| Golden Axe III | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Developer | Sega |
| Publisher | Sega |
| Designers | Kazuma Fujii Takashi Iizuka |
| Composers | Naofumi Hataya Tatsuyuki Maeda Haruyo Oguro |
| Series | Golden Axe |
| Platform | Sega Genesis |
| Release | |
| Genre | Beat 'em up |
| Modes | Single-player,multiplayer |
Golden Axe III[a] is a 1993beat 'em up game developed and published bySega for theSega Genesis. Originally exclusively released in Japan, it was made available in North America via theSega Channel online service in 1995.[2] In this sequel toGolden Axe II, players control one of four warriors as they attempt to defeat the evil Damud Hellstrike, who has stolen the legendary Golden Axe and kidnapped the princess of Yuria. Much like its predecessors, the game is based aroundside-scrolling levels where players defeat enemies via their melee weapon or fists, while riding creatures known as Bizarrans, or through elemental magic. Several new offensive and defensive moves, such as blocking and projectile attacks, can also be used.
The game received negative reviews, being criticized for a lack of innovation and originality, as well as the graphics, which were seen as a downgrade from its predecessors.Golden Axe III has been re-released as part of theSega Genesis Collection forPlayStation 2 andPlayStation Portable,Sonic's Ultimate Genesis Collection forXbox 360 andPlayStation 3, digitally on theWiiVirtual Console, and in theSega Genesis Classics compilation.
Damud Hellstrike, the Prince of Darkness, has taken away the Golden Axe, kidnapped the princess of Yuria, transformed the king into a humanoidGriffin minion named Eve, and put an evil curse over all of the warriors. However, one of the heroes has their curse relieved by thedwarf, Gillius Thunderhead, from theoriginal game, and is sent to set everything straight by lifting the curse off the others, defeating the villain and returning with the Golden Axe.
The gameplay has been expanded slightly, but is essentially the samehack n' slash as the previous games. New features to the series include new characters, new moves (special attacks, teamwork attacks and teamwork magic spells) and junction points where the player can choose which path to take.
The five characters include agiant, Proud Cragger, a humanoid blackpanther, Chronos "Evil" Rait, along with a swordsman, Kain Grinder, who resembles Ax Battler, and a swordswoman, Sarah Burn, who resembles Tyris Flare.[3] Gilius Thunderhead is the only character who appears from previous games, though he is not playable and only shows up during cutscenes. Kain Grinder and Sarah Burn are referred to as Ax Battler and Tyris Flare respectively in theSega Channel localization of the game.[citation needed]
Golden Axe III has many new moves, including blocking, sweep attacks, projectile attacks, defensive and offensive special attacks, and an updated grappling system. Furthermore, there are several abilities unique to certain characters: Proud possesses an airslam throw that does severe damage, while Chronos and Sarah can double jump and wall jump. InCooperative multiplayer mode, the characters can perform team attacks similar to a human slingshot. Finally, each character has a super move that sends a projectile across the screen (except in the case of Chronos who leaps across the screen in an unstoppable lunging attack).
Some features that were removed in the second game were brought back inGolden Axe III. The mischievous gnomes from the original game that carried magic potions and food have returned in place of the enemy mages from the second game. Extra lives can be earned by freeing a certain number of prisoners scattered throughout the levels. Some prisoners are trapped in barrels or stuck in crystal cells while others are guarded by an enemy that must be slain in order to free them. The magic system returned to the original version fromGolden Axe, with characters using all collected magic potions every time, rather than allowing the player to choose how much magic to use by charging the magic meter like inGolden Axe II. The characters can use devastating new spells with combined casting. Each character does the same max magic damage.
The mounts inGolden Axe III have turned into a hybrid snail-ostrich, instead of the chicken-leg or the dragon-raptors in the previous games. The mounts are known as Bizarrans. There are four types of Bizarrans inGolden Axe III. The firewave Bizarran is a Red Dragon that fires a fast moving wave of flame across the screen. The purple Snail uses its tongue to attack, the green Snail is a more powerful version with a longer tongue, and the Green Dragon bites and throws enemies over its shoulder.
The game also features a VS mode where two players can choose between all the regular playable boss characters, as well as theBoss character, Eve, and battle other characters one on one. This mode can also be played in single player against AI opponents. In the regular mode, players are able to choose their own route to the golden axe. If the player defeats the last boss and they have a high enough score, they may get the good ending and fight Damud Hellstrike's second form.
| Aggregator | Score |
|---|---|
| GameRankings | SMD: 53%[4] |
| Metacritic | iOS: 60/100[5] |
| Publication | Score |
|---|---|
| IGN | 5/10 |
| Megatech | 55%[6] |
In a feature on the game,Electronic Gaming Monthly commented, "Sega of Japan is not going to release this title here in the States - and for good reasons! The graphics are by far some of the most plain looking on the Mega Drive. Plus, the new magic effects aren't as impressive as before. So, if you are considering purchasing this title from an overseas seller, don't waste your bucks!"[7]
IGN gave the Virtual Console release a 5 out of 10, saying "Legend has it that SEGA thought the quality of the product was so low, that it would be worthless or, worse, damaging to even publish the game in the States. And whether or not that's actually true, the quality assessment at its heart is on target – becauseGolden Axe III is certainly the worst of its franchise trilogy." LikeElectronic Gaming Monthly, they described the graphics as bland and ugly, and particularly criticized that the gameplay showed no advancement from the firstGolden Axe, even removing some of the advancements seen inGolden Axe II.[8]
