Axelay (Virtual Console) Review

Axelay

Mysterious aliens have invaded the Earth-like planet of Corliss, slowly draining the planet's resources. Take control of the prototype Axelay ship and use its wide range of advanced weaponry to battle enemy forces. Play through multiple stages of action - from other planets to space stations - all on your way to destroying the alien headquarters.

You are Corliss' last line of defense, so be careful not to be too distracted by the excellent graphics (including great scrolling effects) and rocking music. Pilot the Axelay using Konami's famously tight play control and experience what many consider to be a classic of the shooter genre.

By Damo

Regardless of the fact that it was released fairly early on in the life of Nintendo’s 16-bit console, Axelay remains one of the best looking and most impressive shooters available for the format.

Employing a similar format to Konami stable mate Lifeforce, Axelay switches between a vertical and horizontal viewpoint as you progress through the levels. The vertical sections are slightly infamous for the not entirely successful use of Mode 7 to simulate depth of field. Whatever your opinion on this visual trick, you can’t deny that it was mind-blowing at the time, even if it doesn’t look very realistic! The rest of the game is graphically faultless, and it’s hard to think of any 2D shooter that has been released since that has quite the same polished and detailed style.

The gameplay is also top-notch, with a neat selection of weapons and some impressive boss battles (who could forget the robot spider, ED-209 look-alike and the lava boss?). It’s also fairly challenging, with some of the later levels being especially tough to crack.

A special mention must go to the sound – if ever there was a game that confirmed the sonic divide between the SNES and the Megadrive/Genesis, this was it. The music is practically CD-quality and the sound effects are punchy and dynamic. There’s also a little bit of crystal-clear speech thrown in for good measure.

It’s extremely difficult to pick fault with a game this well produced. Although Thunderforce IV is more fun and Radiant Silvergun has more depth and lasting appeal (ironically, one of the developers of Axelay would later leave Konami to form Treasure), I honestly can’t think of another shooter that brings everything together with such aplomb. It’s like Konami threw all their weight behind the game to make it as good as possible – a seemingly rare event these days!

Playing games like Axelay makes you realize just how vital retro gaming is – download and enjoy!

5/5

Average reader rating: 4.48 (33 ratings)

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R-Type III: The Third Lightning (Super Nintendo)
Blazing Lazers (TurboGrafx-16)
Gate of Thunder (TurboGrafx-16)
Lords of Thunder (TurboGrafx-16)
Metal Slug (Neo Geo)

Axelay Screenshot

Axelay Screenshot

Axelay Screenshot

Axelay Screenshot

Axelay Screenshot

Axelay Screenshot

Axelay Screenshot

Axelay Screenshot

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1. morphballer 16 Jul 2007, 15:27 GMT

I approve of this game! Great graphics, superb soundtrack, this is a must buy.

2. Robert 17 Jul 2007, 03:25 GMT

My favorite shooter ever.

3. sami 20 Jul 2007, 00:18 GMT

i 100% agree with u robert

4. djshep1973 20 Jul 2007, 08:58 GMT

Oh yes!! Top game, hope it comes out really soon.

5. Johannes 20 Jul 2007, 22:00 GMT

one of the best shooter i ever played - hope it will come out early!

6. sashaboo 22 Jul 2007, 16:51 GMT

I have been waiting since the realease of the wii for this brilliant shooter to come to the virtual console and i think my wait is almost over. I highly recommend this game to fans of shooting games. Its one of the best shooters ever made

7. sami 23 Jul 2007, 19:14 GMT

axelay is an unbeatable shoot out

8. diablos79 24 Jul 2007, 20:31 GMT

i remember this, it was excellent. definitly gona download this one.

9. Corbie 28 Jul 2007, 01:44 GMT

One of the greatest shooters ever created. I still drag this cart out all the time to run through it.

10. Chris 16 Sep 2007, 02:19 GMT

My second favourite shoot em up ever (after Super Aleste).
Probably my favourite game music ever. Can never decide between this Castlevania 4 and Super Aleste.

11. Bass X0 28 Sep 2007, 15:17 GMT

wonderful wonderful music on this one. i never did get very far though without cheating... shooters weren't really my thing. i mainly played this because i liked the graphics and the music.

12. FirebrandMustDie 03 Oct 2007, 01:54 GMT

I think I may just have to download this when it's out, really enjoyed this game...especially the mode7 levels.

13. deerslayer 23 Oct 2007, 19:53 GMT

This really is the best of the best on the SNES. Not sure what i like most, the graphics or the music(especially level 3). And the cool bosses like the walking robot on level 2 or the ufo on 3, which is really hard. This is a must have and hopefully it will be out in the rest of world soon. It was released in Australia for some reason.

14. Delay 27 Oct 2007, 16:27 GMT

Good game, also very fair for a shooter.

15. michinmuri 12 Nov 2007, 13:55 GMT

One of my favorite shooters, up there with Blazing Lazers and Gates and Lords of Thunder. Great graphics, sound, playability, the whole nine yards. If you like shooters or game with pretty pictures, get this immediately!

16. Shiryu 12 Nov 2007, 14:43 GMT

About time you guys use one of my videos in here. v ^_^

17. Nintend00d 12 Nov 2007, 18:28 GMT

Robert: My favorite shooter ever.
Sami: i 100% agree with u robert

You agree that it's his favorite shooter? I know what you meant

My fav is still R-Type

18. Boo! 13 Nov 2007, 09:05 GMT

Axelay v Gate of Thunder v Soldier Blade?
I'm not rich, so would prefer to only have one of them - relayability is a big factor. This soudns nice though.

19. Richard 13 Nov 2007, 09:31 GMT

I thought this was going to be like Gates of Thunder. It's a lot of fun anyways!

20. Son Of Welcome 13 Nov 2007, 20:09 GMT

Axelay kills Super Star Soldier and Blazing Lazers. Soldier Blade I'm not so sure. Oh Well....Axelay = Soldier Blade

21. Leon Ahoy! 15 Nov 2007, 02:05 GMT

This game is immensely enjoyable. Beyond the playability, it's also a great looking game, with a lot of skill and imagination injected into each level, boss, effect etc....

The sound is also brillaint, with effective sfx, and very catchy tunes.

I can't fault this title. A must-have AAA experience.

22. The Amazing Raccoon 15 Nov 2007, 22:10 GMT

This game has been on the vc in New Zealand for about 2 months.

23. Jiggy37 01 Dec 2007, 22:28 GMT

More enjoyable than Blazing Lazers and Gradius III, but I'd still have to give the nod to Super Star Soldier, Soldier Blade, Gate of Thunder, and R-Type III. Only six levels is a bit of a drag, but the music is really pretty rocking, so it works out.

24. Sharecrow 05 Dec 2007, 19:36 GMT

I'll need to check it out....sounds good!

25. Homer Simpson 03 Feb 2008, 12:44 GMT

So....Australia already has this game, while it hasn't had a release in the rest of the 'EU' region. Are we in Australia missing out on another game that has been released to the rest of the 'EU' region?

26. slangman 07 Feb 2008, 11:49 GMT

Axelay is awesome but why do us Europeans have to suffer waiting for this game? Australia got it like 4 months ago.
@ Homer Simpson Probotector 2 for the NES isn't on the Australia and New Zealand VC console.

27. Nigel 07 Feb 2008, 14:32 GMT

I'm still stuck at the last stage but this game is alot of fun and looks really cool, and it plays a little differently than all the others. It's a very solid game.

28. Bensei 13 Feb 2008, 20:42 GMT

Could you get this by setting your console to Australia as the Aussie's did with TG 16 games?

29. GameGod3008 13 Feb 2008, 20:54 GMT

i was just about to suggest that for europe gamers before you said that.

30. Peppy Hare 23 Feb 2008, 15:15 GMT

Love 1up.com and Jeremy Parish's introspectives but he was way off base when he slammed this game in a Retronauts podcast. Axelay is a challenging and graphically-impressive shooter.

31. Satan's Therapist 26 Feb 2008, 14:05 GMT

what a great game. does anybody have any idea or know any rumour as to when we get this in the uk, really sick of waiting

32. GameGod3008 24 Mar 2008, 22:07 GMT

Set your region to Australia and see if you can get it that way

33. Betagam7 28 Mar 2008, 17:46 GMT

does that actually still work? Or was it "fixed" with one of the updates? If it does then Australians don't need to worry about getting C64 games

34. GameGod3008 01 Apr 2008, 12:57 GMT

I don't think this has been fixed. I Hope not

35. sashaboo 06 Apr 2008, 09:34 GMT

Thas right Mr. Slangman. i been waiting ages for this game to come out in the EU. i really am very annoyed with waiting.

36. slangman 25 Apr 2008, 12:14 GMT

Ok its almost 6 or 7 months and still no Axelay? What are you playing at Nintendo. :S

37. Django 06 May 2008, 12:25 GMT

I just changed region to Australia on my Wii settings. After that, i added 1000 Wii points and downloaded Axelay. After that, I change back to my original settings (Denmark). I can now play the game on my Wii.

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