Age of Conan: Hyborian Adventures was one of the strongest MMORPGs of last year’s Electronic Entertainment Expo; we walked away with an insatiable appetite for more. When Amped IGO gained access to a demonstration of a near-complete build of the game during E3 2006, we immediately jumped on the opportunity.

 

Gaute Godager, Hyborian Adventures game director, walked us through the beginning of the game with control pad in hand. All new players begin as a galley slave, whose lineage is closely related to that of king Conan himself. The depth of the character creation process immediately blew us away, with dozens of tiny facial tweaks and color adjuncts.

 

This adaptation of Robert Ervin Howard’s fantasy series will pack 20 levels of single-player, along with 60 levels of multiplayer questing, item scavenging, and PvE conflict.

 

Hyborian Adventures is “M” rated, and Godager described Funcom’s enthusiasm and embracement of the franchise’s grittier, more violent aspects. The game really comes into its own during combat, featuring the smoothest fighting system we’ve seen in any MMO to date. Upon brandishing a sword, axe, or lance, players can slice in six different directions, initiating what Godager called a “dance of steel.” Chaining directional strikes together also builds momentum and power. A standard attack button exists for basic melee functionality, but the meat and potatoes of martial arts resides purely with advanced attack combinations. Skirmishes are very brutal and, oftentimes, slower-paced than most traditional MMORPGs.

 

After bludgeoning the skulls of several dozen bandits, Godager switched to a bow. Unlike the previous melee demonstration, ranged violence involves various “stances.” Want to take down a specific enemy? Start sniping. Faced with a throng of unruly baddies? Switch to “carpet bombing” mode and go to town, long-range style.

 

Funcom also touted the game’s “massive online combat,” which has dozens of players clashing throughout the battlefield while trebuchets and massive siege weapons lay waste to town fortifications. Godager demonstrated a decidedly RTS-like scenario, where AI-controlled enemies furiously constructed a town, gathered resources, trained troops, and finally attacked player-controlled cities.

 

We can’t wait to sink our sword into a final version of Age of Conan: Hyborian Adventures. Granted the game draws a sizable and active user base, Funcom may have a winner on its hands.