Golden Axe II

Golden Axe II is a fantasy side-scrolling beat 'em up created by SEGA in 1991 as a sequel to one of the most famous arcades of all time.

While the original Golden Axe was first released as a coin-op and then ported to several home computers and consoles, Golden Axe II was created for the SEGA Genesis / Mega Drive and was never ported to other home consoles or computers. Golden Axe 2 was a Genesis exclusive.

The reception was not so positive, many criticized the lack of originality. Golden Axe II is more of an enhanced version rather than a sequel. But "enhanced version" means there are improvements, right? In fact, there are quite a few of them: you can now decide the amount of mana you want to use for your magic; the spells are different (the dwarf has a kind of earthquake, which is much more appropriate); the back attack is now more powerful; enemy AI is a bit better (not exceptional), and you can decide where to throw the enemies. The gameplay is also faster, and the controls are more responsive.

Add to this a new Duel mode, which will put you in an arena where you can challenge the computer or your friend. This is interesting for the players missing a competitive mode.

Golden Axe was hack 'n' slash at its best, and this sequel is faithful to the formula, just better. If you prefer the original, nobody will complain, but you should also try this one. The choice is yours!