Years will pass, games will evolve…and still, we’ll love Golden Axe. There’s just something about this sidescrolling action-fantasy series that charms us silly, be it in arcades, on ancient consoles, or on our 360s.
Like Sonic’s Ultimate Genesis Collection (2009), this compilation includes all three Golden Axe games (the first was previously available by itself on XBLA), but these versions definitely have the most supplemental features. Each game lets you save anywhere and save replays, and for the first time, all three games support two-person co-op locally and over Xbox Live — a big plus if you and a pal want to tag-team fearsome knights, evil skeletons, and hellish minions.
That giant needs to stop smirking. Jump on that Cockatrice and swing its tail at him!Meanwhile, leaderboard-lovers will dig the new Trials mode, which switches up typical gameplay by giving you a game-specific goal to complete ASAP. We liked the task in Golden Axe III — slaying every enemy on the rolling Monster Wagon in record time — but Golden Axe’s unique trial is even better: it puts you in Sudden Death mode, where everyone (hero and enemy) is killed by one blow, and you have to finish the game with the highest possible Strength rating. Even for players who don’t care at all about scores, it’s sublimely addictive.
As slick as these new features are, though, the best thing here is still the three games, which hold up amazingly well after all this time. You could get them by buying the now-very-cheap Ultimate Genesis Collection (which includes dozens of other classics), but for purists, these fully featured versions are a must.
Like the series' music? An in-game jukebox lets you listen to individual tracks.PUBLISHER: Sega • DEVELOPER: M2 • ESRB: Teen • MULTIPLAYER: 2 local or Xbox Live • ACHIEVEMENTS: Mostly easy • COST: 800 Microsoft Points ($10) • RELEASE DATE: May 30, 2012
+ Offers all three Golden Axe games — and they’re still fun.
+ Supports local and online co-op; tons of nifty bonus features.
– If you’re not a purist or don’t crave old-school action, its appeal is limited.
? Do you love Tyris’ strongest magic (a giant, fire-breathing dragon’s head) as much as we do?
