Bardbarian (2014)

Bardbarian is an exciting hybrid game that blends Tower Defense, RPG, RTS, and elements of Shmup and Snake genres. The game was developed with a deep sense of passion and dedication by its creators, and after much hard work, it has been released on Steam, with hopes of gaining support from the Greenlight community.

Overview

Bardbarian is a unique game where you control Brad, a barbarian who is awakened by the sounds of his town under siege. Unlike typical barbarian heroes, Brad is tired of the endless cycle of fighting and grinding for experience points. Instead, he decides to pursue his dream of becoming a musician. Armed with a lute made from an old axe, Brad sets out to save his town in the most unconventional way possible.

Gameplay

The gameplay revolves around Brad moving around the battlefield, dodging incoming attacks and projectiles from enemies. As he moves, Brad continuously plays his axe-lute, generating musical notes. If he remains stationary, he "jams," producing notes at an even faster rate. These notes are your in-game resources, and they are used to perform solos that summon units to fight on Brad's behalf. Additionally, solos can be used to boost the performance of your summoned units.

The main objective is to navigate your party of units through waves of enemies, preventing them from destroying your town’s prized decorative crystal. Surviving each wave unlocks new loot, units, and upgrades for Brad, his town, and the units that fight alongside him. After Brad's death, you can visit the town shop to upgrade your character, your town, and your followers, in hopes of surviving longer during the next wave of attacks.

Key Features

• Beautiful hand-drawn artwork from beginning to end, creating a visually stunning experience.
• An original rock and metal soundtrack composed by Maximum Satan, which perfectly complements the action-packed gameplay.
• Genre-bending gameplay that mixes Tower Defense, RPG, RTS, Shmup, and Snake mechanics.
• 12 unique units to unlock, each with different abilities and strengths.
• Customizable party loadouts, with over 200 possible combinations to tailor your strategy.
• Loot collection from fallen enemies to upgrade Brad, the town, and your followers.
• A challenging difficulty curve that punishes mistakes, keeping the game engaging and rewarding.
• More than 8 types of enemies to confront, each adding unique challenges to the gameplay.
• 4 epic boss battles that will test your skills and patience.
• Endless and Survival modes, complete with leaderboards for competitive players.
• A wide range of Easter eggs and references scattered throughout the game, including a dinosaur boss and a Ratcoon.

Steam/Greenlight Exclusive Features

• Full controller support, as well as keyboard and mouse compatibility.
• A revamped user interface and camera control for better gameplay experience.
• Steam Cloud Saves, ensuring that your progress is safely stored across devices.
• The game has been rebalanced for desktop platforms, offering an improved and smoother gaming experience.
• Exclusive indie crossover units, adding more variety and depth to the game.
• Steam Achievements and Leaderboards to track your progress and compete with others.

Conclusion

Bardbarian is a captivating blend of multiple genres that delivers a fun, challenging, and unique gaming experience. With its hand-drawn art, metal soundtrack, and quirky gameplay mechanics, it stands out in the crowded world of tower defense games. Whether you're a fan of RPGs, RTS, or action-packed shooters, Bardbarian offers something fresh and exciting. It's a game where music, strategy, and barbarian action come together in an unforgettable way. So grab your axe-lute and start saving your town, one note at a time!

Bardbarian is a wild mix of tower defense, RPG, and action, wrapped in a hilarious story about a barbarian who prefers music over fighting. The gameplay is unique, combining strategy, dodging, and music-based combat. The hand-drawn art and rock soundtrack make it a joy to play, and the variety of units and upgrades keeps it interesting for hours.

It’s challenging, sometimes punishing, but always entertaining. The game rewards creativity and strategy, and the endless and survival modes add a lot of replay value. If you enjoy quirky games that mix genres and have a sense of humor, this is definitely worth your time.

Verdict: We recommend Bardbarian. It’s fun, clever, and unlike anything else out there.