Golden Axe: Beast Rider was developed by Secret Level, Inc. and published for the PlayStation 3 and XBox 360 by Sega in 2008. What initially drew me to this game was the fact that it was 18-rated, in an age when few games are. I wondered why it was an 18. I also wondered if it was worthy of the Golden Axe name.

Thankfully, I’d have to say that Beast Rider is worthy of the Golden Axe name, and that it sticks quite closely to the gameplay of the original Golden Axe, but in a fully 3D world. And it works very well. And the 18-rating? Well, I guess that’s for the blood and gore, of which there is some, but it’s not excessive. If the game were re-rated now, I doubt that it would be deemed for adults only.

You play as Tyris Flare, the ‘Amazon woman’ from the previous Golden Axe games. In this she’s fleshed-out to be the “defender of the Axirian Priestesses” – a sect of dragon-worshippers on the Isle of Axir. The dark forces of Death Adder have captured the most powerful dragon, and are trying to use its power to enslave the world. You, with the help of your mount (an Abrax), and a few friendly NPCs, are trying to stop him.

After a short tutorial, it becomes clear that Golden Axe: Beast Rider does have some nuance to it. Dodging, parrying and counter-attacking are all important when fighting groups of enemies. And, although you get to ride an Abrax quite soon after starting, the majority of the opening of the game is relatively beast-free. That said, when you’re presented with the chance to ride an Abrax, you need to prevent your opponents from knocking you off and stealing it. You can tail-whip while riding the beast, and can also breathe fire at enemies, to keep them away. If an enemy does steal your beast, you can try to knock him off and re-mount it. But if the beast becomes too damaged it will die and will not be available for the rest of the stage.

As you progress through the game, Tyris will find and pick up rotating shields that award her magical dragon powers. The first of which is a simple fireball-type spell that can be used against enemies, but is more useful for lighting torches (because these occasionally act as switches for unlocking doors). The second dragon power is much more spectacular, and will blast the area around you with a circle of fire, burning any enemies caught inside it. And there are more magical powers to collect, before Tyris is presented with the opportunity to go up against Death Adder himself.

I enjoyed playing Golden Axe: Beast Rider. It’s a fairly simple game overall, but I like that the devs have managed to capture the spirit of the original Golden Axe gameplay, and have also made the combat in this feel satisfying. Unfortunately there’s no two or three-player option, like there is in the original Golden Axe. I would’ve expected that, but its absence doesn’t hurt the game too much. Golden Axe: Beast Rider is still pretty decent.

Curiously, Golden Axe: Beast Rider doesn’t seem to have ever been released in Japan. Maybe they objected to the lack of multiplayer? 😀

More: Golden Axe: Beast Rider on Wikipedia