Battle Axe

There's replay value to be found in the Hard difficulty setting, or chasing 29 Trophies for a Platinum, as well as an unlockable New Game+ challenge. Yet, even the inclusion of an extra Infinite Mode highlights how the core gameplay becomes repetitive, plus the four main areas of Arcade Mode can be beaten in less than an hour. If the idea of exploring to save villagers reminds you fondly of Zombies Ate My Neighbors, or perhaps you remember isometric arcade brawlers like Dungeon Magic and Wizard Fire, then the nostalgia conjured up from Battle Axe mixing together two formidable old genres may still hack-and-slash its way into your heart.

Battle Axe is a good-looking homage to the classic hack and slash arcade efforts of yesteryear that's dragged down by some fairly dull and repetitive action. It looks the part, sounds the part, nails the aesthetic and vibe that it's going for completely, but then it drops the ball with regards to level design, enemy AI and in providing any sense of strategy or surprise during a short campaign that gives you very little reason to return once its done and dusted. If only it had a few twists and turns and a handful more levels, this one could have been well worth a playthrough but, as things stand, it's pretty forgettable stuff.

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.

There’s fun to be had playing Battle Axe, but it can feel like a case of style over substance at times thanks to some repetitive gameplay. There’s just not a whole lot of variety to be found in the game, which is something that becomes more apparent after re-playing the levels of its short campaign – something you’ll do a lot of thanks to how tough the game can be. Still, there are moments where Battle Axe can shine, especially in multiplayer where it feels a bit more thrilling clearing levels. It looks absolutely outstanding too, with the 16-bit style visuals some of the best I’ve seen for some time. I just wish that the game did a little bit more to keep me invested in the adventure. It’s not a bad game by any stretch of the imagination, but Battle Axe doesn’t offer enough to make it feel like essential playing.

Battle Axe is a game that contains around 40 minutes of unique content and struggles to keep its gameplay interesting for even half that. It’s boring, repetitive, short, and uninspired. It also comes with a shockingly high entry fee of £25 (or $30 USD), which is beyond egregious for the amount, and quality, of the content on offer. Visuals, controls, music, and big-named contributors are not enough to save Battle Axe from crushing mediocrity.

A classic arcade "like the oldies" that will be enjoyed the most by players looking for action in the Gauntlet vein, that showcase a wonderful pixelart, a magical soundtrack and gives the most playing on coop. It's a shame that campaing mode it's so short and that the three characters are almost the same, because here there was potential.