Legendary Axe vs. Legendary Axe II

[Dyna138]

Legendary Axe I and II are two of my favorite turbo games going back to when I was a kid. Back then I liked Legendary Axe II more, but I think it may have been cause the game was easier. Nowadays I like part 1 more than I used to and now I like them equally. I still love the dark tone of part II, the music and the freaky "what the hell just happened...?" ending.

Both are solid fun games that I enjoy replaying every now and again.

[T2KFreeker]

One of the great things about both games also is that both work very well on the Turbo Express. They aren't one of the games that really makes you wonder why you are trying to play it on that handheld.

[esteban]

I love BOTH games. Both are "must haves" as far as I am concerned.



DEAR LORD, I AM DISMAYED BY ALL THE LA2 TRASH-TALKIN'!

I'm serious. I am genuinely surprised that there isn't more love for LA2: it is truly a gem and stands on its own. Character design, atmosphere, music, play mechanics--ALL GLORIOUS. It is so difficult to effectively create and maintain a brooding atmosphere in a video game, and LA2 pulls it off so god-damned wonderfully. The "electric generator" stage (climbing upwards on metal platforms as lightning strikes) is one of my favorites when it comes to atmosphere. Every element of that stage, no matter how small the detail, contributes to the bleak and somber mood.

Legendary Axe 2
I love running around, hacking-and-slashing in a frenzy. I've never had a problem with controls. Jumping is fine!
Top 10 chiptune soundtrack of all time.
High attention to detail (polished!) makes it that much more endearing. Love was put into this game. LOVE, you cruel f*cks.

Legendary Axe 1
* I love this game, too.
 
* As folks have correctly pointed out, it has a much slower pacing. nodtveidt likes to rag on the coldet (collision detection) ad nauseum, but I've never really had a problem with it (upon playing the game, you quickly realize what strategies work and you never look back. this does not detract from the game in the slightest).

* Top 10 chiptune soundtrack of all time. LOVE!

* I got a monkey on my back--no, not a meth habit. An actual monkey. Keranu and I love the Pits of Madness. NO OTHER VIDEO GAME, ON ANY PLATFORM, HAS LITTLE MONKEYS THAT LOOK SO PERFECT AND INSTILL SUCH DREAD. I purposefully fall into the pits just to see the cute demons of brain-munching, back-biting death.


BOTTOM LINE: I could not vote for only one. They are both divine in their own way.

[ParanoiaDragon]

I love both for different reasons.  Both have great soundtracks IMO, though I prefer LA2.  Just the bass alone in the music is incredible for a Turbo game as it can't hit like the Genny can unfortunately.  I think generally I like the gfx in LA1 better(seems to have more detail), but I do like the setting & mood of LA2 ouside of that skull level.  I actually do tend to get depressed with that level between the music & the gfx, it's a bit much for me.  I do wish LA2 had quicker jumping, however, it feels much easier to slip & fall in LA1.  At times, I feel like the jumping in LA1 is ..a bit overdone I guess?  I'm not sure how to phrase it, I just don't feel like I'm in as much control in LA1, maybe Gogan jumps are too fast while in the air??

[rag-time4]

I have to give a very slight edge to LA1, based off personal preference. Solving the enemy patterns was a blast and the pits of madness were awesome. I think I even like the music more, but I admire LA2's quality.

I'm gonna have to applaud Keranu's opinion. Axe 2 is certainly a well made game... Axe 1 just has a certain magic to it.

[CRV]

Victor was the publisher.  The developer for LA1 was Aicom.  The developer for LA2 was Atlus.  They were not programmed as sequels, more like shoehorned in by Victor.

They do share a programmer, though - Mamoru Shiratani ("Tsurumoku"), who now runs a company called Amble. I don't know who he was working for on these.

[tggodfrey]

Your poll has begun!

hahhahafreihfeiufhehf

I like LA2 more but this is an unfair comparison.

Totally agree.

[Shrapnoid]

Even though I prefer LA1, LA2 did have some nice points like most of you are saying, like the whole creepy, dark theme and good sound.
I also like like some of the bosses, a lot of the stages and the creepier enemies who will continue to pursue you even when they're half dead but, because prince whats-his-name takes time to realistically stoop before he jumps, that takes some getting used to even if you never played LA1 and that slight delay in timing his jumps just right can cause a lot of frustration when trying to reach higher ground while fighting-off enemies at the same time.

I agree with ParanoiaDragon about Gogan's jumps too. While they're over-all good, he jumps too quickly and at times seems more like he's skating instead of walking which can lead to a lot of falling if you don't briefly stop between landing and jumping again on small ledges and blocks.

Both games are great but, LA2, in spite of some of the improvements it had just seemed like a slight let-down in some spots.  

[kiketonto]

Well, I can't vote because still don't have the second...but I love the first and still playing it.

[kiketonto]

Well, I can't vote because still don't have the second...but I love the first and still playing it.

Ok, now I can talk about, I bought the game (LA2) and yesterday arrives at home.
I think the 2 is more arcade than the first, they added time to complete levels.
The different weapons provides a little strategy to play, I mean it's different play it with the sword or the chain.
The enemy's design it's a lot better and different (not just color like in the 1st)
¿More easy? I just probed the game and arrive at the 3rd stage...besides in this stage that part with the bodyparts emerging from the walls is...AWESOME!
Just a question...what's up with the slugs? When they catch me...How can I kill them?

[nodtveidt]

nodtveidt likes to rag on the coldet (collision detection) ad nauseum, but I've never really had a problem with it (upon playing the game, you quickly realize what strategies work and you never look back. this does not detract from the game in the slightest).

This is a crock. I've mentioned it a few times, but it's not like I put it in my sig or something stupid like that. I mention it when it's called for. And yeah, it DOES detract from the game in the greatest way... it makes it completely un-fun. I've never had a problem with Turrican, yet everyone else likes to put it down constantly. Having to plan your attacks in LA1 based on the proximity of a powerup is BULLSHIT and everyone knows it, whether or not they want to admit it.

And since you're specifically making note of me saying it, hey look... I'm saying it again.

[TR0N]

Rastan>LAII,since that's what the game is a clone of rastan not a sequel.Still i voted for LA i got a softspot for that game more then LAII.

[Vecanti]

Legendary Axe II is epic.  I remember thinking how amazing the level with the parallax scrolling sky that moves behind everything looked.  I never get past the robot level, but I also remember thinking how cool the transporter things you got stuck in looked.  That was what was so great about LAII there was so much variety.  I mean robots and flying atoms! Oh, and the Uvula level?

I love Legendary Axe I too it was the second game I ever owned first was Keith Courage of course.  

[esteban]

nodtveidt likes to rag on the coldet (collision detection) ad nauseum, but I've never really had a problem with it (upon playing the game, you quickly realize what strategies work and you never look back. this does not detract from the game in the slightest).

This is a crock. I've mentioned it a few times, but it's not like I put it in my sig or something stupid like that. I mention it when it's called for. And yeah, it DOES detract from the game in the greatest way... it makes it completely un-fun. I've never had a problem with Turrican, yet everyone else likes to put it down constantly. Having to plan your attacks in LA1 based on the proximity of a powerup is BULLSHIT and everyone knows it, whether or not they want to admit it.

And since you're specifically making note of me saying it, hey look... I'm saying it again.

haahhahahahhahaha! I love you, nod!

But, seriously, you used to complain about LA1 every time it was mentioned back in the day (a few years ago). Well, I just don't want folks to think that the game is broken (and, in turn, as frustrating) as you paint it. I still can't believe that you (who actually took the time to appreciate the TG-16 port of Turrican!) are complaining about anything in Legendary Axe!

I love you, but Legendary Axe is sweetness. I thought folks would complain about some of the enemies that get tricky when two appear on screen (axe-throwing dudes, big club-swinging dudes, bears), but it's just a matter of basic strategy and timing.

Or, I thoughts folks would whine about being thrown back upon being hit by an opponent...this is tricky on small platforms where you can fall to your death.

Anyway, surely you love the sprites for the monkeys? Aren't they the cutest?

We must agree on something .

[nodtveidt]

But, seriously, you used to complain about LA1 every time it was mentioned back in the day (a few years ago). Well, I just don't want folks to think that the game is broken (and, in turn, as frustrating) as you paint it. I still can't believe that you (who actually took the time to appreciate the TG-16 port of Turrican!) are complaining about anything in Legendary Axe!

As a game designer myself, I cannot overlook glaring technical flaws, as I know how to avoid committing these mistakes myself. Technical flaws make otherwise good games quite bad. Legendary Axe, Impossamole, Shape Shifter... great potential ruined by technical flaws that could have been corrected but were not. Give me the source code and I'll fix 'em all. These are all games that I have conquered and know that I could have improved upon. And what's up with Turrican? Well, quite simply put, it's not that bad. Arkhan likes to whine about "robot man can't shoot up!" but hey, neither can Mega Man, and that game's beloved the world over. Turrican simply doesn't suffer from any game-breaking technical flaws... despite the fact that the level layouts are boring as shit, the enemies are completely stupid, there's no knock-back effect, and the ending sucks worse than Shadow Of The Beast's ending... there are still no game-breaking technical flaws that hold it back.

I love you, but Legendary Axe is sweetness. I thought folks would complain about some of the enemies that get tricky when two appear on screen (axe-throwing dudes, big club-swinging dudes, bears), but it's just a matter of basic strategy and timing.

Or, I thoughts folks would whine about being thrown back upon being hit by an opponent...this is tricky on small platforms where you can fall to your death.

All standard platforming fare... nothing to complain about with all that. The hit-back thing is just frustrating level design, but it's totally legit. My only other real gripe with LA is that the jumping is a bit wonky, but they can't all get it right. It's not a game-breaker. Of course, the collision issue rears its ugly head when fighting more than one enemy as well... cheap hits abound all because the hit algorithm isn't designed to register more than one hit at once, and the character's a pussy to begin with who can't take many hits. In reality, if you slash a sword through the air and cut through two trees with it, reality doesn't only register the first tree and ignore the second.

Anyway, surely you love the sprites for the monkeys? Aren't they the cutest?

We must agree on something .

I actually really dig the art style in LA. It's a little basic at times, but for the most part, it's nice. We've seen way worse on the PCE. Can't stand the NES-era music, but at least the visuals are up to snuff.