Golden Axe

The Good
Golden Axe, I always wanted to use the Golden Axe. But alas only the Baddies can.

This was a game which was a side on hack-em-up, for one or two players. Best in two player but fun nonetheless in single player.

Taking control of either Ax Battler (The Warrior Hero who strangely wielded a broad sword), Tyrus Flare (An amazon whose speciality was Fire magic), and Gilius Thunderhead (He was a Dwarf with Thunder & Lightning based sorcery). You must save the day by defeating Death Adder who has taken control of the Land & its people with the use of the fabled & powerful Golden Axe.

There are about 6 levels to this game where you cut the enemy to bits and defeat strong end of level guardians. With the help of the local Reptilian creatures and a bit of Magic for good measure. It is a good conversion of the original Arcade game which is itself an excellent game.

The end of the game 'Brings' a surprise but many Golden Axers will already have found this out for themselves.

The game is extremely addictive and holds excellent replay value. The 'Duel' mode is good for a laugh too.

A very worthy game which is recommended to all.

The Bad
There are parts in the game where you have to leap across larger than normal chasms & gaps in the level. Repeated deaths are often found here & can prove mighty frustrating.

The Bottom Line
The original and best hack-em-up.

The Good
The graphics are very close to the Mega Drive version, will less animation. The sound and music is also very close.

The Bad
The Gameplay feels like someone who has played Golden Axe but wasn't good at it and doesn't know what's going on under the hood, you can't attack badguys in clumps, so if you get into a combo another enemy will attack you, also the downward stab which is an essential move, is not there. Also there is no reason with VGA and the memory that a PC has that they could have not converted the Arcade backgrounds and sprites rather than the Mega Drive. Also there is no real reason they couldn't have prograbbed everything to act and control the same as the arcade, if the programmers were given access to the arcade source.

The Bottom Line
If this LOOKED worse I would probably be more forgiving, the problem is it LOOKS like the Mega Drive version but plays extremely janky.

The Good
Although the PC version doesn't hold a candle to the arcade version it's still the most successful converstion ever made. The graphics are very detailed and well-drawn, the gameplay is (albeit easy) very addictive and the music is very well done (for the time).

The Bad
Well, the Duel is simply too hard (I never completed it). The game itself, however, is rather too easy.

The Bottom Line
A true classic which you will not regret playing.