Summary

Release Year: 1989
Genres: Arcade, Hack and slash/Beat ’em up
Platforms: Amiga, Amstrad CPC, Arcade, Atari ST/STE, Commodore C64/128/MAX, DOS, Linux, Mac, PC (Microsoft Windows), PlayStation 3, Sega Mega Drive/Genesis, TurboGrafx-16/PC Engine, Wii, WonderSwan Color, Xbox 360, ZX Spectrum
Developers: Team Shinobi
Publishers: Bandai, Sega, Tec Toy, Telenet Japan, Virgin Mastertronic

Golden Axe (1989): A Classic Beat ‘Em Up That Still Holds Up Today

Golden Axe is a side-scrolling beat ’em up arcade game developed and released by Sega in 1989. The game is set in a fantasy world and follows the adventures of three warriors: Ax Battler, Tyris Flare, and Gilius Thunderhead. The warriors must battle their way through hordes of enemies to defeat the evil Death Adder and rescue the kidnapped princess.

Golden Axe was a critical and commercial success upon its release. The game was praised for its graphics, gameplay, and music. It has since been ported to numerous home consoles and is considered one of the greatest beat ’em up games of all time.

Gameplay

Golden Axe is a side-scrolling beat ’em up game. The player controls one of the three warriors and must fight their way through hordes of enemies. The warriors can attack with their weapons, jump, and cast spells. The force of the spells depends on the number of “bars” of magic power currently available. The bars are filled by collecting blue ‘magic potions’ attained by kicking little sprites who then drop the potions. These sprites appear during regular levels and during bonus stages in between levels.

Each character has a different number of maximum magic bars and varying ranges of attack. Ax Battler is the most powerful character, with a strong attack and a long range. Tyris Flare is a magic-user who can cast fire spells. Gilius Thunderhead is a dwarf who can cast lightning spells.

Various steeds known as bizarrians are found in the game. These can be ridden when the enemy rider is knocked off, or if one is found dormant. The least powerful steed is known as the Cockatrice, which can be used to knock down enemies with a swipe of its tail. The more powerful dragon, which can either shoot fireballs or breathe fire, is found later in the game.

Setting

Golden Axe is set in a fantasy world. The game’s world is divided into four regions: the Forest of Illusion, the Mountains of Despair, the Valley of Death, and the Castle of Death Adder. Each region has its own unique enemies and challenges.

The Forest of Illusion is a dense forest filled with traps and illusions. The Mountains of Despair are a treacherous mountain range filled with snow and ice. The Valley of Death is a barren wasteland filled with poisonous swamps and quicksand. The Castle of Death Adder is a massive fortress filled with traps and enemies.

Characters

The player can choose to play as one of three characters: Ax Battler, Tyris Flare, or Gilius Thunderhead.

Ax Battler is a powerful warrior who wields a battle axe. He is the strongest character in the game, but he is also the slowest.
Tyris Flare is a magic-user who wields a fire sword. She is the weakest character in the game, but she can cast powerful spells.
Gilius Thunderhead is a dwarf who wields a thunder hammer. He is a balanced character, with a good attack and a good range.

Enemies

Golden Axe features a wide variety of enemies. The most common enemies are foot soldiers, who are armed with swords, spears, or axes. Other enemies include archers, mages, and monsters.

The game also features several boss battles. The bosses are powerful enemies that require the player to use all of their skills to defeat.

Weapons and Items

The player can collect a variety of weapons and items in Golden Axe. Weapons include swords, axes, spears, and bows. Items include health potions, magic potions, and bombs.

The player can also find special items that can give them temporary power-ups. These items include the Golden Axe, which increases the player’s attack power, and the Wings of Hermes, which allow the player to fly.

Legacy

Golden Axe has had a lasting impact on the video game industry. The game’s side-scrolling beat ’em up gameplay has been imitated by many other games, and its characters and setting have been used in other Sega games. Golden Axe is a classic game that still holds up today. It is a must-play for any fan of beat ’em up games.