Golden Axe 3

[Kikoskia]

Yes, I have gotten my copy now. I have a copy, practically new, manual and all. And, with the manual, I made a rather interesting discovery.

That discovery was how richly diverse the game was in terms of moves. It sort of makes the review slightly inaccurate in that respect. There are moves that I didn't even know existed in Golden Axe 3 (and I knew quite a few) including a slow to execute but incrediably powerful attack(Ax Battler spins his blade around like a loony almost and brings it down hard, for example), moves to attack people on both sides of you, a trip attack with your weapon and throwing techniques. There is even a ranged move for the characters as they blast all manner of attacks at people from afar, although that move is hard to execute.

The cream of the crop, however, is the revelation that there ARE team moves. Certain combinations of character using all thier potions together for thier magic actually create TEAM magics that are different and stronger then the normal magics. Right now, the only one I can definately confirm for that is the panther and Tyrus Flare, who can combine thier moves for a huge meteor-esque power.

just thought I'd mention that and put that aspect of Golden Axe 3 in the right light. The moves were deeply expanded on, a large amount of new moves were added compared to the first two games. Sure, a lot of things weren't very good in the game (which won't stop me loving it) but one of those things wasn't the variety of moves.

[Germ]

This was definitely the best of the 3. lots of moves including blocking and low blows but i never knew you could combine magic. i quite liked the music, the second stage music was my fav galloping sound effects and all.

The barbarian was cool because you could do piledrivers but the best character was the panther. i remember playing this with my bro and we got to the last boss, we were down to our last lives and all continues was used (tense moment) but my bro worked out that the panthers special move (foward,back,foward,b+c ?) was unbockable, so he kept on doing it when the last boss stood up, and after that we got to see a lame ending :mad: .

Th is game is second to "Streets of Rage 3"

[Melf]

I still don't like it. Sure, the moves have been enhanced, and the combining magic is cool, but everything else has suffered. The backdrops are horrible, the music is forgettable, the new characters are highly "meh," and the magic effects themselves pale compare to the original's. Sega should have just kept the same engine from part two and added in the new moves.

You are right about the buddy moves though. I hadn't played it with a friend when I wrote the review, so I wasn't able to try them out. I've been meaning to change that part of the review but just haven't gotten around to it.

There's a reason why it wasn't brought stateside. ;)

[David J.]

What was the reason again? I've heard so many, and I must know.

[Melf]

From what EGM and GameFan (especially GameFan) said back in the day, the game was a flop in Japan and was critically panned, so they didn't dare bring it over. I'm not sure exactly how much truth there is to that, but given that the two premier mags of the day more or less said the same thing, I'm betting Sega realized that the game wasn't up to snuff. Would it have been successful? Who knows. I would have preferred it to crap like Fantasia and Art Alive. At least this way I'd have all three with cool English boxes. Even the Japanese art for part three is mediocre, compared to other games.

[Kikoskia]

Agree with that. Tha artwork isn't up to too much with Golden Axe 3. And I probably conceed that, for the time it was released, it wasn't the best installment to the series.

However, for some strange reason, I really like Golden Axe 3. I don't know, I just seemed to look past the mediocre graphics and the repetitive monsters and all the little flaws and saw, behind it, a solid system for the game and, in my eyes, a lot of fun. Even if many of the aspects that made the series so great went to the dogs with Golden Axe 3, I still find it just as much a blast to play as I do the other installments, if not more.


the panthers special move (foward,back,foward,b+c ?)

Yes, that's his special move. Same for Tyris flare as well.

[David J.]

I liked the game, Yeah, it had more moves, and some nifty two player teamwork, but the graphics where sorely lacking, with the lack of diverse enemies, and the magic system wasn't up to snuff.

Even with all of the flaws I still really like the game.

[Joe Redifer]

At least this way I'd have all three with cool English boxes.
No, you'd have 2 cool English boxes and one in a cheesey red paper box! I have all 3 in cool Japanese boxes. I got part 3 for like $19 brand new or something like that. I like it. In fact I think I like it at least as much as part 2. It's definitely longer than part 2. I think the character selection could be better, and you should be able to play as the dwarf.

[Germ]

I just gave this game another go and it took me awhile to work out how to do the "sword down" move, which is different to Golden Axe 2 where you got huge air-time and could wriggle it down to torment your opponent (when knocked down) in duel mode to do big damage - the panther could get up high though by jumping twice.

There were a couple of moves i couln't work out: the hulk guy pressing the enemy over his head then trowing it and the panthers craddle throw. Anyone know how?

A couple of things i didn't like about Golden Axe 3 were the useless monsters you could ride and that you couldn't control the amount of potions you used.

[Zebbe]

I think Golden Axe III was released in Europe, at least as a rental game.

[David J.]

Nope. If it was copies would have surfaced.