Axis Football 2021

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Axis Football 2021 is a football simulation game offering an immersive NFL-inspired experience. Gameplay features include deep franchise mode, playable pre-season, regular season, and championship games. With advanced AI, realistic physics, and customization options, players can create their own team and compete for the top spot.

Genres & Tags

Play Modes

Local Multi-Player Play with friends in the same physical space using split-screen or multiple screens
2-Players Play with one other player, either online or locally, in a cooperative or competitive game mode
Multi-Player Compete or cooperate with other players online
Co-Op Team up with friends to complete levels or missions together
Single-Player Play through the game's story or campaign solo
PvP Player versus Player - Fight against other players in real-time, often in arena-style combat
Split Screen Play with multiple players on the same screen, often with divided or shared screen real estate

Reviews

62%

Audience ScoreBased on 238 reviews

gameplay22 positive mentions

stability14 negative mentions

The franchise mode is deep and offers excellent customization options, allowing players to create and manage their own teams effectively.
The game has improved gameplay mechanics, with smoother animations and better AI decision-making compared to previous versions.
The developers are responsive to community feedback and continuously work on improving the game, making it a solid alternative to mainstream titles.

Gameplay is often frustrating due to poor AI, with players making illogical decisions and frequent issues with passing accuracy and tackling animations.
The game suffers from numerous bugs and performance issues, including crashes and glitches that disrupt the gaming experience.
Graphics and animations feel outdated, making the game appear less polished compared to competitors, which may deter some players.

gameplay
118 mentions
19 % positive mentions
71 % neutral mentions
10 % negative mentions
The gameplay has received mixed reviews, with some players appreciating the improvements in animations and smoother mechanics, while others criticize it for being glitchy, laggy, and reminiscent of older titles. Many users express a desire for further enhancements, particularly in on-field gameplay and tackling mechanics, suggesting that while the foundation is solid, significant work is still needed to compete with more established franchises like Madden. Overall, the game is seen as a decent option for franchise mode enthusiasts, but the gameplay experience remains frustrating for many.
- “For the one game I was able to get into and complete, I will admit they definitely improved the gameplay and it is smoother, with more animations and better logic.”
- “Each year they make strides and improve the game mechanics and gameplay.”
- “You can tell that 2020 was laying groundwork for future games, and additions of animations across all aspects of the gameplay have made plays feel more natural.”
- “Then when I got to the gameplay, the game was so laggy and slow. I have a gaming PC, and even when I lowered the settings to the lowest possible, it was still unplayable.”
- “Gameplay is honestly unacceptably bad.”
- “The major gameplay hangups for me are still catching and pass defense animations, and blocking animations, both of which are still stiff, robotic, and largely unreadable.”
graphics
54 mentions
11 % positive mentions
81 % neutral mentions
7 % negative mentions
The graphics in the game are generally considered average to below average, with many reviewers noting that they lag behind competitors like Madden in terms of visual quality and animation fluidity. While some appreciate the game's ability to represent teams accurately and acknowledge improvements in certain areas, the overall consensus is that the graphics are not a strong selling point and may deter casual gamers. However, players who prioritize gameplay and franchise features over visuals may find the graphics acceptable for their needs.
- “But the graphics are great for just playing football!”
- “The in-game graphics are average to above average.”
- “This ain't the big boy Madden, but the players look good, the animations have improved a bunch this year and they have added in-game graphics (for example, I notched a 40+ yard run and was pleased to see a popup big run and my RB did a little chest pump celebration. That was real cool).”
- “The graphics and animations are decades behind the other guys (EA), but you know what?”
- “Not very good from a graphics or simulation standpoint.”
- “The graphics are a little rough and the animations are stiff but the franchise mode is outstanding and puts Madden's franchise mode to shame.”
optimization
16 mentions
19 % positive mentions
63 % neutral mentions
19 % negative mentions
The game's optimization has received mixed reviews; while some players report significant performance issues even on high-end PCs, others praise the improvements made, including better stadium optimization, enhanced AI, and the removal of numerous bugs. Overall, many users feel the game is more refined and optimized than previous iterations, particularly in franchise mode and character animations. However, the persistent performance problems remain a notable concern.
- “The team added several new stadiums, optimized stadiums from 2020 to run better across all consoles, and improved lighting to create more realistic environments.”
- “The game is more refined and optimized than ever before, the AI is more intelligent than ever before, and the AI can finally nail the game out!”
- “It is well optimized and a ton of bugs were removed that had plagued the series, and the customization has long been a part of the series and helps distinguish the game from others where customization is limited to a handful of options.”
- “Performance issues, even on high-end PCs.”
- “There is no excuse for the performance of this game in this day and age.”
- “The franchise mode is the real star in Axis Football, but there are big improvements in other parts too, such as lots of new character animations and performance increases.”
stability
14 mentions
0 % positive mentions
0 % neutral mentions
100 % negative mentions
The game suffers from significant stability issues, with frequent freezes and crashes reported, particularly during franchise mode. While some users appreciate the creative aspects and intuitive scouting system, the overall gameplay experience is marred by glitches and a lack of animations, leading to frustration.
- “Maybe it's my computer (2020 iMac with 40GB RAM), but the game freezes or crashes far too often.”
- “Yet every time I edit a team in franchise mode, the game freezes at 70% on the game load screen.”
- “The creative aspect of the game might be good, but I could care less when the actual gameplay is this bad and buggy.”
music
8 mentions
50 % positive mentions
25 % neutral mentions
25 % negative mentions
The music in the game is generally well-received, with many praising the quality of the soundtracks. However, some users express disappointment over the limited number of songs, noting that only two full tracks are available and hoping for a more extensive selection in future versions.
- “Audio - the soundtracks are fantastic!”
- “I would definitely have enjoyed 5 songs; perhaps in the next version we’ll get a handful of songs again.”
- “Coming across Axis games, it's an ugly duckling turning into a swan song that is taking place before our very eyes.”
monetization
6 mentions
17 % positive mentions
33 % neutral mentions
50 % negative mentions
Reviews indicate that Madden's monetization strategy, particularly its reliance on microtransactions, has been a significant point of frustration for players. Many feel that the game's updates have become lazy and insufficient over the past few years, exacerbating dissatisfaction with the monetization approach.
- “All without microtransactions.”
- “But they have consistently dropped the ball over the last 3-5 years, especially with the microtransaction issues; they have completely lost their way.”
- “I get that Madden has microtransactions, and they are lazy with updating the game every year.”
- “The microtransactions have become a major problem, detracting from the overall experience.”
grinding
4 mentions
0 % positive mentions
0 % neutral mentions
100 % negative mentions
Players find the grinding aspect of the franchise mode in this game to be more engaging and less tedious compared to competitors, with a notably improved and intuitive scouting system that enhances the overall experience.
replayability
2 mentions
100 % positive mentions
0 % neutral mentions
0 % negative mentions
Users consistently highlight the game’s strong replayability, indicating that it offers numerous opportunities for players to enjoy it multiple times.
- “Plenty of replay value.”
- “Plenty of replay value.”
story
2 mentions
0 % positive mentions
100 % neutral mentions
0 % negative mentions
The story draws inspiration from the classic David and Goliath narrative, emphasizing themes of underdog triumph and resilience.