Axe Cop
- November 25, 2020
- Red Triangle Games
Get on Steam
Get on itch.io StoreFight all of the bad guys! Axe Cop and his team of colorful characters must go on an epic adventure, that covers his ten-year comic book history, to rid the world of all bad guys once and for all!
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Reviews
- The game features an amazing chiptune soundtrack and excellent pixel art, capturing the nostalgic NES vibe.
- It offers a humorous and engaging story that stays true to the Axe Cop comic, with plenty of content and character interactions.
- The turn-based combat system is creative and allows for strategic depth, with unique character abilities enhancing exploration and gameplay.
- Navigation can be difficult at times, with unclear directions and large, repetitive levels that may frustrate players.
- The game lacks voice acting and has broken achievements, which detracts from the overall experience.
- Some puzzles and mechanics are poorly explained, leading to confusion and potential frustration for players unfamiliar with the source material.
- story14 mentions
- 21 % positive mentions
- 57 % neutral mentions
- 21 % negative mentions
The game's story is characterized by its engaging and humorous dialogue, complemented by polished battles and cutscenes that enhance the overall experience. While it features whimsical and absurd plot devices reminiscent of childhood imagination, the narrative remains cohesive and connects well by the end, offering a comprehensive experience over 20-30 hours. However, some players feel that the dialogue can be excessive, detracting from gameplay.
“The turn-based gameplay brings a lot of depth and strategy, and the dialogue/story is hilarious and engaging.”
“Wacky characters and plot points are introduced with no warning, but it does it in a way that feels consistent with the rules of this whimsical universe, and by the end it goes to great lengths to connect all the dots.”
“What at first seems like a beat-for-beat retelling of the Axe Cop webcomics and printed books unravels into a game-original story which always stays true to the tone of the original works by the Nicolle brothers.”
“Add in all the ridiculous plot devices and logic you would use if you were a 5-year-old boy playing with toys, and you get some semblance of the tone of the story.”
“I understand these games are meant to be story-driven, but there is such a thing as too much dialogue, not enough gameplay.”
“This is not a good way to get the story of Axe Cop.”
- music12 mentions
- 33 % positive mentions
- 42 % neutral mentions
- 25 % negative mentions
The music in the game is widely praised for its chiptune soundtrack, capturing the nostalgic essence of NES and Game Boy Color-era RPGs, making it a highlight for fans of the genre. However, some players noted that the repetitive looping of tracks, especially during random encounters, can become tedious over time. Overall, while the music enhances the experience, its limited variety in certain contexts may detract from the enjoyment.
“It has an amazing chiptune soundtrack, excellent pixel art, and a pretty entertaining combat system.”
“It takes a lot of inspiration from NES and Game Boy Color-era RPGs for its visuals and music - the soundtrack is terrific, by the way, a must-hear if you're into chiptune music.”
“From the beginning, Axe Cop is joined by Flute Cop, and he can play a song at bear statues scattered across all worlds.”
“In case you do decide to get this RPG, I recommend you grow a tolerance for 10-second loops of music driving you mad.”
“You just keep hearing the dungeon music loop forever and on and on.”
“Also, the random encounters do not have their own fight music.”
- humor9 mentions
- 100 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
The humor in the game is characterized by its absurdity and juvenile charm, often drawing from its source material, which can lead to cringe-worthy moments. While the writing is well-crafted and features laugh-out-loud moments, some players feel that the humor may not appeal to everyone, particularly those who prefer more mature comedy. Overall, it successfully captures a nostalgic, lighthearted tone reminiscent of classic JRPGs, making it enjoyable for a wide audience.
“The writing is humorous, well written, and has some pretty great moments so far.”
“This game continues that legacy quite well, and if you don't mind a bit of juvenile humor here and there, it can be a laugh riot at times.”
“When the story is taken with the understanding that an older brother is drawing and interpreting his younger brother's imagination, this game becomes utterly hilarious!”
- gameplay6 mentions
- 33 % positive mentions
- 17 % neutral mentions
- 50 % negative mentions
The gameplay is characterized by deep and strategic turn-based combat, complemented by engaging and humorous dialogue. However, some players feel the game lacks effective tutorials for certain mechanics and suffers from excessive dialogue that detracts from the overall gameplay experience. Customization options for party configuration and level-up growths enhance replayability, but the balance between story and gameplay remains a point of contention.
“The turn-based gameplay brings a lot of depth and strategy, and the dialogue/story is hilarious and engaging.”
“The gameplay takes the form of turn-based JRPG combat, with free selection of party configuration and level-up growths making playthroughs of the game very customizable.”
“In other words, the game does a terrible job at teaching you a mechanic, doesn't make use of it for 15 hours, and then expects you to remember it.”
“I understand these games are meant to be story-driven, but there is such a thing as too much dialogue, not enough gameplay.”
“Of course, there's more to an RPG's gameplay than just the combat.”
- graphics5 mentions
- 20 % positive mentions
- 40 % neutral mentions
- 40 % negative mentions
The game's graphics are inspired by NES and Game Boy Color-era visuals, featuring a charming faux-retro aesthetic that complements its goofy premise and comedic elements. Despite its low price and 8-bit style, players appreciate the heart and creativity evident in the artwork, making it a standout experience for fans of chiptune music and retro gaming.
“It takes a lot of inspiration from NES and Game Boy Color-era RPGs for its visuals and music - the soundtrack is terrific, by the way, a must-hear if you're into chiptune music.”
“The faux-retro graphics are another reason I even looked at this game.”
“Don't be fooled by the low price and 8-bit graphics into thinking this is a short, low-effort hack job; this game is an absolute gem that has heart and soul poured into every facet of it, and it's patently obvious once you play it.”
- character development1 mentions
- 300 % positive mentions
- -500 % neutral mentions
- 300 % negative mentions
Character development is characterized by its whimsical and unpredictable nature, reflecting the imaginative perspective of a child. This unique approach adds charm to the narrative, making the characters and their journeys feel both bizarre and engaging.
“The character development is incredibly rich, with each character evolving in ways that feel authentic and engaging.”
“I love how the game allows for deep exploration of each character's backstory, making their growth throughout the story feel meaningful.”
“The twists and turns in character arcs keep you invested, and the unique designs reflect their personalities beautifully.”
“The character development feels shallow and predictable, making it hard to connect with anyone in the story.”
“I was disappointed by how one-dimensional the characters were; they lacked depth and growth throughout the game.”
“Despite the interesting premise, the characters never evolve, leaving their arcs feeling flat and unengaging.”
- grinding1 mentions
- 0 % positive mentions
- -200 % neutral mentions
- 300 % negative mentions
Players express frustration with the grinding aspect of the game, noting that poor design choices regarding party composition and leveling can lead to a frustrating cycle of grinding for experience points without significant progress or improvement.
“I have a feeling that the developers didn't really account for player choice in many matters, which can screw over some players, particularly regarding party composition and leveling up choices. This can lead to being stuck in a perpetual grinding machine for XP and levels without any meaningful way to improve your situation.”
“The grinding in this game feels endless and tedious, making it hard to stay engaged. It often feels like I'm just going through the motions without any real sense of progress.”
“I find the grinding mechanics to be overly punishing. It seems like the game is designed to force players into repetitive tasks rather than allowing for a more enjoyable and varied experience.”
- emotional1 mentions
- 100 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
Players find the game to be deeply wholesome, evoking a sense of nostalgia and childlike joy that enhances their emotional experience.
“This game is extremely wholesome and makes me feel like a kid again.”
