Battle Axe Reviews

Battle Axe is ranked in the 40th percentile of games scored on OpenCritic.
Cubed3
Top Critic
8 / 10
Apr 22, 2021

A great addition to anyone's Switch catalogue, Battle Axe provides some neat pick-up-and-play value with an Infinite mode accompanying the standard story fare. 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. Although it has a savagely brutal difficulty curve for the young'uns (as well as older folk who don't have the reaction times they once did), Battle Axe is a decent conversion full of nostalgic fun.

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8 / 10.0
Apr 22, 2021

The philosophy of the game design is firmly rooted in old arcade sensibilities. Some may be turned off but this, but for those who grew up in arcades in the 1990s will undoubtedly feel Battle Axe is like coming home.

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86 / 100
Apr 22, 2021

Battle Axe might be an excellent arcade game, but that’s a flaw as well as a feature. Extended play sessions, like those you find in Infinite Mode, can quickly wear out their welcome. You can only blow apart so many orcs before you start yearning for more. Maybe the gameplay loop doesn’t escape that cabinets and coins territory, but it doesn’t need to. The action that’s available is nothing short of exemplary. Fluid pixel art animation, tight controls, retro music and audio, and an intense challenge all elevate this game beyond ordinary nostalgia. If you’re looking for your next arcade game, you absolutely can’t miss Battle Axe.

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8 / 10
Apr 23, 2021

As old-school as it can get in every frame and fibre of its being, Battle Axe faithfully transports you back to the classic Capcom and Neo Geo arcade era with its exquisite pixel art animation and punchy, challenging gameplay.

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5 / 10
Apr 25, 2021

Battle Axe is a good-looking homage to the classic hack and slash arcade efforts of yesteryear that's dragged down by some fairly dull and repetitive action. 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 its done and dusted. If only it had a few twists and turns and a handful more levels, this one could have been well worth a playthrough but, as things stand, it's pretty forgettable stuff.

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85 / 100
Apr 26, 2021

Battle Ax is the latest game from a small company that seems to have had a taste for bringing us flavors of the past, and it does so with mastery. It fulfills all its characteristics: visual, sound, playable, direct and uncomplicated, and short but very replayable. A game that a lover of the genre cannot miss.

Review in Spanish | Read full review

8 / 10.0
Apr 26, 2021

Had Battle Axe initially released as a playable arcade cabinet title during my younger years, it’s a safe assumption that I would’ve blown through my allowance like there was no tomorrow.

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GameSpew
Top Critic
6 / 10.0
Apr 27, 2021

Battle Axe packs in a lot of personality thanks to its trio of colourful protagonists and its wonderful art style. But its gameplay likely won’t keep your attention for much longer than an hour or two. It’s a great flashback to games of yesteryear, but outside of a nostalgia hit, there’s no real reason to keep going back.

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59 / 100
Apr 27, 2021

Battle Axe is one hell of a great-looking retro game but that impressive first impression quickly vanishes when you start playing it. The challenging gameplay misses some fresh ideas and the combat lacks depth and tactical possibilities. Battle Axe remains a fun experience but never really becomes something that stands out, except the exquisite visuals of course.

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7.5 / 10.0
Apr 27, 2021

Battle Ax manages to enchant with its intuitive gameplay and retro aesthetics, displaying combats that will especially please fans of arcade and hack and slash. In the company of Fae, Iolo and Rooney, the journey through Mercia is exciting and fun, even if the duration of the main campaign is not as extensive or improved as the other attributes of the title.

Review in Portuguese | Read full review

7 / 10
Apr 28, 2021

There's replay value to be found in the Hard difficulty setting, or chasing 29 Trophies for a Platinum, as well as an unlockable New Game+ challenge. Yet, even the inclusion of an extra Infinite Mode highlights how the core gameplay becomes repetitive, plus the four main areas of Arcade Mode can be beaten in less than an hour. If the idea of exploring to save villagers reminds you fondly of Zombies Ate My Neighbors, or perhaps you remember isometric arcade brawlers like Dungeon Magic and Wizard Fire, then the nostalgia conjured up from Battle Axe mixing together two formidable old genres may still hack-and-slash its way into your heart.

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7 / 10.0
Apr 30, 2021

Battle Axe manages to communicate with the language of a nostalgic era in which video games were simple and uncompromising, with a cliché adventure that already does more than enough to provide electronic entertainment. Its presentation in pixel art, sounds and music easily transport us to a time when our only goal was just to end the game with an invitation to play all over again. It lives up to the term 'Nostalgic'.

Review in Portuguese | Read full review

5 / 10.0
May 1, 2021

On the surface, Battle Axe looks and sounds like an amazing retro throwback. When you dive into it, you'll find a lack of accessibility options and bland, uncompelling gameplay.

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Unscored
May 4, 2021

It really is a perfect example of a modern developer completely understanding both the appeal of classic arcade games and their potential pitfalls, and providing us with a new one that is beautifully designed for play at home. It’s one of the best “modern retro” titles out there, and a great addition to the library of any gamer who just wants an experience that is pure fun from start to finish.

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INVEN
Top Critic
6 / 10.0
May 5, 2021

"Battle Axe" is an axe game without an axe. The high-quality pixel graphics and classic-sensory background music stand out, but the lack of volume for the price is disappointing.

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Unscored
May 6, 2021

A very entertaining game with a great handicap, its high difficulty. Recomended for lovers of retro arcades, a game that remeber the iconic Gauntlet, an entertaining game with great graphics and sound that will delight both lovers of retro and challenges.

Review in Spanish | Read full review

73 / 100
May 7, 2021

A classic arcade "like the oldies" that will be enjoyed the most by players looking for action in the Gauntlet vein, that showcase a wonderful pixelart, a magical soundtrack and gives the most playing on coop. It's a shame that campaing mode it's so short and that the three characters are almost the same, because here there was potential.

Review in Spanish | Read full review

7.5 / 10.0
May 7, 2021

Battle Axe offers a nostalgic arcade hack & slash experience with it's beautifully created sprites, levels, and bosses. Beating your high scores in Battle Axe's arcade mode and infinite mode will keep you busy for hours. The levels offer a diverse variety in enemy types and obstacles, but the game can get somewhat repetitive after a few playthroughs. Where the game ultimately falls short is in the controls and camera, which further adds to the game's challenging difficulty. Also, the absence of online multiplayer is a shame.

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4 / 10.0
May 15, 2021

Battle Axe is a game that contains around 40 minutes of unique content and struggles to keep its gameplay interesting for even half that. It’s boring, repetitive, short, and uninspired. It also comes with a shockingly high entry fee of £25 (or $30 USD), which is beyond egregious for the amount, and quality, of the content on offer. Visuals, controls, music, and big-named contributors are not enough to save Battle Axe from crushing mediocrity.

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6.5 / 10.0
Jun 3, 2021

There’s fun to be had playing Battle Axe, but it can feel like a case of style over substance at times thanks to some repetitive gameplay. There’s just not a whole lot of variety to be found in the game, which is something that becomes more apparent after re-playing the levels of its short campaign – something you’ll do a lot of thanks to how tough the game can be. Still, there are moments where Battle Axe can shine, especially in multiplayer where it feels a bit more thrilling clearing levels. It looks absolutely outstanding too, with the 16-bit style visuals some of the best I’ve seen for some time. I just wish that the game did a little bit more to keep me invested in the adventure. It’s not a bad game by any stretch of the imagination, but Battle Axe doesn’t offer enough to make it feel like essential playing.

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