Old-School Challenge Pt. 4 2/2 ~Golden Axe 2~

Hey folks, Krismas here bringing you the second part to my Golden Axe adventures! Join me and our very own Phire as we tackle the sequel to the beloved Golden Axe. As I am not one to waste time I am going to jump right into it. Get your gear in check ‘cause here we go!
Originally released in 1991 as a Sega Genesis exclusive title, Golden Axe II has our three heroes returning for another quest to rid the world of evil. Peace had been restored after the fight with Death Adder and the return of the Golden Axe, a peace that would last for some years uninterrupted. Unbeknownst to everyone, the evil Dark Guld, a fearsome lord of darkness who had been imprisoned for destroying entire countries and spreading chaos over the world, had escaped and has stolen the Golden Axe in order to use its power for his evil deeds. Gillius Thunderhaed, Ax Battler, and Tyris Flare join forces again in order to put a stop to Guld’s plans.
The control scheme remains virtually unchanged from the first game and the same repertoire of moves is at your disposal for this title. Instead of giving you new techniques or abilities and attacks, the developers focused on improving what you already had access to. The magic system was remodeled so you can choose what level of magic you want to do by holding down the button as opposed to releasing all your magic bottles in one shot. These were also given new animations as they changed the elements that Gillius and Ax controlled. The other change comes in the form of new back attacks. These attacks were given completely new animations as well and are far more useful since they now attack both behind and ahead of you making crowds a tad easier to deal with.

Despite being a tough game to beat, this title does not match its predecessors’ difficulty even when comparing hard modes between the two. This is mostly because the small changes in attacks and magic benefit you far more than it would initially seem. The other half to this equation is that the amount of troublesome enemies has gone down considerably and bosses only being moderately threatening if you fight them right.

Your two biggest problems do come in the same shape as the previous game however. Yes, bring out your glass of Mad Juice as the skeletons return in full force. While not as damaging in this game, they have an anti-air and the same nonsensical reach they’ve always had. The main difference in this title is that there are way more skeletons strewn about. It is as if Dark Guld took the remains of Adder’s dead henchman and enchanted them with the power of douchebaggery. Of course, assuming you got through the legions of skeledouches, you have to face the brains behind the whole operation, Dark Guld himself. Remember how Adder came equipped with skeletons and can use magic just like you could? Well this guy took notes on that. The difference is, he can spawn an infinite number of skeletons to do his bidding as opposed to having only a few to help around. Combine that with his free damage magic, powerful axe swipe with incredible range, and high amount of health and you end up with one very annoying and difficult fight. Surviving this fight with minimal damage taken is quite a feat with so much gunning against you, especially if you are playing alone.

Though the game is indeed easier, Sega took the time to deliver a great gaming experience. Much like the original, GA2 provides some very catchy and enjoyable tunes to listen to as you slash through enemies. Improved graphics give you fewer eyesores to frown at. It is every bit as fun as the first game and just as exciting. This is a definite must-have for you classic conniseurs.
This is Krismas returning to his simple life of waiting for the next world catastrophy to correct. Join me next week as I lay down my axe and magic tomes in exchange for kunai and ninpo. FIYAHAY!