The Legendary Axe II

The Legendary Axe II[lower-alpha 1] is a horizontal platform video game created in 1990 by Victor Interactive Software. It is the followup to The Legendary Axe.

The Legendary Axe II
Developer(s)Atlus, Red Company
Publisher(s)
  • JP: Victor Musical Industries
  • NA: NEC
Producer(s)Harunobu Komori
Satoshi Honda
Designer(s)Kyon Kyon
Programmer(s)Mamoru Shiratani
Artist(s)Boku Kubo
Hikari Mitomi
Jyurō Tsuji
Composer(s)Hirotoshi Suzuki
SeriesThe Legendary Axe
Platform(s)TurboGrafx-16
Release
  • JP: 7 September 1990
  • NA: 1990
Genre(s)Platform
Mode(s)Single-player

Gameplay
Gameplay screenshot.

Gameplay is similar to the previous game, but the "strength charging" has been removed. Multiple, swapable weapons have been added, obtained by collecting those icons: sword, axe, and morning star. In addition, the player has a stock of screen-clearing bombs that can be used by pressing Run. Defeated enemies drop these weapons and bombs, as well as health refills and extensions, and so on.[1][2]

Unlike the previous entry and its vibrant and colorful visuals and sound, II is dark and threatening in tone; combined with the changes to the weapon system, The Legendary Axe II is even more like Rastan.[3]

Plot

The king and queen of a royal kingdom die and their two sons have to fight for the throne. Prince Sirius loses to the evil Prince Zach. The tone is set for the good son, Prince Sirius, to reclaim the throne.

Development and release

Reception
Reception
Review scores
PublicationScore
CVG91%[4]
EGM7 / 10[3]
Famitsu23 / 40[5]
IGN8 / 10[6]
CVG Mean Machines93%[7]
Génération 492%[8]
HonestGamers[9]
Joystick87%[10]
87%[11]
PC Engine Fan17.31 / 30[12]
Player One89%[13]
Power Play74%[14]
Raze68%[15]
Tilt15 / 20[16]
TurboPlay[17]
VG&CE8 / 10[18]

The Legendary Axe II was met with mostly positive reception from critics. Electronic Gaming Monthly was an exception; the magazine's four reviewers all razed it for its near-complete lack of similarity to the original The Legendary Axe, and further said that even judged on its own terms it is a decent but unexceptional game.[3] In contrast, Computer and Video Games called it "a great sequel, and a brilliant hack 'n slash in its own right." The reviewer applauded the atmospheric backdrops, ambient sounds, and strong difficulty curve.[4] GamePro likewise felt it to be a satisfying sequel, concluding, "Remember, you axed for it!" in allusion to the heavy fan outcry for a Legendary Axe sequel. The reviewer particularly praised the graphics and variety of enemies.[19]

Notes
  1. Also known as Dark Legend (Japanese: 暗黒伝説, Hepburn: Ankoku Densetsu) in Japan and simply as Legendary Axe II in the North American packaging.
gollark: I don't really mind being near one. Not literally next to it. It would be quite loud and stuff probably.
gollark: Just use nuclear. It's energy dense and environmentally friendly.
gollark: > That's illegalPoliticians lying can't possibly be illegal.
gollark: <:kitewhat:704921322890723348> indeed.
gollark: ???

References
  1. Legendary Axe II manual (TurboGrafx-16, US)
  2. GrendalMK2 (September 21, 2008). "Legendary Axe II, The". Hardcore Gaming 101. Archived from the original on May 3, 2019. Retrieved 2020-02-10.
  3. Harris, Steve; Semrad, Ed; Alessi, Martin; Williams, Ken (October 1990). "Turbo Champ - Legendary Axe 2". Electronic Gaming Monthly. No. 15. Sendai Publishing. p. 82.
  4. Swan, Robert (December 1990). "CVG Review: Legendary Axe 2". Computer and Video Games. No. 109. Future Publishing. pp. 136–137. Archived from the original on 2016-06-13. Retrieved 2020-02-10.
  5. "暗黒伝説 (PCエンジン) - ファミ通.com". Famitsu (in Japanese). Kadokawa Game Linkage. 2020. Retrieved 2020-02-10.
  6. Buchanan, Levi (June 23, 2008). "Legendary Axe II Retro Review - The simple pleasures of slashing everything". IGN. Ziff Davis. Retrieved 2020-02-10.
  7. Rignall, Julian (November 1990). "Complete Guide to Consoles – The Complete Games Guide: PC Engine – Legendary Axe II". Computer and Video Games Mean Machines. No. 4. EMAP. pp. 40–57.
  8. "Tests CoregrafX - Dark Legend". Génération 4 (in French). No. 30. Computec Media France. February 1991. p. 74.
  9. Golding, Marc (December 6, 2003). "Legendary Axe II (TurboGrafx-16) review". HonestGamers. Archived from the original on May 23, 2019. Retrieved 2020-02-10.
  10. Demoly, Jean-Marc (December 1990). "Tests - PC Engine: Dark Legend". Joystick (in French). No. 11. Anuman Interactive. p. 124. Archived from the original on 2014-01-18. Retrieved 2020-02-10.
  11. Demoly, Jean-Marc (July–August 1991). "Console News - PC Engine: Dark Legend". Joystick (in French). No. Hors-Serie 3. Anuman Interactive. p. 76.CS1 maint: date format (link)
  12. "PC Engine All Catalog '93 10月号特別付録 - 暗黒伝説". PC Engine Fan (in Japanese). Vol. 6 no. 10. Tokuma Shoten. October 1, 1993. p. 6.
  13. Scamps, Olivier (March 1991). "Tests De Jeux - PC Engine CD-ROM: Dark Legend". Player One (in French). No. 7. Média Système Édition. p. 49. Archived from the original on 2014-09-14. Retrieved 2020-02-10.
  14. Gaksch, Martin (December 1990). "Power Tests / Video-Spiele: Der Pakt Mit Der Axt - Legendary Axe 2". Power Play (in German). No. 33. Future Verlag. p. 158.
  15. Ellis, Les (December 1990). "Reviews - Legendary Axe II". Raze. No. 2. Newsfield. p. 35.
  16. Huyghues-Lacour, Alain (February 1991). "Rolling Softs - Dark Legend (PC Engine, carte Victor)". Tilt (in French). No. 87. Editions Mondiales S.A. p. 71.
  17. "Closer Look - Legendary Axe II". TurboPlay. No. 3. L.F.P., Inc. October–November 1990. p. 7. Archived from the original on 2017-01-05. Retrieved 2020-02-10.CS1 maint: date format (link)
  18. H. Pappas, Lee (November 1990). "Video-Game Reviews - Legendary Axe II (NEC) For the TurboGrafx-16". VideoGames & Computer Entertainment. No. 22. L.F.P., Inc.
  19. Winstead, David (November 1990). "TurboGrafx-16 ProView: Legendary Axe II". GamePro. No. 16. IDG. p. 118.
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