Unorthodox C64 Speedrun: Barbarian II (with only 2 items out of 6)
16https://www.c64-wiki.de/wiki/Barbarian_II_-_The_Dungeon_of_Drax
I didn’t know if it was still possible to complete this way, but yes!
There are 2 items on each level but you don’t need them all…
0:00 Level 1
I didn’t need to get ANY from the 1st level, which are the Shield (used to protect yourself against the demon’s fire in the last level) and the Globe (protects against final Boss Drax’s magic). I simply got to the exit as quickly as possible, dodging some idiotic enemies (like the green Stabber which can be jumped over if you time it right) and let the dragons gobble my head off twice so that I could be quickly transported past them (silly AI).
0:39 Level 2
My smart-arse jumping over enemies (Crabs here) didn’t always work this time. Got over a Crab, whipped in the arse by a Stinger, suicide down a pit to quickly get past another Crab, Crabs that I couldn’t jump so reduced them into seagull-food. Grabbed the Jewel (which is essential for removing the Living Idol on the last level), could have decapitated the Orc Guard if I lined it up right but oh well, revenged myself on the Stinger who whipped my butt, and onto the next level… (left behind the Potion that increases your resistance to hits)
3:14 Level 3
Jumped over some cyan-coloured thing (a Gobbler in the manual), through a door before it bit my arse off, jumped over a Giant Grub (which resembles that thing in Star Trek II: The Wrath of Khan)… trickiest part was lining it up right so I could pluck the Dungeon Master’s hearts out (many save-states used) and grabbed the Key (another essential item for escaping this level) and got out of here (left behind the Super Axe, which increases your default Axe’s power)
4:55 Last Level
The Idol which pisses off because you hold the Jewel, the Demon which takes many whacks (no Super Axe) and kills you instantly on getting flamed in the face (because of no Shield), and a well-timed decapitation of Drax and it’s the end! 6 minutes total gameplay (save-stated, OK), and then a cool end tune.