Golden Axe Warrior review - Sega Master System

Urrr! Golden Axe was a brilliant Sega cart, but the idea to turn the concept into a role-playing game is simply a bad idea. I can imagine many people buying this game with the idea that they're getting a sequel to the best beat 'em up on the Sega. They're not. What they are getting is one of the most boring games I've played on the Sega lately. The adventuring aspect is tedious and progress is hampered by the absurd combat section - it's simply too hard and stabbing at a number of malformed sprites isn't my idea of fun by a long chalk. With its mind-numbing sound and tedious gameplay, I find it hard to recommend this to any self-respecting Sega owner.

Don't be misled by the "Golden Axe" in the title of this game, because this has got absolutely nothing in common with Golden axe, the brilliant beat 'em up conversion. Golden Axe Warrior is a tedious role playing game with very little action. It starts out with promise, but unfortunately the rather unexciting gameplay - there are long periods where you have little to do - coupled with the awkward combat sequences make for a game that doesn't take long before it gets very dull. Some role playing fans might find some fun in there, but there are plenty of better games of this type - try Y's or Lord of the Sword instead. Arcade fans should steer well clear.

The Mean Machines crew didn't seem to like the idea of turning Golden Axe into an RPG, but Sega were actually ahead of their time with this concept - since then, several key companies have given their franchises the role-playing makeover, most notably SNK's Samurai Showdown/Spirits. However, the MM team were spot-on with their critical appraisal of this game. It's a mess.

Sega were clearly trying to mimic Zelda, and the graphical style is very similar. The superior graphical muscle of the Master System is used to good effect and as a result this eclipses Zelda on the NES in terms of visuals. However, the game is too clunky, the combat is too annoying and the quest just isn't interesting enough. There are far better RPGs on the Master System, including Y's: Vanished Omens, Golvellius and Wonderboy: The Dragon's Trap. Avoid this one, even if you are a massive fan of the Golden Axe series.