Not to be confused with the ultraviolent, massively multiplayer online adventure Age of Conan, this brutal chop-'em-up focuses on visceral melee combat and simple, action-based puzzle-solving of the solo variety. Among its singular charms: the option to collect multiple weapons like swords, spears and axes (as well as simultaneously wield multiple armaments to slay opponents in increasingly grisly fashion). But despite ample bloodshed, and a wide range of combos you can unlock through continued carnage, featured scenarios devolve into little more than mindless button-mashing mayhem, ensuring the game only moderate shelf-life.

From glowing wraiths to wild-eyed bandits and armored warriors, foes regularly attack en masse. Your job as everyone's favorite barbarian is to take them apart in this tale loosely based on author Robert E. Howard's classic works. Although spread across locales familiar to longtime fans and inspired by a rich literary heritage, typical challenges simply see you wading knee-deep through a sea of onrushing attackers. With fancy moves at your disposal -- from bone-breaking slams to spinning blows that amputate limbs and cleave adversaries -- you'd think it'd be a satisfying ride. However, each new area -- from basic ambushes to punching a lion to death -- is simply another excuse to wail away on the controller. Hilariously short on depth, the game instead relies on buckets of spraying plasma and ridiculously ostentatious kills to keep interest levels high.

Unabashedly derivative and more than a little repetitious, you're best off reserving the quest for a weekend rental. To paraphrase Arnie from the movie Conan, we love "crushing our enemies, seeing them driven before us and hearing the lamentations of their women" as much as the next guy. Even so, we prefer our fantasy adventures a little lighter on the fromage.