Axiom Verge
- March 30, 2015
- Tom Happ
The ways that Axiom Verge resembles Metroid help set up and drive home the ways that Axiom Verge is most definitely not Metroid.
Axiom Verge is a side-scrolling action adventure game set in a surreal alien world. As the player, you'll explore the environment, battle aliens, and discover secrets by "glitching" the world around you. With intense combat and retro-inspired gameplay, Axiom Verge offers a unique and engaging experience.
Nintendo Switch
PC
Playstation 4
Playstation 5
Xbox One
Xbox Series X|S
PlayStation
Playstation Vita
Wii
Wii U
Xbox
Reviews
- Axiom Verge is a brilliant homage to classic Metroid games, featuring engaging gameplay, a compelling story, and a vast world ripe for exploration.
- The game showcases impressive pixel art, a haunting soundtrack, and a diverse arsenal of weapons, making it a standout title in the Metroidvania genre.
- Created by a single developer, Axiom Verge demonstrates remarkable creativity and innovation, offering a satisfying challenge for players who enjoy exploration and backtracking.
- Some players received the European version instead of the advertised US version, leading to confusion and dissatisfaction.
- The map system can be frustrating, making navigation cumbersome and sometimes leading to excessive backtracking.
- While the game is challenging, some bosses and enemy designs may feel underwhelming or out of place, detracting from the overall experience.
- story11 mentions
- 64 % positive mentions
- 9 % neutral mentions
- 27 % negative mentions
The game's story is praised for its compelling and mysterious nature, gradually unfolding as players progress, which enhances engagement. While some reviewers noted a slight stumble in story progression, the overall narrative is considered impressive and rewarding, contributing to the game's old-school metroidvania charm. Many players express a desire for a sequel, highlighting the depth and intrigue of the lore.
“An impressive metroidvania with a great story.”
“The story is also compelling and will leave you wanting more.”
“While there's a slight stumble with regards to story progression, for the most part, it's a great success, and the fact that it's all the result of one man's labor of love makes it all the more impressive.”
“A story defined by mystery that builds over time, culminating in rewarding and surprising moments.”
“Despite the frustrating map system, I loved being in the world that Tom Happ created and the mysterious story it is wrapped in.”
- music11 mentions
- 64 % positive mentions
- 9 % neutral mentions
- 27 % negative mentions
The music in the game is widely praised for its hauntingly atmospheric quality and incredible soundtrack, which effectively enhances the overall experience and complements the game's narrative and design. Many reviewers highlight the seamless blend of chiptunes with contemporary music, creating a captivating ambiance that enriches exploration and gameplay. However, a few critiques mention that some environments and soundtracks can feel dull, suggesting a lack of variety in certain areas.
“The glitchy pixel art style was an interesting way to accentuate the narrative, and the music was hauntingly atmospheric.”
“Top-notch chiptunes and effects seamlessly mixed with contemporary music evoke a wonderful atmosphere.”
“Fantastic art, music, and design show clear dedication and hard work, bosses are amazing, speedrun mode, and a massive amount of exploration-based content to find every item in the game.”
“The soundtrack is mostly dull and fails to enhance the experience.”
“The music is irritating and does not contribute positively to the gameplay.”
“The soundtrack does not match the game's potential and feels repetitive.”
- graphics4 mentions
- 75 % positive mentions
- 25 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
The graphics feature a glitchy pixel art style that enhances the narrative, complemented by hauntingly atmospheric music. While the authentic period graphics may not impress by modern standards, they effectively create a moody ambiance that supports the exploration and discovery elements of the game.
“The glitchy pixel art style was an interesting way to accentuate the narrative, and the music was hauntingly atmospheric.”
“Authentic period graphics are surprisingly moody and effective.”
“While games from that era don't impress in terms of visuals any longer, there's still fun to be found in the exploration and discovery facets of this intricate, well-formed world.”
- atmosphere3 mentions
- 100 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
The game's atmosphere is enhanced by its glitchy pixel art and haunting music, creating an engrossing experience that complements the narrative. The seamless blend of chiptunes and contemporary music further enriches the ambiance, while interesting character development and tight controls contribute to the overall immersive environment.
“The glitchy pixel art style was an interesting way to accentuate the narrative, and the music was hauntingly atmospheric.”
“Top-notch chiptunes and effects seamlessly mixed with contemporary music evoke a wonderful atmosphere.”
“Engrossingly atmospheric, interesting character development, tight controls, tons of secrets.”
- gameplay1 mentions
- 100 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
The gameplay is characterized by solid shooting mechanics and a diverse array of weapons, enhancing the overall experience and providing players with engaging combat options.
“The gameplay features solid shooting mechanics and a diverse array of weapons.”
- character development1 mentions
- 300 % positive mentions
- -200 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
The character development in the game is noted for being interesting and engaging, contributing to an engrossingly atmospheric experience. Players appreciate the depth of the characters, which is enhanced by the game's tight controls and the presence of numerous secrets to uncover.
“The character development is engrossingly atmospheric and interesting, making each character feel unique and engaging.”
“The tight controls enhance the experience, allowing for a deeper connection with the characters as they evolve throughout the game.”
“There are tons of secrets that enrich the character development, adding layers to their backstories and motivations.”
Critic Reviews
Axiom Verge PS Vita Review
Regardless of the occasional technical issues, it's great to be able to have access to this engrossing adventure in your pocket. The game's original shortcomings still stand, but they don't take away from the things that the game gets right, and there are many things that Axiom Verge gets right.
80%Play it Again, Sam
InterfaceVery simple 8-bit style interface that works great.Lasting AppealIt's no walk in the park, and if once you've completed it, you can always go back and try the speedrun mode if you want a real challenge.SoundTop-notch chiptunes and effects seamlessly mixed with contemporary music evoke a wonderful atmosphere.VisualsAuthentic period graphics are surprisingly moody and effective.ConclusionAlthough it closely follows the Metroidvania blueprint, the brilliantly designed and executed Axiom Verge adds enough new and original features to make it a truly great game in its own right. An absolute must for retro fans.
100%Axiom Verge Review
Metroid: Samus Returns may not be on the Switch, but Axiom Verge does a fine job of filling in that genre gap on the eShop; this is truly an outstanding port of an outstanding game, no more and no less. We would strongly urge those of you that missed this game on other platforms to pick it up here; this is the full Axiom Verge experience and it's available in a format that supports both handheld and home play. For those of you who have played it before on other platforms, it’s ultimately a question of just how much you love this game. This is the exact same, excellent game that you’ve played before, so whether or not you want to buy it again is personal choice. Regardless of which side you fall on, Axiom Verge is a fantastic example of how to do a Metroidvania right, and we couldn’t be more pleased with it.
100%
