Battle Axe

57%
Game Brain Score Based on 86 reviews
  • graphics
  • gameplay
  • music
Battle Axe Game Cover
Pixel art, kick-ass characters and energetic hack-and-slash action? Yeah, Battle Axe pretty much has it all.
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"Battle Axe is a fantasy hack and slash game with phenomenal visuals and good music. Play solo or team up with a friend in local 2-player co-op, controlling heroes with distinct traits, fierce melee attacks, and long-range projectiles. Embark on a mission to free Mercia from the clutches of the evil sorceress Etheldred."

  • Mac OS
  • Nintendo Switch
  • PC
  • Play​station 4
  • Play​station 5
  • Steam Deck
  • Windows
  • Xbox One
  • Xbox Series X|S
  • Linux
  • Play​Station
  • Xbox
Genres & TagsPlay Modes

Reviews

57%
Audience ScoreBased on 86 reviews
graphics27 positive mentions
story3 negative mentions
  • Beautiful pixel art and nostalgic visuals that capture the essence of classic arcade games.
  • Fluid and responsive combat mechanics that provide a fun hack-and-slash experience.
  • Interesting boss fights and a good sense of progression, especially when played in co-op mode.
  • Extremely short campaign with only four levels, leading to a lack of content and replayability.
  • Frustrating gameplay due to a limited field of view, off-screen attacks, and lack of continues or checkpoints.
  • Repetitive gameplay and shallow mechanics that fail to provide a compelling challenge or variety.
  • graphics42 mentions

    The graphics of "Battle Axe" are widely praised for their vibrant retro aesthetic and detailed pixel art, reminiscent of classic arcade games. Henk Nieborg's artwork is highlighted as a standout feature, contributing to the game's overall visual appeal, although some players note that environmental elements can obstruct gameplay visibility. While the visuals are considered top-notch, there are criticisms regarding the practicality of the design in relation to gameplay experience.

    • “Art style is great; the opening scene where the monster comes in from the right looks amazing.”
    • “Battle Axe is what could easily have been a Capcom Play System 2 arcade machine; it's got the visuals and the music just right, and the presentation is also well done.”
    • “It looks absolutely outstanding too, with the 16-bit style visuals being some of the best I’ve seen for some time.”
    • “It only achieves in the graphical department, leaving the gameplay behind.”
    • “- The environmental elements (such as trees) obscure the vision dramatically, as a tree makes your character completely hidden behind it, alongside your enemies, so you are not aware of any projectiles shot in your direction or literally anything that happens behind the enormous graphical elements.”
    • “It looks the part, sounds the part, nails the aesthetic and vibe that it's going for completely, but then it drops the ball with regards to level design, enemy AI, and in providing any sense of strategy or surprise during a short campaign that gives you very little reason to return once it's done and dusted.”
  • gameplay40 mentions

    The gameplay of Battle Axe has received mixed reviews, with some praising its snappy, responsive mechanics and nostalgic arcade feel, while others criticize it for being shallow, repetitive, and lacking variety. Although it offers a straightforward and addictive run-and-gun experience, many players find it frustratingly short and unpolished, leading to a sense of boredom over time. Overall, while the game captures classic arcade aesthetics, it struggles to deliver engaging gameplay that keeps players invested.

    • “Game has snappy gameplay where you can slash, shoot or ram into enemies and it feels responsive.”
    • “The gameplay is simple, but highly addictive and you'll have to implement different approaches to combat and resource management to make it to the end.”
    • “The gameplay is simple but works nicely and it delivers exactly what is promised - a classic arcade style entertainment with some really nice visuals.”
    • “Unfortunately, the gameplay is too short, sometimes frustrating, and uninspired to say the least.”
    • “But that doesn't fix the fact that the gameplay is way too dull and repetitive to recommend.”
    • “This game tries to compensate for its lack of variety and ingenuity with extremely difficult gameplay which also gets boring very quickly; you can't even buy continues at the shop.”
  • music40 mentions

    The music in the game has received mixed reviews, with many praising its nostalgic quality and solid composition, particularly noting the contributions of renowned composer Manami Matsumae. However, some players find the soundtrack repetitive and poorly balanced, often overshadowed by sound effects during gameplay. Overall, while the music is celebrated for its retro charm and fitting atmosphere, issues with audio mixing and repetitiveness have been highlighted.

    • “The soundtrack is an absolute banger.”
    • “The pixel art is superb, as is the music and voices/sound effects.”
    • “In tandem, these modes are perfect for coping with the daily commute with some bashing and slashing and are backed by a fantastic soundtrack and gorgeous retro art style.”
    • “The audio isn't balanced well; like in the introduction, I can't tell what the villain is saying while the rest of the chorus of sounds and music overtake her.”
    • “There is only an on/off option for music and sound.”
    • “The music is howled down by multiple shooting effects, especially when you spam the ranged attack to at least have some advantage over the enemies.”
  • story7 mentions

    The game's story is minimal, lacking background or explanations that could enhance player engagement, focusing instead on a straightforward rescue mission. While some players appreciate the simplicity and pick-up-and-play nature, the absence of a compelling narrative may leave others wanting more depth.

    • “A great addition to anyone's Switch catalog, Battle Axe provides some neat pick-up-and-play value with an infinite mode accompanying the standard story fare.”
    • “There is no explanation or background story at all getting in the way.”
    • “There is no story that could involve the players in the game more.”
    • “There is no explanation or background story at all getting in the way.”
  • stability4 mentions

    Overall, players report a generally stable experience with minimal issues, noting only one crash and a specific instance where a boss fight failed to load, requiring a game restart. Most users did not encounter significant bugs or glitches beyond these occurrences.

    • “Bugs and glitches - so far I only encountered one crash; a boss fight didn't load and I had to restart the game.”
    • “I didn't really encounter any bugs or glitches aside from that.”
  • grinding2 mentions

    Players find the grinding in the game to be tedious and frustrating, often describing it as overly short and not challenging in a rewarding way.

    • “Very short, quite tedious, the wrong kind of difficult.”
  • replayability2 mentions

    Players highlight the game's high replayability, attributing it to the numerous achievements available, which enhance the overall value, especially during significant discounts. The quality of the assets further supports the game's worth, making it a compelling choice for repeated play.

    • “Judging by the quality of the assets that went into it and the high replay value due to the many achievements, this game is absolutely worth its asking price (even more so being on the typical -75% discount!).”
  • emotional2 mentions

    The emotional aspect of the game is perceived as lacking depth, with players noting a lack of challenge that diminishes engagement and emotional investment. The mechanics, such as the minimal damage from enemy contact, contribute to a sense of detachment rather than fostering a compelling emotional experience.

  • humor2 mentions

    Users find the humor in the game to be hit-or-miss, with some moments, particularly related to spawning, eliciting laughter. Overall, the comedic elements are appreciated but not consistently strong.

    • “And last but not least: the spawning is kind of funny from time to time.”
Positive mentions (%)Positive
Neutral mentions (%)Neutral
Negative mentions (%)Negative

Critic Reviews

67% average critic score

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