So... dumping this stuff here, since I will never be able to actually do anything with this myself. Maybe someone else will be able to actually port this?

Short story long:
Back in 1984 I got my first computer (a VTech Laser 210), and it kind of stuck with me since then. So when I discovered some forums and stuff on that back in 2002, I made this stuff for a Barbarian port (which, as you can see, was going to be a collaboration together with Frontier and GOTO80 btw):

The Laser 210 has a high-res mode of 128x64 (wow!) with 4 colors. Yeah, the PICO-8 is waaay cooler! ;)

So today I ported most of this for the PICO... not completed, and the logo is messed up since I wanted to conserve sprites by re-using A and R (and it's not really working... yet...). The snakes need a lot of work, etc.

But, it seems it's possible to push most graphics into the PICO, and I think it should be possible to build the three fight areas too.

This is what the three areas looked like in the original Commodore 64 release (back in 1987):

And here is my PICO-8 version from today:

If anyone wants to have a go at it, I can try to complete the graphics... :)

/ Pingo

Alternative material source:
http://barbarian.1987.free.fr/online/
Comes with sources (QBasic) and all sprites for all versions - CPC/PC/Apple II/Spectrum/Amiga/...

A web demo version is available:
http://barbarian.1987.free.fr/online/

Note: a QBasic to LUA port is almost tempting... :]
Note: I can provide french assistance if needed :]

Very interesting! Thanks for those links!

I downloaded the C64-version there, and it looks pretty neat. Great assets!

Well - if you dig into that code, I can dig into the graphics. ;)

/ Pingo

I like it!! I remember playing this game with a one button joystick for hours. Hard to believe. A tempting project.

@Rahrahrah

I simply LOVE Barbarian. The fifth original game I ever got (Ace of Aces, Out Run, Last Ninja, Airborne Ranger, Barbarian... ), so it means a lot to me. I still have my original C64 cassette here with the Maria Whittaker poster. :)

/ Pingo

Sorry to ressurect this old thread but I am working on a Barbarian remake and I'm glad I found this. The info at the link provided by @freds72 is invaluable. For now i have a devlog here https://itch.io/t/818099/masters-of-the-universe and some screenshots. I'll post a beta version for testing as soon as it's ready. Thanks a lot.

Glad to ‘help’ - you have the graphical skills I miss for this kind if project.
Looking forward to your demake!

Really nice sprite re-use there. 62 distinct 16+ ⨯ 32 images from a 128 ⨯ 32 space is pretty efficient, about 8:1.