pushing a boulder or lifting a stone wall.

There are also treasure chests and damsels in distress as collectibles of sorts peppered through the game. Symbols in groups of three, known as Triumverates, occasionally appear, giving the character an opportunity to increase their health provided they can activate all three within a timely manner.

Reception

Frequently compared to games such as God of War I & II, Heavenly Sword, and Devil May Cry, reviewers have deemed Conan an inferior addition compared to previous games in this genre. Weak sales led Conan to be a large financial hit for THQ.