Golden Axe

Kicking small, thieving elves and riding on tail-whipping chickens is really what most of us clutch dearly when remembering the classic Golden Axe coin-op (or, in the case of you twenty-somethings, its Sega Genesis port). But the dragon-filled world of yore isn’t fated to be left in its 2D, perfect-for–Live Arcade form. Sega has some revamping plans up its sleeve in the form of Beast Rider, a much more realistic (if dragons and elves existed, of course) imagining of Axe’s rough-and-ready universe, crammed full of swordplay, magic, and — of course — giant chickens.

Instead of letting you choose one of three playable characters, Beast Rider concentrates its narrative solely on the buxom, fire-wielding Tyris Flare — which also means no co-op multiplayer. (Uh, why would anyone think that’s a good idea, Sega?) In this revenge tale, you’ll guide Tyris through bright desert landscapes and Scottish Highlands–inspired greenery on her hunt to track down the Queen of the Dead. As you make your slow, enemy-ridden progress from the ruins of your village to the actual land that the Queen presides over, you’ll chop foes to bits in a dismember-thon that promises to test your sword-heaving mettle. Each enemy class has specific attacks and defenses that you’ll have to learn in order to best them: For instance, parrying attacks is a crucial tactic against most bad guys, but you won’t be able to block the blows of certain variations of Bitter Knight. So bring your skills.

Really, though, the game’s subtitle accurately conveys the focal point outside of sword battle — riding beasts. With five different magical beasts to commandeer, they’re not exactly going to come up and sit in your lap. Your mountable friends have varying amounts of armor and unique multiple attacks (including a magical assault), but you’ll need to hop on them to crush puny opponents. The poultry-style Abrax is a shoo-in, but prepare to ride an antlered lynx-like animal as well, plus the hulking Krommoth. After all, you’ve got revenge on your mind, and what better way to exact it than from a furry or feathered saddle?