Golden Axe II

From Sega Retro

n/a

GoldenAxe2 Title.png

Golden Axe II
GoldenAxe2 iOS icon.png
System(s): Sega Mega Drive, Virtual Console, iOS, Steam
Publisher: Sega
Developer:
Genre: Action

















Number of players: 1-2
Release Date RRP Code
Sega Mega Drive
JP 		¥6,0006,000 G-4062
Sega Mega Drive
US 		1122
Sega Mega Drive
EU 		1122
Sega Mega Drive
AU
Sega Mega Drive
AU
(Gold) 		FGOL15SMC
Sega Mega Drive
BR
Sega Mega Drive
KR 		GM4024JG
Wii Virtual Console
JP ▼ 		600pts600
Wii Virtual Console
US ▼ 		800pts800
Wii Virtual Console
EU ▼ 		800pts800
iOS
JP ▼
iOS
US ▼ 		$2.992.99
CERO
Missing Parameter!

Golden Axe II (ゴールデンアックスII) is a 1991 beat-em-up and the direct sequel to the critically acclaimed Golden Axe. Unlike that game, Golden Axe II is a Sega Mega Drive exclusive, though it has since been re-released as part of numerous Mega Drive compilations. The game features Ax-Battler, Tyris-Flare, and Gilius Thunderhead once again, as they face the new foe "Dark Guld".

It is extremely similar to the previous game, with various changes. For this reason, Golden Axe II has received mixed reviews from critics; many claim the game is merely a re-hash of the previous entry in the series, and that very little is added to the core gameplay. Though some have praised the graphics and music, others have criticised the game's sound effects which are said to detract from the atmosphere of the game.

Gameplay

B is used for attacking and C for jumping, just like in the prequel. Pushing B+C together is now used to perform an all-around-attack rather than a backwards focused attack. Double tapping a direction makes the character run, pushing B while running results in a charge attack. A is used to cast magic. This consumes magic books (replacing potions from the prequel) which have to be collected first. Magic books are dropped by wizards. The strength of the magic attack is determined by the time the A button is held down, but this can be changed in the options screen.

Various game balance related changes have been made. Enemies could be trapped in endless charge attacks loops in the prequel. This is not possible anymore as two consecutive charge attacks trigger a short invincibility window. The previously exploitable jumping attacks have also been tone down in strength, certain enemy types such as lizardmen and claw wielding enemies can also effectively defend against these attacks.

When playing on the lowest difficulty setting, the game ends prematurely. The final boss can only be faced when playing on normal or above. The highest difficulty setting adds new enemies to increase challenge.

At the end of the game, score and a rank is awarded based on the number of enemies defeated and lives lost.

The Duel mode from the original Golden Axe makes a return. Predetermined enemies have to be defeated in an arena.

This game behaves strangely when played with the 6 button controller: Movements are mapped to X,Y,Z and  MODE . Holding down  MODE  while the game is starting removes this problem. Strangely enough, emulators don't seem to have such problem.

All versions of the ROM are identical. The ROM contains no region specific data and can be played on any system

History

Legacy

On the Mega Drive, Golden Axe II was followed by Golden Axe III.

Emulated versions of the game were released for the Wii Virtual Console, Steam and iOS. The iOS version was removed from sale on iTunes in 2015.[5]

Production credits

Source:
In-game credits

Artwork

  • GoldenAxe2 Artwork.jpg

Magazine articles

Main article: Golden Axe II/Magazine articles.

Promotional material

  • GoldenAxeII MD US PrintAdvert.jpg

    US print advert

  • JP TV advert

  • GoldenAxeII MD ES PrintAdvert.jpg

    ES print advert

Digital manuals

  • Steam manual

Physical scans

Mega Drive version

Sega Retro Average 
Publication Score Source
78 №54, p67[6]
78 №121, p48-50[1]
80 №30, p52-53[7]
80 №37
86 №40, p134[8]
90 №6, p46-49[9]
78 №4
82 №22, p160/161[10]
65 №3, p79[11]
92 №9, p20
90 №1, p64
69 №15, p142-144[12]
86 №16, p56/57[13]
93 №3/92, p86[14]
74 №3/92, p132
81 №27, p28/29
76 №4, p52/53[15]
78 №13, p22/23
75 №18, p65
88 №1, p89[16]
84 №2, p68/69[17]
74 №1/92, p31[18]
Sega Mega Drive
 81
Based on
22 reviews
Sega Retro Average 
Publication Version Score
1700 igr dlya Sega (RU)
50
[19]
ACE (UK) NTSC
78
[6]
Ação Games (BR)
75
[20]
Aktueller Software Markt (DE)
68
[21]
Beep! MegaDrive (JP) NTSC-J
73
[22]
Console XS (UK) PAL
75
[23]
Cool Gamer (RU)
50
[24]
Computer & Video Games (UK)
78
[1]
Electronic Gaming Monthly (US) NTSC-U
73
[25]
Entsiklopediya luchshikh igr Sega. Vypusk 1 (RU)
60
[26]
Entsiklopediya luchshikh igr Sega. Vypusk 9 (RU)
80
[27]
Mean Machines: The Essential Sega Guide (UK)
61
[28]
Famitsu (JP) NTSC-J
68
[29]
GamePro (US) NTSC-U
80
[7]
Gamers (DE)
67
[30]
Games-X (UK)
80
[31]
Génération 4 (FR)
86
[8]
Hippon Super (JP) NTSC-J
60
[32]
Hobby Consolas (ES)
90
[9]
Joypad (FR)
78
[33]
Joystick (FR)
82
[10]
Sega Mega Drive Advanced Gaming (UK)
65
[11]
Sega Mega Drive Advanced Gaming (UK) PAL
65
[34]
Mega Drive Fan (JP) NTSC-J
77
[35]
Mega (UK) PAL
92
[36]
Mega (UK) PAL
62
[37]
Mega Action (UK)
90
[38]
Mega Force (FR) PAL
80
[39]
Mega Play (US) NTSC-U
58
[40]
Micromanía (segunda época) (ES)
70
[41]
Mean Machines (UK)
69
[12]
Mean Machines Sega (UK)
69
[42]
Player One (FR)
86
[13]
Play Time (DE)
93
[14]
Power Play (DE)
74
[43]
Sega Power (UK) PAL
81
[44]
Sega Pro (UK) PAL
76
[15]
Sega Pro (UK) PAL
78
[45]
Sega Pro (UK) PAL
75
[46]
Sega Force Mega (UK)
88
[16]
Sega Force (UK) PAL
84
[17]
Sega Mega Drive Review (RU)
70
[47]
Sega Saturn Magazine (JP) NTSC-J
72
[48]
Tricks 16 bit (RU)
55
[49]
User (GR) PAL
87
[50]
Video Games (DE)
74
[18]
Sega Mega Drive
 74
Based on
46 reviews

Golden Axe II

Mega Drive, US
GoldenAxe2 MD US Box.jpg
Cover
Goldenaxeii md us cart.jpg
Cart
Goldenaxe2 md us manual.pdf
Manual
Mega Drive, EU
GoldenAxe2 MD EU Box.jpg
Cover
GoldenAxeII MD EU Cart.jpg
Cart
Golden Axe II MD EU Manual.pdf
Manual
Mega Drive, JP
GoldenAxe2 MD JP Box.jpg
Cover
GoldenAxeII MD JP CartTop.jpg
GoldenAxe2 MD JP Cart.jpg
Cart
Goldenaxe2 md jp manual.pdf
Manual
Mega Drive, AU

Mega Drive, AU (Sega Gold Collection)
GoldenAxe2 MD AU Box Gold.jpg
Cover
Mega Drive, BR
Goldenaxeii md br cover.jpg
Cover
GoldenAxeII MD BR Cart.jpg
Cart
Goldenaxeii md br manual.pdf
Manual
Mega Drive, KR
GoldenAxe2 MD KR Box.jpg
Cover
GoldenAxeII MD KR cart.jpg
Cart
Mega Drive, SE (Rental)
GoldenAxeII MD SE Box Rental.jpg
Cover

Mega Play version

Mega Play,
GoldenAxeII MegaPlay Box.jpg
Cover

Technical information

ROM dump status

System Hash Size Build Date Source Comments
Sega Mega Drive
✔
CRC32 725e0a18
MD5 2cd3573172961fa52f622f14ccff4e1a
SHA-1 31f12a21af018cdf88b3f2170af5389b84fba7e7
512kB 1991-10 Cartridge (US/EU/JP)
Sega Mega Drive
 ?
CRC32 e62ea1bb
MD5 b27a54c8ac3671e72e853875ef6073eb
SHA-1 97e49394321e97b8488e6cf57bade4dc20aec0f4
512kB

External links

References

  1. ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 File:CVG UK 121.pdf, page 48 Cite error: Invalid <ref> tag; name ":File:CVG UK 121.pdf_p48" defined multiple times with different content
  2. ↑ File:GamePro US 030.pdf, page 57
  3. ↑ File:Supergame BR 07.pdf, page 26
  4. ↑ http://www.4gamer.net/games/049/G004989/20110422074/
  5. ↑ http://www.polygon.com/2015/5/18/8622645/sega-pulls-games-from-itunes-app-store-google-play
  6. ↑ 6.0 6.1 File:ACE UK 54.pdf, page 67 Cite error: Invalid <ref> tag; name ":File:ACE UK 54.pdf_p67" defined multiple times with different content
  7. ↑ 7.0 7.1 File:GamePro US 030.pdf, page 56 Cite error: Invalid <ref> tag; name ":File:GamePro US 030.pdf_p56" defined multiple times with different content
  8. ↑ 8.0 8.1 File:Generation4 FR 040.pdf, page 134 Cite error: Invalid <ref> tag; name ":File:Generation4 FR 040.pdf_p134" defined multiple times with different content
  9. ↑ 9.0 9.1 File:HobbyConsolas ES 006.pdf, page 46 Cite error: Invalid <ref> tag; name ":File:HobbyConsolas ES 006.pdf_p46" defined multiple times with different content
  10. ↑ 10.0 10.1 File:Joystick FR 022.pdf, page 160 Cite error: Invalid <ref> tag; name ":File:Joystick FR 022.pdf_p160" defined multiple times with different content
  11. ↑ 11.0 11.1 File:MDAG UK 03.pdf, page 79 Cite error: Invalid <ref> tag; name ":File:MDAG UK 03.pdf_p79" defined multiple times with different content
  12. ↑ 12.0 12.1 File:MeanMachines UK 15.pdf, page 144 Cite error: Invalid <ref> tag; name ":File:MeanMachines UK 15.pdf_p144" defined multiple times with different content
  13. ↑ 13.0 13.1 File:PlayerOne FR 016.pdf, page 56 Cite error: Invalid <ref> tag; name ":File:PlayerOne FR 016.pdf_p56" defined multiple times with different content
  14. ↑ 14.0 14.1 File:PlayTime DE 1992-03.pdf, page 86 Cite error: Invalid <ref> tag; name ":File:PlayTime DE 1992-03.pdf_p86" defined multiple times with different content
  15. ↑ 15.0 15.1 File:SegaPro UK 04.pdf, page 52 Cite error: Invalid <ref> tag; name ":File:SegaPro UK 04.pdf_p52" defined multiple times with different content
  16. ↑ 16.0 16.1 File:SegaForceMega UK 01.pdf, page 89 Cite error: Invalid <ref> tag; name ":File:SegaForceMega UK 01.pdf_p89" defined multiple times with different content
  17. ↑ 17.0 17.1 File:SegaForce UK 02.pdf, page 68 Cite error: Invalid <ref> tag; name ":File:SegaForce UK 02.pdf_p68" defined multiple times with different content
  18. ↑ 18.0 18.1 File:VideoGames DE 1992-01.pdf, page 31 Cite error: Invalid <ref> tag; name ":File:VideoGames DE 1992-01.pdf_p31" defined multiple times with different content
  19. ↑ 1700 igr dlya Sega, "" (RU; 2001-xx-xx), page 90
  20. ↑ Ação Games, "Fevereiro 1992" (BR; 1992-02-xx), page 30
  21. ↑ Aktueller Software Markt, "März 1992" (DE; 1992-02-14), page 115
  22. ↑ Beep! MegaDrive, "January 1992" (JP; 1991-12-07), page 82
  23. ↑ Console XS, "June/July 1992" (UK; 1992-04-23), page 130
  24. ↑ Cool Gamer, "9" (RU; 2002-10-13), page 93
  25. ↑ Electronic Gaming Monthly, "April 1992" (US; 1992-xx-xx), page 28
  26. ↑ Entsiklopediya luchshikh igr Sega. Vypusk 1, "" (RU; 1999-xx-xx), page 319
  27. ↑ Entsiklopediya luchshikh igr Sega. Vypusk 9, "" (RU; 2002-xx-xx), page 132
  28. ↑ Mean Machines: The Essential Sega Guide, "" (UK; 1993-11-18), page 53
  29. ↑ Famitsu, "1992-01-03" (JP; 1991-12-20), page 43
  30. ↑ Gamers, "Februar/März 1992" (DE; 1992-xx-xx), page 30
  31. ↑ Games-X, "9th-15th January 1992" (UK; 1992-01-09), page 26
  32. ↑ Hippon Super, "January 1992" (JP; 1991-12-04), page 90
  33. ↑ Joypad, "Janvier 1992" (FR; 1991-12-1x), page 78
  34. ↑ Sega Mega Drive Advanced Gaming, "January 1993" (UK; 199x-xx-xx), page 92
  35. ↑ Mega Drive Fan, "March 1992" (JP; 1992-02-08), page 83
  36. ↑ Mega, "June 1993" (UK; 1993-05-20), page 20
  37. ↑ Mega, "July 1993" (UK; 1993-06-17), page 34
  38. ↑ Mega Action, "June 1993" (UK; 1993-05-20), page 64
  39. ↑ Mega Force, "Janvier 1992" (FR; 1992-01-15), page 88
  40. ↑ Mega Play, "March/April 1992" (US; 1992-0x-xx), page 62
  41. ↑ Micromanía (segunda época), "Marzo 1992" (ES; 1992-0x-xx), page 36
  42. ↑ Mean Machines Sega, "October 1992" (UK; 1992-09-xx), page 139
  43. ↑ Power Play, "3/92" (DE; 1992-02-12), page 132
  44. ↑ Sega Power, "February 1992" (UK; 1992-01-02), page 28
  45. ↑ Sega Pro, "November 1992" (UK; 1992-10-08), page 22
  46. ↑ Sega Pro, "April 1993" (UK; 1993-03-11), page 65
  47. ↑ Sega Mega Drive Review, "1" (RU; 1995-04-03), page 61
  48. ↑ Sega Saturn Magazine, "September 1995" (JP; 1995-08-08), page 86
  49. ↑ Tricks 16 bit, "Tricks Sega Gold 800 igr" (RU; 1998-03-20), page 16
  50. ↑ User, "Máios 1992" (GR; 1992-0x-xx), page 84



Gilius Thunder Head punching sprite Golden Axe series of games
Arcade
 Golden Axe (1989) | Golden Axe: The Revenge of Death Adder (1992) | Golden Axe: The Duel (1994) | Golden Axe (slot machine) (2010)
Sega Mega Drive
 Golden Axe (1989) | Golden Axe II (1991) | Golden Axe III (1993)
Sega Master System
 Golden Axe (1989) | Golden Axe Warrior (1991)
Windows PC
 Golden Axe (1990)
LCD handheld game
 Electronic Golden Axe (1990)
Sega Game Gear
 Ax Battler: A Legend of Golden Axe (1991)
Sega Saturn
 Golden Axe: The Duel (1995)
Sony PlayStation 2
 Sega Ages 2500 Series Vol. 5: Golden Axe (2003)
Xbox 360
Sony PlayStation 3
 Golden Axe: Beast Rider (2008)
iOS
Google Android OS
 Golden Axe (2009) | Golden Axe (2017)
Xbox Live Arcade
 Sega Vintage Collection: Golden Axe (2012)
Steam
 Golden Axed: A Cancelled Prototype (2020)
Golden Axe related media
Music
 Golden Axe I & II (2016)
Book
 Sega Mega Drive Attack Manual Book Tatsujin & Golden Axe (1990) | Golden Axe (1992) | Golden Axe: Beast Rider Official Strategy Guide (2008) | The Art of Golden Axe: Beast Rider (2008)
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