THE HUB

OMG!!!

FEATURED GAME

FEATURED MEMBER

elementxstyle

elementxstyle

GP Design shop.

QUICK POLL

Who will have the biggest E3?

ASK THE PROS

THE GAMEPROS

FREE NEWSLETTERS

Sign up now to receive weekly or daily updates on your favorite games, stories, and more!



Xbox 360 | Action | Golden Axe: Beast Rider

Boxart for Golden Axe: Beast Rider
Golden Axe: Beast Rider 13 screen shots
  • AVG USER SCORE n/a
  • AVG CRITIC SCORE n/a

Preview: Golden Axe: Beast Rider

Preview by Patrick Shaw | 05/16/2008 | 17:36:25 PM PST

Nearly twenty years after the original fantasy hack and slash arcade game was released in arcades, an all-new quest, Golden Axe: Beast Rider, seeks to reinvigorate the popular action franchise in a mature take on the world of Golden Axe.

Developed by Secret Level, who previously brought back another classic IP with Final Fight: Streetwise, Golden Axe: Beast Rider for Xbox 360 and PS3 introduces the player to a much bloodier and bleaker Golden Axe than they may have known in the past. This darker tone will be evident immediately as adversaries explode into jets of blood and severed limbs as the game's protagonist Tyris Flare tears into them with her weapons. Golden Axe's maturation could be attributed to the fact that anyone who was around to play the original is old enough to enjoy a gore-drenched action game.

Some of the beasts you'll control in the game are definitely large and enchage.

Some of the beasts you'll control in the game are definitely large and enchage.

Golden Axe Grows Up

Besides an increase in violence, classic Golden Axe fans will also notice that only one of the three main characters from the original, the female warrior Tyris Flare, returns as a playable character in the game. Though Gilius the Viking and Ax Battler the barbarian will make an appearance in Beast Rider as NPCs. The team working on the game also told us that they are planning on bringing back the other characters in playable form in the unannounced sequel to Beast Rider.

The decision to stick with only one of the original cast of three was due to the developers wanting to focus on more complicated blade combat and magic systems specifically related to the Tyris character.

Fans of other epic titles such as Heavenly Sword will feel right at home.

Fans of other epic titles such as Heavenly Sword will feel right at home.

Players will be able to possess and control five different beasts in the game, each with their own special advantages on the battleground. The three beasts shown during our demo were an ape-like fiend with enough strength to tear enemies in half with ease, a fire-breathing bird-like creature that can move quickly, and a ram-like beast that can smash through barriers and become invisible.

Several other elements from the original Golden Axe appear in Beast Rider such as slain enemies turning to stone and different color gnomes giving you an assortment of items (some of which are hazardous to your health).

The game is shaping up to be something that fans of Heavenly Sword and Conan will undoubtedly enjoy. For more details on the game, check back later at GamePro.


Related Articles