Golden Axe Warrior

Last updated
Golden Axe Warrior
Golden Axe Warrior.PNG
Cover art
Developer(s) Sega
Publisher(s) Sega
Designer(s) Okaru (planner)
Gen Adachi
Takako Kawaguchi
Hide
Aiou Tmkf
Programmer(s) Pochi Nakamori
Com
Blue
Composer(s) Chikako Kamatani
Series Golden Axe
Platform(s) Master System
Release
  • NA: April 1991
  • EU: May 1991
Genre(s) Action-adventure, Role-playing
Mode(s) Single-player

Golden Axe Warrior is an action-adventure role-playing video game, developed and published by Sega. It was released on the Master System in 1991 as a spin-off of the Golden Axe video game series. The game follows a young warrior who tries to avenge the death of his parents by exploring ten labyrinths, collecting nine missing crystals and battling with the evil tyrant Death Adder. Players must cross a large world, fight enemies, seek mysterious labyrinths, fight bosses, and obtain the crystals that are guarded by many monsters. All the playable characters from the original Golden Axe make cameo appearances. [1]

Contents

The game has drawn comparisons to NES titles The Legend of Zelda [2] [3] and Willow , [4] as well as Master System titles Ys I: Ancient Ys Vanished and Lord of the Sword . [5] Golden Axe Warrior received a positive to mixed reception upon release. It received positive reviews from American, French and German magazines, but was criticized by British magazines for having little to do with the arcade original.

Plot

The evil giant, Death Adder, has invaded the countries of Firewood, Nendoria and Altorulia and killed the royal families. A young hero from Firewood sets out on a quest to destroy the giant. To counter Adder's evil magic he needs to find the nine crystals of the royal family from Firewood. These crystals warded off Death Adder until the king was betrayed by a minister who sold the crystals to Adder. [3] Death Adder has hidden the crystals in nine labyrinths. On his quest the hero visits numerous villages and discovers numerous people hiding from Death Adder. He can learn the Thunder, Earth, Fire and Water magics. He learns that the princess of Firewood is still alive and that he is the son of the king of Altorulia. After finding all nine crystals the hero is able to enter the tenth and final labyrinth where he must find the mythical Golden Axe, the only weapon that can harm Death Adder, before facing the giant himself.

Gameplay

Players take control of the game's hero, who can be named at the start of a new quest. [1] The game features a large overworld with over 200 unique screens and many enemies. Players must retrieve each of the game's nine crystals by locating hidden labyrinths. Each labyrinth is guarded by monsters and full of puzzles that must be solved in order to reach the boss and retrieve the crystal. Throughout the game, players collect various items and abilities that allow access to previously unreachable areas. [5] The tenth labyrinth is only accessible after collecting the nine crystals. Players must then find the Golden Axe and use it to defeat Death Adder. [1]

Weapons and armor can be upgraded and several magic abilities can be learned. [6] Using magic requires the use of pots which are depleted after every use. The game's currency is horns collected from enemies; these horns can be spent in towns throughout the game. [5] Hidden areas can be uncovered by chopping down trees with an axe or clearing rocks using Earth magic.

Development and release

The game is considered to be one of the system's rarest games. [7] It is included as an unlockable game in Sonic's Ultimate Genesis Collection for the PlayStation 3 and Xbox 360. [8]

Reception

Golden Axe Warrior received a positive to mixed reception upon release. American magazine GamePro scored it 5 out of 5, comparing it to NES titles Legend of Zelda and Willow , concluding that Golden Axe Warrior is "a great game". [4] It also received positive reviews from French magazines Joystick and Player One , each scoring it 88%, [10] [11] and German magazine Video Games , which scored it 81%. [13] However, it received mixed reviews from British magazines, which pointed out that the game was vastly different from the original Golden Axe, including one in Sega Pro , which rated Golden Axe Warrior a 67%; [12] Computer and Video Games also pointed out the difference, calling it an "incredibly dull RPG." [6] Reviewers in Mean Machines called it "boring" and "tedious", recommending Ys and Lord of the Sword instead. [5]

IGN mentioned the game in its article "A History of Gaming's Most Shameless Rip-Offs", calling it a rip-off of The Legend of Zelda . They noted similarities in enemies and map designs, and called the soundtrack "eerily similar" to Zelda but without any of the personality. [2]

See also

Related Research Articles

<i>Streets of Rage</i> (video game) 1991 video game

Streets of Rage is a beat 'em up video game developed and published by Sega for the Genesis in 1991. Players control one of three former police officers turned vigilantes who battle a crime syndicate. Streets of Rage establishes many conventions of the Streets of Rage series, such as two-player cooperative play and an acclaimed techno soundtrack from composer Yuzo Koshiro. It was ported for the Game Gear, Sega CD and Master System and has been rereleased as part of various compilations and on download services.

<i>Golden Axe</i> (video game) 1989 arcade game

Golden Axe is a 1989 beat 'em up video game developed and published by Sega for arcades, running on the Sega System 16B arcade hardware. Makoto Uchida was the lead designer of the game, and was also responsible for the creation of the previous year's Altered Beast. The game casts players as one of three warriors who must free the fantastical land of Yuria from the tyrannical rule of Death Adder, who wields the titular Golden Axe.

<i>Sonic Labyrinth</i> 1995 video game

Sonic Labyrinth is an action-puzzle video game developed by Minato Giken and published by Sega for the Game Gear in 1995. The game features Sonic the Hedgehog exploring maze-like stages from an isometric perspective. Dr. Robotnik has robbed Sonic of his trademark speed, so Sonic walks slowly but can roll into a ball and dash across the stages.

1989 saw many sequels and prequels in video games, such as Phantasy Star II, Super Mario Land, Super Monaco GP, along with new titles such as Big Run, Bonk's Adventure, Final Fight, Golden Axe, Strider, Hard Drivin' and Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles. The year also saw the release of the Sega Genesis and TurboGrafx-16 in North America, and the Game Boy worldwide along with Tetris and Super Mario Land.

<i>Advanced Dungeons & Dragons: Heroes of the Lance</i> 1988 video game

Advanced Dungeons & Dragons: Heroes of the Lance is a video game released in 1988 for various home computer systems and consoles. The game is based on the first Dragonlance campaign module for the Dungeons & Dragons fantasy role-playing game, Dragons of Despair, and the first Dragonlance novel Dragons of Autumn Twilight.

Several LCD games based on the video game series The Legend of Zelda have been released. The first, Zelda, released in 1989, was developed and manufactured by Nintendo; later LCD games were licensed to other developers. The Legend of Zelda game watch (1989) is a wristwatch game produced by Nelsonic as part of their Nelsonic Game Watch series. Zelda no Densetsu: Kamigami no Triforce is a fighting game produced by Epoch Co. for the Barcode Battler II, and was released only in Japan.

<i>Guardian Heroes</i> 1996 video game

Guardian Heroes is a 2D side-scrolling beat 'em up video game developed by Treasure and released by Sega in 1996 for the Sega Saturn video game console. The game resembles Final Fight or Golden Axe, but with RPG elements. The development team called it a "fighting RPG". A sequel was released in 2004 for the Game Boy Advance entitled Advance Guardian Heroes.

<i>Fatal Labyrinth</i> 1990 video game

Fatal Labyrinth, titled Shi no Meikyuu: Labyrinth of Death (死の迷宮) in Japan, is a roguelike role-playing video game developed and published by Sega. Originally available exclusively on the Sega Meganet multiplayer gaming service in 1990, it was later released physically for the Sega Genesis in 1991. The game appears in Sonic's Ultimate Genesis Collection for Xbox 360 and PlayStation 3, and was later included in Sega Genesis Classics for PlayStation 4, Xbox One, and Nintendo Switch. The game was also released for Microsoft Windows through Steam on September 13, 2010, which is an emulation of the Genesis version. The game is similar to and shares assets with Dragon Crystal, which was also released around that time.

<i>Dragon Crystal</i> 1990 video game

Dragon Crystal (ドラゴンクリスタル) is a 1990 video game developed and published by Sega for their Game Gear and Master System. The game is similar to and shares assets with Fatal Labyrinth, which was also released around that time.

<i>Golden Axe II</i> 1991 video game

Golden Axe II is a side-scrolling beat 'em up video game developed and published by Sega, first released on the Sega Mega Drive in December 1991. It is the home console sequel to the popular game Golden Axe, marking the second game in the series, though the arcade did see a followup of its own in 1992, titled Golden Axe: The Revenge of Death Adder. Golden Axe II was only released on the Mega Drive, while the original was released on many other platforms. The game later appeared in Sonic's Ultimate Genesis Collection for Xbox 360 and PlayStation 3, as an iOS app on iTunes, and on the Nintendo Switch Online + Expansion Pack.

<i>Ys I: Ancient Ys Vanished</i> 1987 video game

Ys I: Ancient Ys Vanished, also known as Ys: The Vanished Omens or The Ancient Land of Ys, is a 1987 action role-playing game developed by Nihon Falcom. It is the first installment in the Ys series. Initially developed for the PC-8800 series by Masaya Hashimoto and Tomoyoshi Miyazaki, the game was soon ported to the Sharp X1, PC-98, FM-7, and MSX2 Japanese computer systems.

<i>Arabian Fight</i> 1992 video game

Arabian Fight is a scrolling beat 'em up video game released in arcades by Sega in 1992. Running on the Sega System 32 arcade system, the game displays pseudo-3D sprite-scaling graphics and supports cooperative multiplayer for up to four players.

<i>Golden Axe III</i> 1993 video game

Golden Axe III is a side-scrolling beat 'em up video game developed and published by Sega and released for the Sega Mega Drive in Japan on June 25, 1993. It is a sequel to Golden Axe II. A North American version was released only for the Sega Channel. The game was later re-released a number of times, as part of the Sega Genesis Collection for PlayStation 2 and PlayStation Portable, Sonic's Ultimate Genesis Collection for Xbox 360 and PlayStation 3, digitally on the Wii Virtual Console, and in the Sega Genesis Classics compilation.

<i>Golden Axe: The Revenge of Death Adder</i> 1992 video game

Golden Axe: The Revenge of Death Adder is an arcade video game released by Sega in 1992. It is part of the Golden Axe series of games and takes place between Golden Axe III and Golden Axe: The Duel which features the same hack and slash action as its predecessor with new additions and improvements. Powered by the System 32 arcade board, Revenge of Death Adder features more detailed graphics, adds new selectable characters and doubles the maximum number of simultaneous players from two to four. None of the three characters from the previous game are playable, with players choosing from four new protagonists who battle through various levels to defeat the villainous Death Adder.

<i>Golden Axe</i> Video game series

Golden Axe is a series of side-scrolling beat 'em up arcade video games developed by Sega. The series takes place in a medieval fantasy world where several heroes have the task of recovering the legendary Golden Axe, the mainstay element of the series.

<i>Golden Axe: Beast Rider</i> 2008 video game

Golden Axe: Beast Rider is a 2008 action-adventure video game developed by Secret Level and published by Sega for the PlayStation 3 and Xbox 360. It is the first 3D entry in the Golden Axe franchise. The game was released in North America on October 14, 2008, in Europe on October 17, and in Australia on October 23.

<i>Golden Axe: The Duel</i> 1995 video game

Golden Axe: The Duel (ゴールデンアックス・ザ・デュエル) is a fantasy-themed fighting game produced by Sega based on their Golden Axe series. It was originally released as a coin-operated arcade game in 1995 and later ported to the Sega Saturn. It is the third coin-operated installment in the series, following the original Golden Axe and Golden Axe: The Revenge of Death Adder.

<i>Ax Battler: A Legend of Golden Axe</i> 1991 video game

Ax Battler: A Legend of Golden Axe is an action-adventure video game spin-off of the popular Golden Axe series. The game was released on the Sega Game Gear in 1991.

<i>Babylonian Castle Saga</i> Video game series

The Babylonian Castle Saga is a Japanese role-playing video game franchise developed and published by Bandai Namco Entertainment, formerly Namco, for arcades and home video game platforms. Beginning in 1984 with the arcade title The Tower of Druaga, the series would spawn a total of nine sequel and spin-off games, alongside a manga, soundtrack albums, and two anime series by Gonzo K.K. Later entries in the series would be developed by Endo's personal game company, Game Studio.

<i>Willow</i> (NES video game) 1989 video game

Willow is a 1989 2D action role-playing game developed and published by Capcom for the Nintendo Entertainment System. It is loosely based on the 1988 film of the same name and is the second title Capcom released based on Willow that year, the first being an unrelated side scrolling arcade game. The version of Willow released for the Nintendo Entertainment System and the Famicom is an adventure game in the vein of The Legend of Zelda.

References

  1. 1 2 3 Buchanan, Levi (September 25, 2008). "Golden Axe Retrospective". IGN. Archived from the original on December 20, 2012. Retrieved January 29, 2013.
  2. 1 2 Grayson, Nathan (February 28, 2012). "A History of Gaming's Most Shameless Rip-Offs". IGN. Archived from the original on February 25, 2013. Retrieved January 29, 2013.
  3. 1 2 Sutyak, Jonathan. "Golden Axe Warrior – Overview". Allgame. Rovi. Archived from the original on November 14, 2014. Retrieved January 29, 2013.
  4. 1 2 3 "ProReview: Golden Axe Warrior". GamePro . No. 22. IDG. May 1991. p. 40.
  5. 1 2 3 4 5 "Golden Axe Warrior". Mean Machines. April 1991. p. 72.
  6. 1 2 3 "Golden Axe Warrior". Computer + Video Games: The Complete Guide to Sega: 98. Retrieved 22 June 2023.
  7. ↑ "Sega Master Rarity Guide". Archived from the original on 2015-07-26. Retrieved 2012-08-02.
  8. ↑ Miller, Greg (February 12, 2009). "Sonic's Ultimate Genesis Collection Review". Archived from the original on August 1, 2012. Retrieved January 29, 2013.
  9. ↑ "Lancamentos internationais". Ação Games (in Portuguese). July 1991. pp. 42–43.
  10. 1 2 Joystick, issue 17, page 128
  11. 1 2 Player One, issue 12, pages 54-55
  12. 1 2 "Golden Axe Warrior". Sega Pro. 1991. Old Death Adder is back, but before you try to defeat him, remember that there's no arcade action – just lots of adventuring.
  13. 1 2 "Kultpower Archiv: Komplettscan Videogames 2/1991". Archived from the original on 2016-03-04. Retrieved 2015-08-14.
This page is based on this Wikipedia article
Text is available under the CC BY-SA 4.0 license; additional terms may apply.
Images, videos and audio are available under their respective licenses.