RF Generation Message Board

This month is going to be pretty wide open, and because these are "one sitting" games, feel free to talk about these games throughout the month. Instead of putting up checkpoints, I'm going to put up "play dates" just to give us some organization so that we can all play together.  I am going to go ahead and include Golden Axe III, since there seems to be some good interest in playing it already, and because it is available on several Genesis collections. We HIGHLY encourage couch co-op and I'd really like to see some co-op pics on this thread during the month. Hell, best co-op pic gets a prize!!! I'll set up a poll and let the community vote. There, LET'S DO THIS!

PARTICIPANTS:
Disposed Hero
Fokakis79
Ikariniku
JerryGreenwood
MetalFRO
russlyman
shaggy
singlebanana

PLAY DATES:
July 1st - 10th - Golden Axe
July 11th - 20th - Golden Axe II
July 21st - 31st - Golden Axe III

ACHIEVEMENTS:
1. Finish Golden Axe
2. Co-op finish Golden Axe
3. Finish Golden Axe II
4. Co-op finish Golden Axe II
5. Finish Golden Axe III
6. Co-op finish Golden Axe III
7. Submit a Golden Axe co-op photo
8. Submit a sad bastard photo of you playing Golden Axe alone (does not count toward contest, but we will enjoy laughing at with you)  :rofl:
9. Finish any game using no magic

I'm in!

Not only do I plan on playing Golden Axe III, I'll probably play that the most.  It's my favorite of the 3 games, and the playthrough gave me the opportunity I needed to pick up the MD cart.

I need to find the cart. I'll keep you posted


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I found a loose MD cart a few weeks ago, so I plan on joining you.


Check the last page of this thread Russ: http://www.rfgeneration.com/forum/index.php?topic=14546.60

I'm in!  I have the Sonic Collection so GA III is on my list!  I've never played it before so this will be great.

I've been looking forward to this for about 6 months now.  I'm definitely playing the entire trilogy, and will most likely play them in co-op.

I'm in for Golden Axe 1, one of my favorite Genesis games. I didn't like II as much, but I'm half in.

I'm all in.  I have 1 and 2 on cart, and all 3 on the Sonic Genesis collection, so I could do all 3 for July.  Should be fun!

Play dates and achievements up. If you can add to the achievements list, please post suggestions here.

Awesome, Looking forward to joining in on this one. I will have to get GA III just so I can join in on that fun. Its going to be very laid back month of bashing, hacking, and of course slashing.

Just grabbed these on Steam, so I'm ready to rock and roll!

I might join, even though I suck at GA, and have no one to play it with.

Beat the game without using magic?

OOH, Thats a great achievement.

How about also, Beat a stage riding the same beast.

I guess we make those more or less personal achievements. It would be great to talk about it on the podcast.

I'm good to go for this. Just got the sega collection for PS3


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I'm interested in trying Golden Axe on PC Engine CD and Sega CD in addition to the MD/Genesis.  I love trying out alternate versions of the same game.

I love the animated intro in the PC Engine CD version. Death Adder sama!

Is it on Sega CD? I only saw it on the Sega Classics compilation.

I was looking at Golden Axe on PS2 (Sega Ages). Interesting, but to be honest, the Genesis version looks better to me.

Busting out some couch co-op Golden Axe this weekend with my buddy Cameron. Some of you may know that he is the guitar player from the band Atma Weapon and actually did our opening and closing music for the Playcast.  He's a gamer as well and is planning to joining us on the Golden Axe podcast to talk about some "Axe Battlering" and Atma's new album coming out this Fall.  Should be a great show.

Atari ST
Bandai Wonderswan Color
Commodore 64
Commodore Amiga
IBM PC (Sega Smash Pack, Sega Smash Pack: Twin Pack, Sega Genesis Classic Collection)
Microsoft XBLA (both standalone, and in Sega Vintage Collection: Golden Axe)
Microsoft Xbox 360 (Sonic's Ultimate Genesis Collection/Sega Mega Drive Ultimate Collection)
Nintendo GBA (Sega Smash Pack)
Nintendo VC
PC-Engine CD-ROM
Sega CD (Sega Classics Arcade Collection)
Sega Dreamcast (Sega Smash Pack Vol. 1)
Sega Genesis/Megadrive
Sega Master System
Sinclaire ZX Spectrum
Sony PlayStation 2 (Japan - Sega Ages, Sega Genesis/Megadrive Collection)
Sony PlayStation 3 (Sonic's Ultimate Genesis Collection/Sega Mega Drive Ultimate Collection)
Sony PlayStation Network
Sony PlayStation Portable (Sega Genesis/Megadrive Collection, Sega Fun Pack)
Steam
Tapwave Zodiac
Tiger Handheld
TV Plug-and-Play (Arcade Legends Sega Genesis Volume 1)

IF you somehow don't own one of those, you can even play it in your browser:
http://www.letsplaysega.com/play-golden-axe-online/

It's worth noting that some are Arcade conversions, while some are based off the Sega Genesis release and some were pared down even further (PC-Engine version is 1-player and calls Ax Battler "Tarik", making it more based around him than the adventure).

Hope everyone is ready to save the kingdom from Death Adder and kick some gnome ass for stealing your stuff

Ready and willing. Got to crack open the seal on my PS3 Genesis collection tomorrow.


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Well, I started already.  I used the dwarf and kept the life at 3 bars.  Got to the boss of the 5th level.

I started a little early this past weekend, because my buddy Cameron was over and we could co-op.  Made it the the last boss on the original Golden Axe, beat Golden Axe II, and could not get my copy of Golden Axe III on the MegaDrive to work even though I have a Honey Bee converter.  Apparently, my Gen 1 has the lockout chip..... Oh well, I picked up the Sonic Collection on PS3 today and may also try it on my Retron5.

Anyone else started?

I'm IN!!!!!

Ok fired it up.
Used the girl but died fast so started over with the dwarf.
[img width=700 height=525]http://images.tapatalk-cdn.com/15/07/01/a3868c5868fb99e8d2c86215a517147c.jpg[/img]
[img width=700 height=933]http://images.tapatalk-cdn.com/15/07/01/84e941890c29f3bbabfa7378a83d5ab4.jpg[/img]
Didn't get to the last boss. :0(


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Fired up number two
Got pretty far but it was on easy
[img width=700 height=933]http://images.tapatalk-cdn.com/15/07/01/1eaef469aac886ef9e8111c846637b87.jpg[/img]


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Nice, sounds great to hear everyone having fun so far


Russlyman, your pics remind me of something I always wanted to know,  how is the level of class determined? And, what effect does it have on your character?

Waiting for my PC Engine copy to arrive from Japan.

Status update:

Golden Axe - made it to the last boss (couch co-op), could not beat
Golden Axe II - finished the game (couch co-op)
Golden Axe III - made it through stage 6

So far my favorite of the series is the original Golden Axe. Golden Axe III is my least favorite, for reasons I'll get into on the podcast. However, I'm going to try to keep an open mind and continue to play it a bit more.

First attempt
http://[img width=640 height=480]http://i1033.photobucket.com/albums/a420/JerryGreenwood/2015-07-01%2019.09.40_zpsaovm4uyp.jpg[/img] (http://s1033.photobucket.com/user/JerryGreenwood/media/2015-07-01%2019.09.40_zpsaovm4uyp.jpg.html)

Second attempt
http://[img width=640 height=480]http://i1033.photobucket.com/albums/a420/JerryGreenwood/2015-07-01%2019.48.43_zpsphkthxlc.jpg[/img] (http://s1033.photobucket.com/user/JerryGreenwood/media/2015-07-01%2019.48.43_zpsphkthxlc.jpg.html)

Yeah, this is something were going to need to look into before the podcast.

Long story short....how far you get and how little you die.

As you can see from my photos above, I scored more points with Ax Battler than I did Tyris Flare (I think that's her name). BUT, with Ax, I beat the game with 11 deaths for a B grade. With Flare, I beat it with only 6 deaths for an A++ grade.

My guess for the "total score" at the top is related to how many enemies I killed. When I played with Flare, I let some of them fall into a pit.

Thanks Jerry, but when your strength number goes up, is that just a score or do your attacks become stronger?

Oh no, it's not that sophisticated. I would think Strength is some kind of equation based on how far you get, how many times you died, and your Total Score.

The Total Score is probably similar to how they keep score in Double Dragon and Double Dragon II, i.e. - 5 points for a jumping attack, 10 points for a down-thrust (for those who don't know, run > jump > attack), 10 points for a power attack (for those who don't know, press B+C at the same time), 15 points for a combo, etc.

Gotcha, thanks for the info. I guess that mystery has been solved.

I played through some Golden Axe I yesterday and today, was able to complete it on beginner. Still working on getting through the normal game. Made it to the last stage but was just a bit short.

I was able to complete Golden Axe II today.

Here are some pics of my playthrough. Shamefully, I have submitted my pics of playing by myself.

Okay. Woah. I forgot how hard this game can be! I've been playing the last hour with Ax Battler on the 1st Golden Axe, and I'm getting slaughtered. For some reason, I get overzealous with trying to hit things (standard for beat-em-ups), and then I either get juggled, or the enemies do that annoying shoulder run thing. At times, doing that maneuver myself, or the jump slash, but that gets repetitive and annoying itself. I did this one move where I turned around and did this sword slash thing, but I don't remember how I pulled it off, so obviously I need to look at a manual scan  :slick:

On the bright side, I remembered the technique where, if you can get just one enemy engaged at a time, you can slash twice, bonk on the head twice, then pause slightly and repeat. That allows you to milk an enemy until they're dead. Unfortunately, it seems that being surrounded means not being able to do that very often. I don't remember the game being quite this hard. Anyone else have battle tips for a wounded barbarian?  :P

After a busy start to the month, I got to play some Golden Axe.  I made it to level 6 before running out of continues.  However, I didn't know about the down strike or the two-button reverse attack.  Both would have been a big help.  I should have known better than to go in without knowing all the moves.  You usually have to be proficient with every move in your arsenal to make it through a beat 'em up.

The reverse attack is more necessary than it is in Streets of Rage 2.  Your character's default speed is glacial, so enemies always find a way to get behind you.  Without effective grappling for crowd control, the reverse attack is your only hope.

Since I couldn't control the crowd, I took advantage of the dash to turn the tables on the baddies.  I would zip across the screen to escape a double team, then charge back in to take out the trash.  The dash attack was also more forgiving than your standard attacks.  Your reach isn't as far as it looks, leading to some nasty surprises, especially against the skeletons.  Your character is also extremely narrow vertically, meaning you have to line up with foes precisely to hit them.  The baddies seem to know this, too, as they attack mercilessly on diagonal, a tactic usually employed by the player in beat 'em ups.

This lead to me constantly moving to the top and bottom edges of the screen to force enemies to line up properly.  It also helped to try and stay near the middle of the screen, as enemies seemed to be able to exploit the left and right edges even more than in standard beat 'em ups. 

I started out saving my magic for the bosses, but this was probably a mistake.  The large bosses are easily taken out with stick-and-move dash attacks.  Magic would be better used for when you're swarmed with small enemies.  That's a far more dangerous and out of control situation.

Despite being a popular gimmick in the game, I'm pretty sure the mounts are noob traps, much like weapons in other beat 'em ups.  While the mounts' attacks are powerful, they are also slow and require very precise positioning to use correctly.  The mounts also make you a huge, slow target for enemy dash attacks, which was how all my rides on the mounts came to an end.  I say leave them be.

I hadn't played Golden Axe in a while, and I found myself pleasantly surprised to see that it had deeper gameplay than I remembered, though it's not as refined as later beat 'em ups like Final Fight or Streets of Rage.

Great points all around! I'd like to discuss these points more when I'm back home from the holiday and have better access. ;)

To me Golden Axe I is more difficult than II.  These games are all about timing your attacks and keeping the enemy hordes on the screen in check. I defeated a few of the bosses by careful timing of the charge attack. I barely used the down thrust as most of the time it proved to be ineffective although it is very powerful if you can perfect it.

I think the beasts can be noob traps, but they can be great if you can properly use them. I was able to complete most of a stage using one beast. Some beasts have better attacks than others, so its good to know which ones to get.

Can't wait to hear more experiences from everybody. I haven't heard from anyone about Golden Axe III, so I would be interested to hear from those that can play it.

Great first week for this play through so far

I have found that if you use the beasts effectively and can avoid the dash attacks, you can indeed complete a level with them almost entirely once you have them, even taking out the bosses.  Up until now, I've been saving my magic for bosses, but taking out groups of enemies makes sense, especially if your magic is entirely powered up and you can just dispatch them immediately.  I'm not sure I've been very successful at pulling off the down-thrust, but I have got the reverse attack down (B+C together), and that did save me in a pinch a couple times this afternoon.  Is the down thrust more powerful than just a jump and slash?

I've been able to make it to and defeat Death Adder once or twice, but haven't reached Death Bringer quite yet.  I've been using Ax Battler exclusively so far, though once I can get the game beat with him, I'll probably go back and try to do the same with the other 2 characters.  The limited number of continues really makes you work hard to be able to not take much damage, and really try to conserve your continues until the end, in case you need them for either Death Adder, or Death Bringer.  I did find that the strategy Ikariniku mentions above works well for most bosses, but did anyone find that didn't always work for the large sword and shield guys?  I found that sometimes the dash attack worked well, but other times, I got slashed a lot, so it seemed very inconsistent.

The reverse attack is very important in this game too. It does a lot of damage.

Magic is best used on the bosses, especially if you pick Flare. It's probably not as important with Thunderhead. His max magic damage is probably equal to one attack combo.

The Chicken Leg mount is garbage, but the dragons are very, very good.

Yes, the down thrust is more powerful.

The dash attack ALWAYS works against the large sword and shield guys (I think their names are Lt. Bitter and Col. Bitter), but you have to press attack EARLY in your dash and do it from a decent distance. If you do press attack too late (or close), he'll swat you out of the air. But overall, they shouldn't be a problem. The gray one is a joke, the red ones can be defeated by the Dragon you pick up in that stage, and the gold ones you can knock off the ledge.


All of the characters in Golden Axe I have the same health, walk speed, jump, and attack power. The only thing that separates them is magic and attack distance.

ok after playing again a bit over the weekend and reading some of the post on here, I think I need to find out how to do the reverse attack and a down thrust. ha  I kept getting bullied and would end up losing a few lives just fighting regular guys on the screen.

I will say Golden Axe one from what I can tell all the attacks were the same damage amount. I tried each character and they didn't seem to be any different. Also the beast in there don't seem to do any more damage as well.

I have played through more of Golden Axe two, where it seems more balanced. I mean it makes sense since it is the squeal giving them time to fix the bugs.

attack + jump

run > jump > attack (maybe hold down? I hold down anyway from Zelda 2 habit, but I'm not sure if you need to)

Found this at work
[img width=700 height=933]http://images.tapatalk-cdn.com/15/07/06/0be6c192aeee492077aefe33e544e52c.jpg[/img]
[img width=700 height=933]http://images.tapatalk-cdn.com/15/07/06/3b86dc07c87892f3846ee75afb57298c.jpg[/img]


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@russ - *sigh*

Finally took down the 1st game as Ax Battler on default settings:
[img width=700 height=525]http://i349.photobucket.com/albums/q388/MetalFRO/Mobile%20Uploads/2015-07/ACFD7CB1-3815-451D-88F2-3935F27E87C6.jpg[/img] (http://s349.photobucket.com/user/MetalFRO/media/Mobile%20Uploads/2015-07/ACFD7CB1-3815-451D-88F2-3935F27E87C6.jpg.html)

Next job is to try and do the same with both Tyrus Flare and Gilius Thunderhead.

Okay, now that I have a rhythm down, I beat the game with Tyris (correct spelling this time):
[img width=700 height=525]http://i349.photobucket.com/albums/q388/MetalFRO/Mobile%20Uploads/2015-07/728C2B06-70A6-409E-A076-11CE50525536.jpg[/img] (http://s349.photobucket.com/user/MetalFRO/media/Mobile%20Uploads/2015-07/728C2B06-70A6-409E-A076-11CE50525536.jpg.html)

Anyone try The Duel mode?

It's quick and easy. When I beat it my Strength score was over 300. I'm guessing it's because I didn't die (if you die once, it's over).

Thanks for those instructions Russ!  My buddy is coming over again on Wednesday night, so we are going to play #1 again and try to finish 3.


Yeah, I haven't played those modes yet, but intend to. I don't think I could give the games a fair discussion without playing them.

Also if anyone needs that instruction booklet for their game I will gladly grab it and send it out to you. I'm playing on the PS3 Genesis collection so I do not need it. let me know

Let me check my copy and get back to you Russ. Thanks!

Yep, have Golden Axe boxed with no manual. Could really use that one if it is still available. Thanks!

Coming your way

And now I've finished Golden Axe with Gilius!
[img width=700 height=525]http://i349.photobucket.com/albums/q388/MetalFRO/Mobile%20Uploads/2015-07/4CB669A7-F58E-4FF0-B0E0-06DAB98EB408.jpg[/img] (http://s349.photobucket.com/user/MetalFRO/media/Mobile%20Uploads/2015-07/4CB669A7-F58E-4FF0-B0E0-06DAB98EB408.jpg.html)

I'll check out The Duel and then it's on to Golden Axe II!

No......NO! NOT YOU TOO!!!!!!

Just had my first playthrough of Golden Axe with a friend of mine.  We played online via the downloadable version on the PS3.  What I didn't know until we started the game is that the version on PS3 is the Arcade version, not the Genesis version, but oh well.  I'll go back and play it again on the Genesis.

[img width=700 height=525]http://i295.photobucket.com/albums/mm155/DisposedHero/Community%20Playthrough%20Scores/CAM01415.jpg[/img] (http://s295.photobucket.com/user/DisposedHero/media/Community%20Playthrough%20Scores/CAM01415.jpg.html)

Yeah, I didn't realize that when I bought it for Xbox Live. The Genesis version has more levels.

Here are a few thins I observed.  Any "steps" within a level?  Use them, especially on Level 4 of GA1.  If you get them on the step above you just keep hitting them until they die.  The technique I use the most, especially if you have a person on each side of you, is the jump attack or the run attack.  I use the jump attack more, though, because have to double tap left or right throws my timing off.  When using the jump attack, when the enemies too far away from you you need to move up or down because they will use their run attack on you.

Thanks buddy!  That will complete my boxed copy, so I am very stoked.

My buddy Cameron came over again last night and we played some more Golden Axe and Golden Axe III co-op. We made to to Death Adder again in the first game, but for whatever reason, we just can't get him down. A few questions if I might:

Last night, I let Cameron deal with the adds while I took on Death Adder. We were mildly successful for a while, but the skeletons never died and DA started spamming magic to where we couldn't even stand up.

(1) Are the skeleton adds that accompany him defeatable?

(2) Is there a certain time limit that you have to kill him in before he starts spamming magic?

I made my first real attempt at playing through the Genesis version of Golden Axe last night, but I encountered one technical problem after another.  I have a ton of Genesis controllers lying around, some I'm pretty sure I never used before, so it turns out that the B button doesn't work on the first controller I tried.  No big deal, as soon as I discovered that, I just plugged in another controller.  The second controller's D-pad isn't very responsive.  I wasn't sure if it was the controller or if the game just felt like that, so I stuck it out and kept using it until I got a Game Over.

When I started the game again, I decided to try a different controller just in case, and lo and behold, the difference was night and day.  I was actually able to reliably dash this time!  So I'm doing fairly well on this playthrough, and then I encounter the section at the end of one of the later levels where the skeletons start rising up out of the ground.  What I think happened is that one of the skeletons just said "Screw this!" and walked off the screen, so I couldn't kill him.  So I waited around for a couple of minutes, hoping that by some chance he would come back, or maybe he would walk off a ledge and kill himself or something and the level would end, but it never happened.  I had no choice but to turn the game off.  *sigh*

Anyway, I'll give it another shot this weekend.

(1) No, they are invincible
(2) No, he only uses magic when he knocks you down. He will throw down the yellow electricity, but that's avoidable.

Thanks. I figured the skeletons were invincible. The problem I am having with this magic is that he repeatedly uses it while I am on the ground and there is no way to defend that.

Also, I wanted to mention that if anyone is having trouble making that big chasm jump at the beginning of Stage 8 (I think...), instead of running and jumping as many people suggest, you can run and shoulder charge (press attack while running) over it, which is easier and works better.

+1.  I used to always try to jump over it back in the day and would end up falling in the chasm until my friend told me to just dash/charge over it.  Definitely the way to go.

Yeah, Shoulder Charge is definitely the way to go. When I played the XBLA version, it's the only way I got across.

Popped in my recently acquired copy for TurboCD the other day. It's....not that good. I didn't play for long, before it made me want to pop in my Genesis collection on PS3, and play it that way.

Did anyone else notice that Tyris' sprite in the 2nd game looks kind of different than the 1st?  In that she has been, erm....augmented?  Isn't it silly that Sega decided to do that?  It actually makes her look stupid, and despite the 2nd game having crisper, better looking graphics overall, I prefer her sprite from the 1st game, because at least she looks like a normal human being.

On the actual gameplay front, I haven't quite been able to reach the end of GA2 with Ax Battler yet.  I need to practice some more and try to make it further so I can actually reach the end boss.  One thing I thought was interesting is the change in the way magic works.  In the first game, it's one and done, and whatever power level you're at, that's the magic you use.  In GA2, it defaults to the lowest level, and you have to hold the button down to charge to the level you want to use.  I think that's a neat mechanic, because weaker enemies can sometimes be taken out with Level 2 or 3 magic, and you can get more use out of the magic ability you have.  I haven't experimented with it much, but it is a nice addition to the magic ability.  It also gives you more reason to use magic, given the 2nd game's more liberal availability and distribution of it.

Sure there is. Don't let him hit you. As I said above, he ONLY uses magic when HE knocks you down. I'm not counting the ground pound because that's avoidable.

The difficulty is really unbalanced because of this. The game is extremely easy until you get to Death Bringer.

My end game screen for beating Golden Axe:

[img width=700 height=525]http://i295.photobucket.com/albums/mm155/DisposedHero/Community%20Playthrough%20Scores/CAM01438.jpg[/img] (http://s295.photobucket.com/user/DisposedHero/media/Community%20Playthrough%20Scores/CAM01438.jpg.html)

...and The Duel:

[img width=700 height=525]http://i295.photobucket.com/albums/mm155/DisposedHero/Community%20Playthrough%20Scores/CAM01439.jpg[/img] (http://s295.photobucket.com/user/DisposedHero/media/Community%20Playthrough%20Scores/CAM01439.jpg.html)

I was doing extremely well during most of the game, then I got to Death Bringer and barely scraped by.  That whole fight is really cheap.  If only you could kill those damn skeletons....

After using all three characters, I came to the conclusion that I like Tyris the best.  Her running attack is by far the best of all three characters, and it is excellent for crowd control.  Obviously her magic is the best, although to get the full effect you have to use it pretty sparingly, but I think I've figured out the best places in the game to use it.

I also want to mention that the ending to the arcade version of Golden Axe is way better than the Genesis version.  I've always loved that ending sequence.

On to Golden Axe II!

.....and my end game screen for Golden Axe II.  This one was way easier than the first game.

[img width=700 height=525]http://i295.photobucket.com/albums/mm155/DisposedHero/Community%20Playthrough%20Scores/CAM01440.jpg[/img] (http://s295.photobucket.com/user/DisposedHero/media/Community%20Playthrough%20Scores/CAM01440.jpg.html)

Nice rating, and yes I agree with GAII being easier

Beat GA I.  Tried GA II once, got to level 5.

Brought the Death this morning around 11:00 PM. Golden Axe & Golden Axe II down.

[img width=700 height=522]http://i1029.photobucket.com/albums/y359/necrom99/Playthroughs/EC70A262-840E-44FB-BF96-D8593B4B3472_zpswnrdyhrl.jpg[/img]

Damn, you must have really messed him up if you stuck him on the ceiling.

I don't mess around.

I agree that Tyris is the best, but I'm not sure if her running attack is any different than the rest of the cast.

In the 1st game, it's a flying kick instead of a shoulder dash, so it's a touch easier to predict when/where you're going to hit an enemy.  Unfortunately, SEGA changed that with the sequel, and she has a shoulder dash like the others.  That was a downgrade, in my opinion.

Yeah, I just found it much easier to land hits with her flying kick as opposed to the other characters shoulder dash.

Also, she still has the flying kick in GA II.

I'll double check that, but I'm 99% sure the hit boxes are identical. It just looks like the shoulder dashes are worse because they are lower to the ground, but I think it's cosmetic. I'm basing this on tons of experience and the fact that this game is very basic in terms of character variety. It's just magic and range of weapon that separates the cast.

You know, what finally put me over the edge in terms of beating Golden Axe was mastering the shoulder charge. A good deal of the larger enemies, the Bad Brothers and the Knights were very easy to take down by simply charging them. When I would get two at a time, I would split them and take turns charging them from opposite sides of the screen. Saving my life in these battles, and making better use of the terrain (ledges) ultimately helped me make it to the final encounter with plenty of lives.

How is GA2 going for everyone?  Any noticeable differences to point out?

Yeah, I took advantage of this strategy too.  Very effective against groups of two.

I'm having a hard time deciding which I like more: GA I or GA II.  On the one hand, I feel like GA II has tighter and more responsive controls, and there were some minor gameplay tweaks over the first game that I really like.  On the other hand, there are things about the first game I like more, like the levels, music, enemies, mounts, etc.

As far as GA III goes, this is pretty much my first exposure to the game, but I definitely feel like it's the weakest of the three.  However, after playing it for a while (and checking out a FAQ on the game), it has grown on me a little bit.  The game feels kind of sluggish, but I'm not going to hold that against the game because I'm pretty sure it's my HDTV causing the problem.  The gameplay is deeper than it appears at first glance, and there are quite a few different moves/techniques you can use that you probably won't know about unless you look at a guide of some sort.  I haven't quite finished it yet (got a Game Over on my first attempt, currently on my second attempt with a save state at the beginning of Stage 5), but I have high hopes that I'll beat it on my current run.

I had a hard time deciding between GA I and GA II initially and I agree with your points about the controls. I have to give the edge to GA I for all the reasons you listed and I just think it looks better graphically than GA II.

I really disliked GA III the first time I played it, and even made a rather rude comment about it on my Twitter feed (which I'll get into on the podcast). However, I played it again with my buddy and we really enjoyed co-oping the game together. One of my issues with the game is that I am having to play it on the PS3 Sonic Collection. I'm not certain (and maybe someone can confirm), but I have the feeling that it probably looks better on the original hardware. Unfortunately, the Model 1 I have has the lockout chip. Comparing the PS3 versions of GA I and GA 2 to the original games, I think they look and play much better on the original hardware.

I like GA I the best, but I owned it as a kid so I'm playing favorites. I've only played a little of GA II and GA III, but I like GA II a little better.

I usually talk about the music for these play-through games, but I don't think GA I is anything special. No memorable tracks, although I think they fit the landscapes well. One thing that blew me away as a kid was the intro music. On high volume, those drums are amazing and they really catch your attention.

havent had a chance to play this again latley, but def will this weekend. I wanted to add that the campfire scene inbetween levels I can see where Shovel Knight got their inspiration from.  Also that stinks that the PS3 version that im playing is the arcade port and not the actual sega one?? blast

If you're playing on the Sonic's Ultimate Genesis Collection, then you're playing the Genesis version.  The Arcade version is downloadable on the PSN.

You are right, I stand corrected! :)

I was playing this a little last night, and I'm having more trouble with it than I thought I would.  I haven't put near as much time into it as I have with the first GA, and of course, I have prior experience with GA from years past, having beat the game on multiple occasions as a kid, so that factors in.  I've noticed that the "angled" approach that you have to employ with a lot of beat-em-ups takes on a more crucial role here than in the 1st game.  Especially with the headless sword-swinging bosses, I found that when I try to use the flying kick/shoulder dash, they jump out of the way, and then I get the smack put down on me.  Rather, I'm having to come at them at an angle, and time my weapon strike correctly so I can get in a couple hits and then maybe throw them or kick them over.  The dash attack works great against the large bull-head dudes, but I found it far less effective against the sword fellas.

@JerryGreenwood - interesting that you mention the music in GA as not being anything special.  I think that may be due, in part, to how subdued it sounds.  The melodies get stuck in my head, but the tracks themselves are just kind of "there".  The "instrument set" used in GA2 is more pronounced and sounds way better, but I find that the tunes themselves aren't sticking with me the way the GA songs did.  Again, this could be because I have years of history with GA, and far less with GA2, but as an example, the only song from GA2 that I can hear in my head long after playing is the ditty that plays during the in-between stages, where you bash wizards for magic books and food.  There's nothing iconic in the 2nd game, music wise, that I've encountered so far.  Also, though the drum intro for the intro/title-screen music is fitting, the later part of the tune doesn't really fit the theme or mood of the game at all, and is kind of goofy.

@Disposed Hero - I had the same thought about the Shovel Knight campfire scene last night as I was playing!  It totally fits, especially since his slumped over appearance mirrors that of Ax Battler quite a bit.

@MetalFRO - I get what you mean. It was among the first releases for the Genesis (although so was PS II and I think that's one of the greatest soundtracks ever). It's a little lumpy. The tracks aren't bad, but it's nothing I would listen to in my car. They all have a similar 'warbly' sound.

I like that 'warbly' sound, but yes I agree I would not enjoy listening to it outside of the game.

How is everyone doing?  Anyone started playing GA3 yet?

I don't know where my bad memories of Golden Axe II come from, but playing it again this month has been a revelation. 

Golden Axe I did a good job establishing a unique feel and separating itself from other beat 'em ups, which is no small feat.  However, it did a less good job at being fun and playable.  With no effective means of crowd control, a useless lunging reverse attack that has only resulted in enemies getting free hits, finicky attack range, finicky attack timing, and extremely rare health refills, Golden Axe I is a grind.  It manages to still be enjoyable, but frustration will be your constant companion.

Golden Axe II improves on Golden Axe I in pretty much every way while still feeling like a Golden Axe game.  The lunging reverse attack is replaced with a spinning attack that allows you to create some breathing room.  It doesn't even take away any health.  Attack range and timing has been tightened, making attacks more consistent and enjoyable.  This also made the mounts slightly more useful, though I still avoid them.  Health refills actually exist.  Maybe these improvements take away some of the edge-of-your-seat difficulty, but that felt like fake difficulty to me, anyway.  Another thing I quite enjoy is the ability to choose how much magic power you want to expend.  It let me use magic much more often.

In terms of graphics and music, I find both games about equal, though Golden Axe II employs some niftier, more advanced graphics tricks.  I played both games in stereo with the video upscaled to component through a DVD player, and the difference it made was astonishing.  The colors and lines of the graphics really popped this way.  For earlier 16-bit games, Golden Axe I and II really impress.

Going into this month, Golden Axe III was my favorite and, spoilers, it still is.  (And, yes, I am the same Ikariniku that responded to your tweets about Golden Axe III, Singlebanana.) 

Before I get into it, let's take a moment to examine the region lock issue.  Here's a page I found very helpful when trying to play Golden Axe III: http://www.sega-16.com/forum/showthread.php?10948-GUIDE-Import-gaming-on-your-Mega-Drive-Genesis

The tl;dr summation is that the region lock on Golden Axe III is in the game itself, not the console.  Even if you have a non-TMSS Genesis (as I do), it won't allow you to play Golden Axe III as-is.  Pin extenders such as Honey Bee adapters or Mega Keys are not enough.  The game itself runs a check on your system, and if it doesn't like what it sees, it locks you out.

Now, you could install a switchmod to get around this.  It's apparently pretty easy and will allow you to enjoy all your import Mega Drive games.  However, if all you want is to play Golden Axe III without picking up a soldering iron, what you need is a Game Genie.  Enter the following codes, and Golden Axe III will play with no problems:

BT7T-CA9E
AA7T-CA9R

Now, onto the game.  If there is a problem with Golden Axe III, it's that it is a departure from the Golden Axe formula.  This wasn't unusual for the third installments of beat 'em up franchises.  Final Fight & the Rushing Beat series do this, as well.  This makes playing Golden Axe III after playing I & II very weird.  Your thumbs are very confused going from the standard Golden Axe combat to Golden Axe III's more Streets of Rage-inspired combat.  While it is somewhat sad to see Golden Axe give up its trademark style, Golden Axe III is still fantastic.

The characters you can fight as are more varied, offering more playstyle variety.  of course, Proud Cragger is the man.  Dash Attacks, multiple combos/chains, special attacks, blocks, trips, jumping attacks.  There's enough variety that even two players playing the same character may not play the game the same way.  Fighting systems in beat 'em ups have to walk a line between depth and simplicity, and Golden Axe III walks that line very well.

The level design in Golden Axe III deserves special mention.  Shortly into the game, you find yourself on a moving platform pulled by some mounts.  I love these elevator/platform levels, and it was this stage that made Golden Axe  II stick in my head long after I played it on a cousin's Sega Channel in the 90s.  The game's branching paths give it a bit more variety and replayability, which beat 'em ups are often criticized for lacking.  Not from me, but it is a common complaint amongst the uninitiated.

Now, I really like the graphics in Golden Axe III.  Like much in the game, I suppose they depart from the Golden Axe norm, but I really like the chunkier sprites of Golden Axe III.  The sprites are also packed with little details.  Player character costumes have a lot of straps, chains, armor plates, and other accessories that give them a lot of, well, character.  I find this level of detail very engaging when you have to stare at the character for the entire game.

Now, one aspect present in all the Golden Axe games that I find very forward-thinking and ahead of its time is the fact that Golden Axe grades your performance.   This would become de rigueur in 3D beat 'em ups like Devil May Cry and was present in Mighty Final Fight, but Golden Axe had it from near the very inception of the genre.  These grades provide the numeric reward many gamers crave yet are often absent from classic beat 'em ups.  I think if this feature was more widespread, beat 'em ups would be a bit more highly regarded.  Stroking the reward center of the brain is a very smart thing for a video game to do.  The only problem is that the rubric by which Golden Axe grades you is completely opaque.  I don't know what I need to do to improve my score.  Something a little more intuitive would be a big improvement.

After this month, my appreciation for Golden Axe has definitely gone up, and I'll be returning to these games much more often in the future.

Very nice post, but to play devil's advocate....

I disagree with "a useless lunging reverse attack". I found it extremely useful and I use it quite often. It's a power attack and it's not meant to be able to land easily. If you line up and distance yourself properly, it's your best friend.

Also, I don't think GA I is frustrating. I think it's incredibly easy, probably one of the easiest Genesis games (or NES) at the time. For 1989, there really aren't many easier games. I'm pretty sure everyone here beat GA I within a week.

For grading, remember that this is 1989. It was a pretty new concept. Given how simple the game is, it shouldn't be too hard to figure out how to improve your score. Two words - do better. How do you "do better"? Beat the game and limit the damage you take. There are no other possible parameters except for maybe actually killing enemies instead of them falling off a ledge. I think a grading system in 1989 is very intuitive.

If I have time to line up an attack at the proper distance, I'd much rather use a running attack, a jump attack, or a running jump attack.  It was my hope that the reverse attack would be a means of escaping when enemies invariably surround you.  However, this is a task it is completely useless for.


I have an easier time playing Final Fight One on Super/Extra Hard, but that's a game I've spent a lot of time with.  Perhaps I haven't found the right groove for Golden Axe.


In my mind, there are many more possible parameters.  Even Mighty Final Fight was able to add more parameters than just "beat the game without dying".  Possibilities include: Number of attacks, types of attacks, number of enemies defeated, number of enemies defeated simultaneously, amount of magic used, missed attacks, mounts used, food eaten.  I do commend Golden Axe for having a grading system, but I stand by my statement that it is a bit inscrutable.

I don't find Golden Axe that easy.

@Ikariniku - good to read some well thought out commentary on GA3 - I'm looking forward to digging into that one a bit more after reading what you wrote.  I would have to agree with Jerry, however, as far as the reverse attack.  I find myself not able to pull it off much in GA2, and when I do, half the time it gets countered by an enemy attack.  In GA1, however, I found it very useful, if timed correctly, to avoid getting "juggled" between two enemies.  With the way it's changed in GA2, that jumping portion which is the 2nd half of the move, leaves you vulnerable for a moment, and I usually get hit.  I suppose if I learned to time it right it would work better for me, but it seems strange that they'd change the move so much.

I was playing GA2 for a little while last night, and while I'm making progress, I'm finding that I'm struggling with it quite a bit.  Enemy AI is definitely a little better, and it seems like every time an enemy has an opportunity to get the drop on me with a dash attack while my back is turned and I'm taking down one of his compatriots, they do.  I'm trying to mitigate that as much as possible by not putting as much distance between the 2 enemies as possible, so they don't auto-dash, but it doesn't always work.  Also, I found that slowly creeping up the screen so you only get 1 or 2 out of a group of enemies, can be a useful tactic.  It's always easier to take out 1 or 2 at a time, rather than 3 or 4, so take advantage of those times when you can.  The last boss in GA2 is a real buttface - he keeps spawning skeletons, and of course, they get in the way so I can't attack the main boss.  He's smart enough to dodge dash attacks that aren't close range, and you have to be real quick on the draw in an angled attack, and hope the skeletons don't interrupt you part-way and leave you susceptible to either a magic attack, or his large axe swing.

You're totally right. My point is - it was 1989 and off the top of my head, this is the first game (or one of the first) that included a grading system. Mighty Final Fight came out 4 years later and is much more sophisticated.

If it did that, it would probably take away health (like most beat'em ups). Personally, I'm not a fan of that. I'd rather rely on positioning to use a power attack than the attack drain my health, but to each his own.

That's fine. I don't find engineering that easy :) But looking at a list of early Genesis games, I think most of the other ones are harder. Thunder Force II, Rambo III, Alex Kidd, Forgotten Worlds, Last Battle, Space Harrier II, Ghouls N Ghosts, Super Thunder Blade, etc.....All of those games are much harder than GA I. Hell, I think Super Mario Bros is way harder than GA I. But maybe that's me.

I don't think that Golden Axe is that easy in terms of you pick a game up for the first time and expect to beat it. But, once you learn techniques and how to exploit it, you are able to take much less damage and make it much further. A few examples:

(1) Enemies typically take 4 basic hits to take down. If you see an enemy coming behind you, you may need to stop beating on your current enemy and move before you get hit in the back. Your instincts make you want to finish an enemy, but a lot of times, it is better to move before you get ambushed. You still get damage credit for the hits even if you don't knock an enemy down, so that helps.

(2) The running charge is essential to master. You can take many of the big enemies out with it and not take damage. Sure, it takes longer to dispatch them, but it's worth it.

(3) Exploit the environment. Ledges are great for attacking enemies from below and it's a must to throw enemies in pits for a quick victory.

Excellent points, bananaman.  The thing that I've noticed with GA2 is, sometimes, despite feeling like I've executed the running charge correctly, I will get knocked back.  Case in point, the 2 mace-wielding buff bull dudes, when I'm charging from one to the other, left and right, sometimes I'll charge and get knocked back, and lose health, rather than connecting the attack.  It looks and feels like I'm executing the move right, and looks like maybe I'll hit them, but for whatever reason I get knocked back.  Anyone else notice/run into this?  I'm wondering if it's almost a Joust-type effect, whereby if I execute just a mite too soon, my character is lower than theirs when charging, and their character's positioning being higher, takes precedence.

Breaking from the current discussion...

I'd like to point out that I love the story and ending. I am not one for "movies" in my video games. The story breaks in between levels with a short paragraph are perfect in my eyes. The little map is very charming. The ending is great. I know I beat the bad guy and saved the day, I don't need more than a couple of sentences to confirm that. I prefer the creativeness of a full rundown of the roster (including stats!) and a clever way of displaying the credits - throw a ball of letters and let the enemy homerun them into words.

The whole thing is great. Not too much, not too little. Love it.

Completed GA1 yesterday.  Got my ass-kicked a little by Death Adder, so it made beating him a little hectic. I actually came close to not doing it.

I agree with singlebanana's assessment, it is essential to save as much health and lives as you can for the last fight.  This means doing as he says. Also get to know the different ways you can get rid of enemies. I believe on one stage, I knocked most enemies off the ledges, so that saved a lot of health. Some stages you can knock enemies off screen, and they will not return. I believe it is because they fell off a ledge off screen.

I sadly won't be able to get into GA3 because, I can't find the collection anywhere around here.  Maybe I can try some more places to see if I can find it, and play through it before recording the podcast.

Glad everyone is having a blast.

There's not a lot of reading comprehension going on in these playthrough threads, is there? I've noticed it in every playthrough since day 1. These threads aren't War & Peace. Just saying.

^^ Huh?  No comprende :P

I've half given up on GA2, because I've hit a wall, and can't seem to get through the final boss fight.  It's just frustration at this point, so I've moved on to GA3 for now.  There's a bit more nuance in the controls than I expected, as Ikariniku eluded to above.  I figured out how to pull off the downward thrust pretty well, and also the Down + Attack move that changes, based on the character you're using.  There are times when I've also used a block maneuver, though I'm not entirely sure what I did.  However, sometimes it backfires, and the enemies are already spamming me when the block runs out, so I need to look up and see how to properly pull that off to use it more strategically, and less haphazardly.  Also, I didn't realize the game had a double-jump until I saw it during the game's "attract" mode.  For those who said early on that the dragons/animals were crap - they're miles better in GA and GA2 than the tripe in this game.  I do like the dragon with fire that crawls the ground, but HOLY COW does it breathe slow, and leaves you wide open.  Almost not worth using in most cases, even the long-tongued bird mount deal, because enemies can jump-attack and get the drop on you more easily.  I do think the magic use is a half-step back, removing the charge ability found in GA2, and just arbitrarily using the highest level accumulated immediately, though I like the compromise of not using all pots for the top level spell, but only the number in that box.

Another thing worth mentioning is, I truly, deeply HATE the short incline sections.  Multiple "step" platforms are fine, because there's strategy there where you can slash away at enemies when they can't hit you, but those inclines are lousy.  It's difficult to gauge where you're at in relation to your enemy, and there have been numerous times where I thought I was right in front of an enemy, slashing away, and they're not taking any hits, but the moment they attack me, I'm taking damage.  The perspective is off, and I think that was a missed opportunity by SEGA, as it brings down an otherwise really solid game.  I like the branching paths, and I've noticed that the upper path appears to be the easier of the two, at least as far as I've played.  I made it to the final area on my first time with Ax Battler, taking the upper path all the way.  I took the lower path the second time, and noticed it seemed a fair bit harder.  I also played as Tyris last night, and quite like her move set, including the Down + Attack slide move, which has proven effective against bosses and some of the larger enemies.  I haven't delved into the 2 new characters yet, but GA3 is definitely the kind of leap from GA2 that Streets of Rage 3 SHOULD have been over its predecessor, much like SoR2 was to SoR.  Save for the incline/perspective issue, I'd say GA3 is the strongest in the series, from a design, replayability, and overall feel perspective.  The original still has a lot of charm to it, but it's really a shame that GA3 didn't get a proper US physical release.  I would be tempted to buy a repro of GA3, assuming someone has (or would) put one out.

The block maneuver in GA 3 is done by pressing back+attack.  I really hate that because often I just want to attack the enemy behind me, so I press back and attack in an effort to turn around and attack the enemy, and end up blocking in the opposite direction instead, resulting in me getting hit.

I agree with most of your points though.  I also really dislike the mounts in GA 3, and had similar frustrations with the incline parts.

Glad to have someone on my side about Golden Axe III.  No need to bother with repros, though.  Just get a Japanese cart and use a Game Genie with the codes:

BT7T-CA9E
AA7T-CA9R

I've mentioned these codes before, but I double checked that they would work in a Genesis with the TMSS lock out, and they do.

Well...... We record the Golden Axe segment tonight gents. Should be a good time. We will have 5 people on the recording: myself, Fleach, Disposed Hero, this month's co-host, Fokakis79, and my co-op buddy and creator of our intro/outro Playcast theme, Cameron Johnson from Atma Weapon.

I would assume they'd work in a JVC X'Eye as well, wouldn't you think?  That's my primary Genesis unit right now on my main TV.  I think nostalgia plays a bit part in why people like GA the most, or for some, GA2, but I think objectively speaking, GA3 has the most going for it.

So we recorded the Golden Axe podcast last night and had a really fun time. I was initially worried about having 5 people on at one time, but it was really fun and like a big 2 hour party. Yes, we spoke about these games for 2 hours! It is that in-depth. I think how much fun we had will come across in the podcast.  I won't give too much away, but I will say that Macaulay Culkin would be quite impressed.

#GoldenAxeHomeAloneGateIsReal

In regards to the GA 3 debate, we discussed it quite a bit in the podcast, but I think the fact that it bears the name Golden Axe without really resembling the other games in the series could have easily skewed peoples expectations and resulted in some of the backlash that the game received.  However, Golden Axe: Revenge of Death Adder for the Arcade also doesn't resemble the first two games, and it is very highly regarded, although I haven't played it myself.

So doing my best to judge GA 3 on its own merits and not as a Golden Axe game, I still find it to be a good but not great beat 'em up.  One of my biggest complaints is that artistically the game seems incredibly bland and generic.  I feel like the art style of the first two games is oozing with character, and you can immediately recognize those games as Golden Axe.  The character and enemy sprites in 3 just felt really generic, and save for a couple of levels, most of the levels felt bland also.

As far as gameplay goes, GA 3 is much more ambitious than the previous games, and I think they had some really great ideas, but it feels like the execution of those ideas was lacking.  For me, the biggest problem was that most of the techniques in the game required certain button combinations that either made them difficult to pull off or resulted in them often registering by accident.  I can't tell you how many times I accidentally used the block and sweep moves while I was just simply trying to walk and attack at the same time.  The controls felt hampered by the limitations of the Genesis controller (only 3 buttons), and having more buttons for things like a dedicated Block button would have greatly improved the gameplay in my opinion.

That being said, I do think GA 3 commonly catches more flak than it deserves.  Playing this on the Sonic's Ultimate Genesis Collection on my PS3, I was likely experiencing some input lag from my HDTV, and I also think the PS3 controller doesn't lend itself as well to these types of games as an old-school controller like the Genesis.  I think if I could track down an original Japanese cart and play it on legitimate hardware, my opinion of the game would likely improve.

I can't confirm this, personally, but a quick internet search says that, yes, the Game Genie codes will allow the Japanese GAIII to play in an X'Eye.  While the X'Eye's cartridge slot can accommodate MD carts, the cart's region lock will still lock you out without the Game Genie and codes.


I agree, and I'll go into some detail below...


I definitely agree here.  GA and GAII established a unique feel for the Golden Axe series, and GAIII broke from that.  While I feel this break improved and advanced the game, perhaps more could have been done to keep some of that original GA feel.  Sure, you can still dash attack to your heart's content, but much of the game feels like a SoR game.


I can't really agree here.  I find the art in GA and GAII to be much more bland and generic than GAIII.  Little touches like Proud Cragger's broken shackles interest me much more than Thunderhead's green tunic.  I think the biggest factor in why the PCs may not feel like GA PCs is because they are different characters.  GAIII trades out the recognizable heroes for new ones.  However, those elements that remain the same (enemies, mounts, level design) do feel like the next step in GA art design.  Compared to hack and slashers like Knights of the Round and King of Dragons, I can immediately pick out GAIII as having its own style.


As a rule, I am against blocking.  If you have time to block in a beat 'em up, you have time to attack.  That said, I hadn't had any problem with accidental blocking until this playthrough.  I blame it on still being in "GA mode", where you constantly have to pivot and attack as enemies swarm you from both sides and you don't have the mobility to escape.  My usual style in GAIII is more deliberate, methodical grapples and dashes.  A dedicated block button would alleviate any input confusion (and allow me to fully ignore it).


I always recommend playing beat 'em ups on original hardware.  Any amount of video or input lag will cause you to have a bad time.  Any emulation, no matter how good, can really negatively impact the beat 'em up experience.

So I finally played GA III and I think it is the worse of the bunch.  It just doesn't feel right and doesn't play the same.

We go into the differences of all the games in the podcast, which I highly recommend listening to. We all kind of came away with a lot of the same sentiments that Disposed describes above:

(1) For most, if not all of us, this was our first time playing it, so the familiarity wasn't there;
(2) We have to look at it on it's own and more objectively as opposed to considering it as a "Golden Axe" game;
(3) It became a more enjoyable game the more I played it and was more fun in co-op for sure; and
(4) None of us played it on the original hardware and experienced some HD lag.

Still, the game has its merits and some of the things they did with it stylistically are inventive and should be recognized. It's my least favorite of the bunch, but again, I've spent a lot more time with the other two and have some great memories with the earlier games in the series.

I agree with Disposed somewhat when he says, "Golden Axe: Revenge of Death Adder for the Arcade also doesn't resemble the first two games, and it is very highly regarded." This is true in that it does not have the same characters from the original game, but that is pretty much the only major difference. Having played it a good deal, I can confirm that it still plays and feels like a Golden Axe game.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ttyW_HX4VvI

Also, something I would like to mention that we completely forgot to talk about with Golden Axe III was rescuing humans. When you free a captive, you are rewarded with an ankh. When you get an ankh, it appears under your character's life bar. Once you collect five, you get an extra life; you have to collect another five to get more.  This was a neat addition to the game, which I appreciate, especially in 1P mode.

Totally agree on this point - it added much needed relief to you, especially if you could hold out long enough to get 5 in a row.  Huge lifesaver (pun intended), and a welcome new feature.