Machine Guides

Game History

Golden Axe is a side-scrolling beat 'em up arcade game developed by Sega AM1 and released in 1989, running on the Sega System 16B hardware. The game was primarily developed by Makoto Uchida, who had previously created Altered Beast, and took approximately one year to develop with a small team.

The game's storyline follows three warriors—Ax Battler, Gilius Thunderhead, and Tyris Flare—seeking revenge against the tyrannical Death Adder, who has taken over the fantasy land of Yuria and murdered their friend Alex. Players control one of these characters as they battle through enemies to ultimately confront Death Adder and recover the legendary Golden Axe.

Golden Axe was a commercial success, becoming the second most successful table arcade cabinet in Japan in July 1989 and the 18th highest-grossing arcade game of that year in Japan. In the United States, it was the highest-grossing arcade game of January 1990.

The success of Golden Axe spawned a franchise with several sequels, including Golden Axe II (1991), Golden Axe: The Duel (1994), and Golden Axe: The Revenge (1992), though the latter saw limited arcade exposure. The original characters have made cameo appearances in other Sega games, including Alien Storm.

How to Play

Objectives

The main goal of Golden Axe is to progress through the fantasy land of Yuria and defeat the tyrannical Death Adder to rescue the King and Princess and recover the legendary Golden Axe. You can play as one of three characters—Ax Battler, Gilius Thunderhead, or Tyris Flare—each with different abilities. The game emphasizes beat 'em up combat with fantasy elements.

Controls

• Joystick: Use the joystick to move your character left and right and up and down
• Attack Button: Press to perform standard attacks with your character's weapon
• Jump Button: Press to jump and perform jumping attacks
• Magic Button: Press to cast magic spells (consumes magic potions)

Gameplay

• Starting the Game: Press the Start Button to begin your quest in Yuria.

• Character Selection: Choose between Ax Battler (balanced), Gilius Thunderhead (strong but slow), or Tyris Flare (skilled with magic).

• Stage Progression: Fight through multiple stages including villages, forests, castles, and Death Adder's castle.

• Combat Mechanics: Use standard attacks, jump kicks, and combination moves to defeat enemies who approach from both sides.

• Enemy Variety: Face different enemy types including basic soldiers, armored warriors, and boss characters at the end of each stage.

• Magic System: Collect magic potions dropped by enemies to build your magic meter, then use magic attacks for devastating damage.

• Battering Ram: Ride the Battering Ram in certain stages to break through enemy defenses and deal damage to multiple foes.

• Beast Riding: Capture and ride various beasts including the Bizarrian. Use their special attacks to defeat enemies more effectively.

• Two-Player Cooperative: Play cooperatively with a second player to tackle enemies together and share the adventure.

• Final Boss Battle: Confront Death Adder in the final stage to complete your quest and save Yuria.