Overview
Golden Axe transported beat-em-up action to a Conan-inspired fantasy world. Three warriors sought revenge against Death Adder, hacking through hordes of enemies while riding fire-breathing dragons and casting devastating magic. Sega’s arcade hit became a Genesis system seller.
Fast facts
- Developer: Sega (Team Shinobi).
- Release: 1989.
- Genre: Fantasy beat-em-up.
- Players: 1-2 cooperative.
Playable characters
| Character | Weapon | Magic |
|---|
| Ax Battler | Sword | Earth |
| Tyris Flare | Sword | Fire |
| Gilius Thunderhead | Axe | Lightning |
Combat system
| Action | Function |
|---|
| Attack | Combo strikes |
| Jump | Aerial attacks |
| Magic | Screen-clearing spell |
| Throw | Grapple enemies |
Magic system
| Mechanic | Design |
|---|
| Potions | Collect blue bottles |
| Levels | More potions = stronger spell |
| Character | Different maximum levels |
| Screen clear | Damage all enemies |
Rideable beasts
| Beast | Attack |
|---|
| Chicken Leg | Tail whip |
| Blue Dragon | Fire breath |
| Red Dragon | Stronger fire |
Knock enemies off to steal their mount.
Level structure
| Stage | Setting |
|---|
| 1 | Wilderness |
| 2 | Turtle Village |
| 3 | Eagle’s Head |
| 4 | Castle |
| 5 | Death Adder’s throne |
Bonus stages
Between levels:
- Thieves steal potions
- Kick them to recover
- Build magic reserves
- Brief respite
Genesis conversion
| Quality | Assessment |
|---|
| Graphics | Near-arcade |
| Gameplay | Faithful |
| Additions | Duel mode |
| Result | System seller |
Cooperative play
Two-player design:
- Shared screen
- Can hit each other
- Magic stacking
- Coordination rewarded
Sequels
| Title | Year | Platform |
|---|
| Golden Axe II | 1991 | Genesis |
| Golden Axe III | 1993 | Genesis |
| Golden Axe: The Revenge | 1991 | Arcade |
Legacy
Golden Axe established:
- Fantasy beat-em-up template
- Magic system integration
- Mount mechanics
- Sega arcade excellence
See also