Golden Axe for PCE CD

Image: MobyGames

Golden Axe

I have an axe to grind

Genre: action - beat em up

Publisher: Telenet Japan

Year: 1990

System: PCE CD

Gameplay Score: 2

Gameplay Notes:

Slow movement. Even slower than the Genesis version. And far worse hit detection to boot. Attacks have a short reach. The jump attack has really poor hit detection so I found it to be very unreliable. Three playable characters but they play identically. Occasionally climb on a dragon but good luck hitting enemies when on it. Enemies are super annoying. They do the Double Dragon thing and do all they can to surround you. They start just out of reach while the do so. You have to be lined up just perfectly to hit them. Enemies also like to stun lock you. There's a screen filling magic system and plentiful pick ups for it.

Level Design Score: 2

Level Design Notes:

Another downgrade from the Genesis version. There's almost no depth of the playing field. The stages are otherwise identical to the Genesis game, but there are no difficulty levels or other modes. The stages also feel incredibly short, so maybe they're also smaller than the other version.

Theme Score: 3

Theme Notes:

The opening cutscenes are a nice addition, but the game's overall presentation leaves much to be desired.

Art Style Score: 0

Art Style Notes:

This is one of the ugliest ports I've ever seen. This is a travesty on par with Captain America and the Avengers for the SNES. I'm embarassed for all those involved. Everything that could be messed up, is. The viewport only takes up about 60% of the screen. Sprites are tiny, poorly drawn, and feature almost no animation. Colors are washed out and drab. Backgrounds lack any detail . Magic spells are commically bad compared to the arcade or Genesis versions. Screen scrolling is wonky and distracting. It's a complete mess from top to bottom.

Audio Score: 1

Audio Notes:

CD-quality music is a highlight, but the sound effects set a new low for Sega ports. Heck, any ports. Or any video game, for that matter. The sounds in the Genesis version were bad to begin with, but these are comically atrocious. Every swing of your sword sounds like Pac-Man pushing out a pellet turd. I was laughing out loud at how bad the sounds are.

Overall Score: 35

Review ID: 11047