Battle Axe is not just authentically retro from a visual standpoint but also with its chiptune soundtrack from legendary composer Manami Matsumae of Mega Man and Final Fight fame.
That’s the kind of care and attention we haven’t really seen since Capcom and SNK were at their arcade peak in the 90s, especially when modern examples often cheat with filters and effects. Of course, what makes each character stand out are the detailed sprite animations where every effect is entirely hand-drawn. For instance, Rooney starts off with one health point more than the other two, Fae’s movement as well as her cooldown for her charge are slightly faster, while Iolo’s magic staff makes him ideal for ranged attacks. It’s nonetheless accessible to pick up, with each character having essentially the same functions – a melee attack, a ranged attack and a charging attack – but there’s enough variation between characters to make them feel distinct. As straightforward as that sounds, this isn’t just a mindless button masher, as Battle Axe will properly kick your ass if you don’t take the time to learn its combat, not least that some buttons have cooldowns to prevent you from spamming (indeed, that will likely leave you open to a hit).
