When I first clapped eyes on Golden Axe 2 as a lad I was over the moon. Being a massive fan of the original I simply could not wait to play this. Graphically, it looked even better than the original and promised to be the sequel I was waiting for. Sadly, it actually turned out to be a disappointingly lazy update by Sega.
The core gameplay remains entirely unchanged aside from a few tweaks to the moves available to each character. The speed of attacks has been increased slightly, which makes your fighter a little more agile. Also, you can decide which direction to throw an opponent in and hurled enemies will knock down other foes. This makes crowd control a lot easier than in the previous game.
The graphics are slightly better and although the complete audio package isn't up to the standard set by the original (the sound effects are terrible - most of them sound like someone farting in a bath), some of the tunes really are amazing (the opening levels background music remains one of my all-time favourite Megadrive themes).
Perhaps the only real change from the original game is the manner in which the magic system operates; now rather than using all your accumulated magic at once for one devasting blast you can now ration this out for lesser but more frequent magical attacks. Hardly an innovation, but it does make the use of magic a little more tactical.
It's a shame that Sega expected the general public to pay good money for a game they'd already played to death over a year beforehand, but Golden Axe II is still a worthy purchase for fans of the series. This sequel does lose some of the charm that the original had so if you are a newcomer to the series we recommend you start with the first game which is a better game all-round.
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1. DEMON212
18 Apr 2007, 00:06 GMT
I bought the MD collection on the PS2 just for GA 2 and 3, and to be totally honest. They were pretty naff in comparison to GA 1. IMO stick with 1, it's the best.
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2. PresidentLeever
23 Apr 2007, 18:54 GMT
I did miss the little elves from the prequel and some backgrounds were a bit bland, but overall it's an improvement and just as fun to play in coop as the original.
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3. Ghetto_ninja
29 Apr 2007, 21:27 GMT
This one is way better than the first. This one has way kooler levels way better graphics and seems to play faster. Definately pick this one up over the first.
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4. Jeremy
12 May 2007, 07:52 GMT
I've got this on the Sega Genesis Collection. I think it's tied with the original, with GA3 on top. All three are great fun though. If you don't have a PS2 I'd recommend this, otherwise, just get the Sega Genesis Collection! 28 games for 20 bucks, that's roughly 70 cents a game instead of 8 bucks a game on the VC.
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5. Mendez
15 May 2007, 15:44 GMT
Final Fight and Streets of Rage are both much beter than Golden Axe, so there's no way this one can be worth it if it's not as good as the first one...
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6. Kevin
12 Jun 2007, 13:11 GMT
The only reason I'll be downloading this and the third is because I never played the two sequels.
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7. Damo
12 Jun 2007, 13:48 GMT
One thing I will say - GA2 has the best opening level music of any game I've ever played!
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8. ZetaBladeX13
30 Jul 2007, 01:34 GMT
I agree with Damien, GA2, even to this day, has the best game soundtrack I've ever heard.
When I was younger my dad bought me and my younger brother MANY genesis games over the years, games like Vectorman, Toejam & Earl, Sonic, Streets of Rage, Altered Beast, Alien Syndrome, and of course, the Golden Axe trilogy, but personally, I like GA2 better than the original and GA3, and I prefer it over every beat-'em-up I've played, even to this day. I still feel completely Immersed every time I play this game, especially with my younger brother.
*I was always the dwarf
*
Gilius Thunderhead RULES!! (yes, I still know each of their names) XD
~~Happy Gaming!~~
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9. DDR Paladin356
27 Oct 2007, 18:38 GMT
So, this game is decent. I have it for Sega Genesis Collection. I never understood why they never ported Golden Axe: The Return of Death Adder, cause I personally thought that game was VERY solid....oh well.
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10. Damo
21 Jan 2008, 16:32 GMT
I don't think the Megadrive could have handled Revenge of Death Adder, it was quite an advanced game for the time.
The Saturn could have done it but by the time that machine was released side scrolling fighting games were not very popular. Saturn owners got the shocking Golden Axe: The Duel instead!
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11. Kingston
04 Apr 2008, 00:05 GMT
Decent gameplay, the huge downside being that it can be beat in 20-30 minutes. I played it through 3 times and was very bored. Diehard fans only. 2/5.
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