A solid port of Sega's classic medieval fantasy beat-'em-up. Three distinct playable characters, great atmosphere and satisfying combat. Some arcade compromises but the essentials are all there.
Your verdict
Category
Beat-'Em-Up2 players12+
Description
Beat-'em-up featuring warriors Ax-Battler, Tyris-Flare and Gilius battling the Death Adder's forces. Published by Sega, released in North America in 1990. Three warriors in side-scrolling view with combat techniques and lightning, water and fire spells and Death Adder bosses. Master System port of Sega's Golden Axe classic.
Golden Axe review
4/5
Art direction
★★★★★
"Striking"
4/5
Music
★★★★★
"Excellent"
2/5
Story
★★★★★
"Classic"
The conversion sacrifices character size to preserve the number of simultaneous opponents, a choice that keeps the essence of the game at the cost of spectacle. The three heroes remain distinguishable by weapon and mount, and the settings take up the cabinet's stages, the back of a giant turtle, a burning village, an eagle in flight, the moments memory retains first.
The themes keep the martial writing of the arcade version, minor-key marches and imitated brass figures, but the reduction to three voices forces a choice between counter-melody and percussion. The option taken favours the bass line, which gives this conversion a heavier, less ornate rhythmic foundation than its model.
Gameplay
"Solid"
Fun
"From the very first seconds"
Hacking through enemy hordes with an axe, riding fire-spitting beasts and unleashing devastating magic: this heroic-fantasy beat-'em-up cuts straight to the joy of brawling. With two players, teamwork and sharing potions add a convivial dimension. Raw, readable and cathartic, it keeps all the epic fire of the arcade machine.
Sega's own port of its arcade hit, where the 8 bit adaptation cuts down to two playable characters and tightens the formula, which paradoxically makes it more legible than the Mega Drive version for someone discovering the series. Broad North American run, with a clean cardboard box copy harder to track down in good shape than the bare cartridge. A piece flagged for the coherence it brings to Sega's arcade catalogue on SMS and for the graphic identity specific to this conversion.
Better with friends
A medieval-fantasy beat'em up where you carve through hordes of brutes with sword, magic and beast-riding. Mainly single-player on the machine, it shines as a relay among friends: you pass the pad to clear the tough stretches and admire each other's combos. Raw and cathartic, it turns an evening into a shared challenge where everyone wants to go further than the last.
Is Golden Axe still worth playing in 2026?
The Master System port of Golden Axe is an honest effort on Sega's arcade source. The three heroes still feel distinct, their mounts remain meaningful, and the fantasy identity of Yuria and friends comes through cleanly in 8-bit. Some technical compromises are expected, and the game is shorter and rougher than the Mega Drive version, but the essential medieval beat 'em up sensations work. For franchise fans and Master System collectors, it remains a short but enjoyable retro detour today, especially in two-player on the same couch.
