Golden Axe: Beast Rider (Xbox 360, 2008)

The game's fast-paced action is great! The graphics are pretty good as well. The gameplay is awkward/hard to master though, and gets repetitive very quickly. The long loading times are very frustrating, especially in a game where your character is constantly dying. This makes the game difficult to get into. There are also lots of hidden extras that are meant to enhance gameplay and add to replay value, but this is nearly impossible even on the easiest setting - you have to take on hordes of enemies without getting hit once. The game would be an excellent buy for gamers who still remember the original Golden Axe series or if they are just into gratuitous gore (one way to unlock bonuses is to achieve a certain number of dismemberments - definitely earns its "M" rating!).

Golden Axe was one of the first games I played which initially got me interested in video games back in 1991. I mainly bought this release for nostalgic gameplay. I read several reviews from the gaming industry and I was shocked that this game was rated so poorly. I rented the game after reading these reviews to see for myself. The gameplay is not bad, it has a decent storyline, and the effects are great. It is a challenging game, I'm stuck on a level just now. This is fine by me because I don't buy games just to fly through them as fast as possible on the easiest difficulty setting. One thing I think will irritate people is the blocking and evading of enemy attacks. It frustrated me at first, but once I got some practice it wasn't so bad. In real life, being attacked by 5 or more enemies at once you're going to get hit that's just life. The beasts are fun to use against your enemies. Each has it's own different abilities and attacks. Controlling the beasts is a bit sluggish which gamers may find unsatisfactory. You will eventually get knocked off by an enemy or the beast will die from attacks. This gives the game some balance and keeps it from being too easy. The game does have some longevity even after you complete the story mode. There are challenge modes where you can replay levels to try to achieve a better completion rating (i.e. time it took to finish the level, amount of loot obtained, etc.) This will increase the amount of tribute you gain to unlock other swords and items. Everyone is different, so my review of this game can be completely different than that of others. I bought it, I like it, and I got it for way less than what it retails for.

This game is not as bad as the magazine reviews said. If you liked Conan, God of War, Ninja Gaiden, etc. this is certainly worth a $10 (or less!). It's a perfect game for that dry spell when the game you REALLY want to play is still 3 weeks away.
It's pretty true to the original arcade hack 'n slash fun with light puzzle elements. No upgrading your character, but you learn how to use what you have as the game progresses. A solid B-.

This is a different take on the oringinal Golden, Not for the frail, Espeacially the children! DOn't get me wrong. I really like this game! It scares my 5 year old nephew! Very graffic blood! I do recommend this for Older Teens and adults...

GOLDEN AXE RE-IMAGINED FOR A NEW GENERATION! One of SEGA's most popular franchises storms onto the Xbox 360 entertainment system. As the unstoppable Tyris Flare, players will engage in vicious melee combat both on foot and atop massive mythical beasts, savaging enemies with blades and magic on a quest for vengeance. This highly-anticipated re-imagination is guaranteed to leave the fans reeling with incredible graphics and never-before seen character skills and abilities.