Legendary Axe
Reviewed by Michael LoCascio
When the era of the 8-bit system reached its conclusion and
the newer, more powerful 16-bit machines were introduced,
many gamers shunned the Turbografx-16 in favor of the
technologically superior Genesis (the revelation that the
Turbo wasn't a 'real' 16-bit system seemed to kill it as
much as anything else). As a result, a number of superb
games that NEC cranked out were never given the due credit
that they deserved. Despite the fact that it received a
tremendous amount of acclaim from gaming publications, The
Legendary Axe was one such ill-fated title - which is truly
a shame, as it is one of the greatest action-adventure games
that has ever been released for a home console.
The premise of the game was nothing new, even at the time of
its release: a stout, courageous young man named Gogan sets
out, axe in hand, to defeat the evildoers who kidnapped
Flare, his unfortunate girlfriend. The game is made up of
six stages, all featuring the type of horizontally-scrolling,
hack-and-slash action that most gamers had already
experienced numerous times before on the NES. Button I
causes Gogan to jump, while Button II is used to swing
our hero's mighty axe. Along the way, Gogan will stumble
upon stone idols that crumble and reveal special items
upon being struck. Icons that can replenish Gogan's life
bar and increase the speed with which he swings his axe
are among the goodies that can be discovered in this manner.
While none of this may sound particularly exciting to
veterans of the adventure game genre, below Axe's mundane
surface is a deep, challenging adventure game that throws a
number of unexpected twists at the player. The stages in Axe
are rarely straightforward; there are usually multiple paths
that players can explore in their efforts to reach the
ultimate bosses that await them. Axe also contains numerous
secrets - ranging from well-disguised items to concealed
rooms - that players can discover as they explore the game's
intricate levels.
Strategy will play just as important a role as apt hand-eye
coordination in your success (or lack thereof). This is
where Axe truly separated itself from the many indistinct,
cookie-cutter titles that dominated (and eventually brought
down) the side-scrolling adventure game scene. Should you
approach your enemies in a reckless, impetuous manner, you
will more than likely be met with a swift club to the head
or spear to the body. Axe demands that you do more than
simply walk from left to right, slashing anything that
moves. For one thing, there is a meter at the top of the
screen that fills up between each swing of your axe. Allow
your meter to fill up to its maximum capacity and you will
be able to do massive damage to your opponents. Each time
you swing your weapon, however, the meter will be completely
depleted. If you choose to wildly thrash away at your enemy,
you may land a great number of blows, but you will do a
minuscule amount of damage. Choosing the proper angle of
attack, as well as knowing when to simply avoid your foes
altogether, will also contribute to your chances of survival.
The graphics in Axe are among the best that the Turbo had
ever produced (anyone who doesn't think that the TG-16 can
measure up to the powerful Genesis should give this game a
look). The monsters are generally very large, while the
backgrounds are varied, colorful and incredibly detailed.
There are also a variety of visual effects that were
indicative of the types of things that gamers had to look
forward to from 16-bit video games. For instance,
strengthening your Axe to it's greatest potential and
landing a full-scale blow on a monster will result in a
tremendous flash of light accompanied by a sensational,
bone-crushing 'CRUNCH'. While the slight delay that occurs
each time this effect takes place can prove to be somewhat
tiresome after a while, landing such a devastating blow can
be particularly galvanizing when in the midst of a difficult battle.
The music in Axe is also superb - and incredibly
atmospheric. It isn't even necessary to look at the screen
to tell if a stage is set in a dark, mysterious cave or
outside in the lush jungle - just listening to the music
will let you know what type of environment you're being
faced with. Dramatic, intense, viscous, eerie, and sanguine
are all terms that can describe the tunes in this game at
various points in the adventure; the tracks in Axe cover a
tremendous range, and every single one of them is pleasant
to listen to.
Possibly the best thing about Axe is that it gets better and
better as the player advances farther and farther. The
graphics become more creative and colorful, the enemies
become bigger and tougher, and the stages become
increasingly complex. The game reaches its highest point
during the fifth level, where huge, difficult villains
ambush Gogan as he attempts to navigate a maddeningly
difficult maze, all set to the tune of fabulous,
inspirational adventure music. Axe is an exciting game; it
doesn't let up until the final villain is vanquished
(speaking of which, the last boss is incredibly big: he
almost takes up the entire screen).
As good as Axe was, it usually isn't mentioned in the same
breath as games like Ghouls n' Ghosts and Phantasy Star 2 -
the titles that defined the beginning of the 16-bit era.
However, it is a classic game, one that was never
appreciated enough. Anyone who can still find a copy of this
game shouldn't pass up the chance to experience it.
Overall: 9 out of 10
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