"Stop gawking fools. A trist with Tyris means DEATH!"
5:00 – I played through Golden Axe I-III, all 2D side-scrolling medieval fantasy hack-n-slash games. They get progressively better with the first one being the most annoying. The controls are just difficult. You have a dash move but it’s tricky to pull it off reliably (I believe you click forward twice and hit the attack button). I chose the female Red Sonja-like fighter. The sprite art work is pretty good. All three games are very colorful and appealing to the eye.
So cool, but you won't have them for long.
It amazes me that they give you such cool rides, but then knock you off them with the slightest hit. Why give you something cool, only to deny it to you right away?! It’s pointless to even get on one if an enemy is anywhere nearby. You’re always too slow to mount – that’s what she said.
The AI, in general, always seems to be one step ahead of you, anticipating your every move. Only when you get in the first hit can you control combat for a few moments. Also, they always try to surround you and attack you from both sides at once, just like every other brawler of this era. Since there is no safe position in these wide open environments, it’s impossible to take any defensive position, you just have to keep moving around. It’s absolutely infuriating.
"Three on one? Ever hear of shish kabob meat-boys!"
Luckily the games get better as the series continues. Golden Axe III is nearly ok in its controls with AI that gives you a tiny bit more time to attack so you can avoid getting surrounded.
Why Golden Axe has not had a great game since GAIII is a mystery to me. I wish they had done one like God of War or Heavenly Sword.
Paseo, where you start in Phantasy Star II.
6:11 – I started up Phantasy Star II. I noticed that this PS2 collection doesn’t have Phantasy Star I as an unlockable like the Sonic’s Ultimate Genesis Collection has. Otherwise I would’ve been tempted to start with the first game.
I had played PSII before but got mauled quickly and quit. This time, I took things more carefully and managed to get all my characters to between level 5-7 before I had to stop for the night.
10:00 - Time to go home and pack up my PS2. I’m glad I was able to get farther in PSII and know that it’s not impossible to beat. I will return to it.
- End Log.
Yeah I never really thought Golden Axe was all that good. I did like playing as Tyris Flare and the dwarf, though.
Stay away from the new Golden Axe game: Beast Rider. It's awful.
Never really got into the Phantasy Star games. Although if I had a Genesis as a kid, I probably would've been really into Phantasy Star IV like how I was with FF6 on SNES.
Golden Axe III isn't bad. I still want to learn how to play them all and even sample Beast Rider even though I know it's bad. I just love the Golden Axe visuals.
Phantasy Star IV is excellent. I really want to finish them all though.
Phantasy Star II is not impossible to beat, but it may be impossible to beat without a guide. They originally shipped the game with a guide for a reason! Anyway, I personally prefer the first and fourth games.
Hum. . . I'll take that into consideration. No guilt now if I look something up. Awesome!
I've never played a Golden Axe, but I want to.
Golden Axe III is the best. It's at least somewhat fair in it's combat.
I played Golden Axe II on my brother's Genesis, at one point almost constantly. Had a lot of fun with it.
I do want to play it again even though it frustrates me.
I never got into golden axe myself. the only version I really liked was the arcade and not the home ports. all the more reason why I love my Sonic's Ultimate Genesis Collection on my PS3! I need to start PS1 though, perhaps after I get done with Ys books I & II on VC.
SUGC is so darn good. My favorite collection by far. I have the Xbox 360 version.