Battle Axe (2021)

Battle Axe is a fun little action game, albeit on the short side and no replay value. The gameplay is simplistic and easy to pick up play. Boss battles, while straight forward, are pretty fun and require some decent reflex. The game’s best selling point is definitely it’s 2 player co-op mode as we could always use more of those. Given it’s shortness and lack of replay value, shelling out $29.99/£24.99 feels a bit too much. Wait for a sale and enjoy an hour or so of button mashing.

Putting rage aside and taking a sip from the golden goblet Battle Axe brings you a fight that feels nostalgic and new. The overarching feeling of picking up a game that you feel will not live up to the classics it takes inspiration from will not last long. Henk Nieborg and Bitmap Bureau Ltd have not just brought you “yet another pixel art game based on a retro classic”. They have brought you a title that not only looks beautiful but plays really well and is extremely enjoyable!

No coins are necessary when taking on the difficult challenge that is Battle Axe. It’s visually and audibly stellar, likely to please anyone looking for a hit of nostalgia. However, the promised features and improvements of the PS5 version are missing and half the game doesn’t work as intended. With that said, the core gameplay is adrenaline fuelled and satisfying, hacking up the overall fun factor.

Battle Axe is a top-down hack and slash adventure developed by talented pixel artist Henk Nieborg. Having worked on many games in the past such as Wizard of Legend, Shantae and the Pirate’s Curse, and Xeno Crisis, there is no doubt that the development team has plenty of experience working in the field. Does this experience come through in Battle Axe? Find out in this Rapid Review.

Unfortunately, the game has failed to provide "a completely arcade experience." Large flaws ranging from game cameras to controllers and lack of ability to set them up will damage the arcade gameplay of the game.