It's odd the demo has only just hit given THQ have also announced the game is available for the Xbox 360 as we speak, but still, it's nice to know we can just download what's available to see if the game is worth our hard-earned dollars. So, at any rate, THQ have announced a playable demo of the Conan videogame is now available on Xbox Live, while a PS3 demo will hit the PlayStation Network on October 11.

THQ today announced the Conan official game demo is now available for free download via Xbox LIVE Marketplace for the Xbox 360 video game and entertainment system for Microsoft, while PLAYSTATION Network will offer the demo beginning October 11. The game demo allows players to take on the role of Conan and test their skills with a number of fighting moves, combinations and weapons. In Australia, the Conan video game is available now for the Xbox 360 and is scheduled for release on October 11 on the PLAYSTATION 3 computer entertainment system.

In the Conan playable demo, the famed barbarian finds himself stranded in the Barachan Isles, a haven for pirates and thieves. A terrible plague known as the Black Death has spread across the land, and Conan must escape before it consumes him as well. Fortunately, Conan crosses paths with the beautiful and fearless warrior queen, A'Kanna, whose ship can provide safe passage from the cursed islands. However, Conan must first save the ship's crew, which has been enslaved by the local cutthroats. Players will take on the role of Conan as he unleashes his savagery against a horde of scurvy pirates. The demo will allow players to execute a portion of the game's 100+ fighting moves and combinations as Conan decimates his foes using a variety of deadly weapons, hand-to-hand combat and even his surrounding environment.

According to the press release, this game marks the 75th anniversary of the Conan series with the first of Robert E. Howard's books in the series having been released all those years ago (I actually didn't know it was that old).