Home Gaming Axiom Verge channels Metroid – and succeeds

Axiom Verge channels Metroid – and succeeds

3 min read
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Axiom Verge is a game you may not have heard of – and that’s a pity. For the moment, it’s exclusive to PlayStation Platforms, but it’s coming to PC soon enough. What it is a retro-throwback to old-school games made in the Metroidvania mould; games influenced by Super Metroid and the later, Koji Igarashi-produced Castlevania games like Symphony of the Night. It’ll have you exploring a labyrinth, locating new items and equipment to progress beyond otherwise impassible obstacles.

Unlike many other games that rely on nostalgia for their hook though, this one is just plain good. And it’s out today, on the PS4, that’s cross-buy with the impending Vita version. Here’s what critics have to say about it:

US Gamer: 5/5

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I realize even as I look back fondly on NES classics that they can be tough to love in this day and age. Axiom Verge brings up-to-date sensibility to its design, using dated graphics not for superficial style but rather as an essential connection to its emphasis on glitching and code corruption. It captures the look and spirit of the 8-bit greats, but more importantly it rekindles their pioneering spirit as well rather than simply retreading the ground where those greats planted their flags so long ago. It employs familiar visuals to evoke a bygone sense of newness — and more than being an impressive parlor trick, it makes Axiom Verge simply one of the best games I’ve played in years.

Giant Bomb: 5/5

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I’m not sure that I’ll actually go back and collect 100% of the items and seek out alternate endings, but that first playthrough is absolutely killer. I found myself scouring edges of the map in search of secrets and really had a fantastic time doing it. It looks great, controls really well, and has a level of difficulty that makes things challenging without making them overtly frustrating. If you’ve ever been into this sort of action-adventure game, Axiom Verge is positively terrific.

IGN: 7.9

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Despite occasional moments of feeling slightly uncomfortable by just how much Axiom Verge feels like Metroid, I still felt compelled to see this journey to the end. The weapons feel great, the character progression is rewarding, and bringing down a massive boss is awesome. While I wish it balanced it’s lack of mission explanations with its overabundance of exposition, I still really enjoyed my time in its strange, yet familiar world

Gamespot: 8/10

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Axiom Verge is a game that’s easy to fall in love with because it hits so many high notes. It takes the Metroidvania model and adds layers of ingenuity that are in a league all of their own, the most notable being the Address Disruptor. Yes it’s occasionally drab looking, and some enemies may not fit in with the rest of the world, but when a game is this good, these blemishes quickly fade into the back of your mind. The chilling sci-fi setting, mysterious plot, and a seemingly endless number of abilities keep your mind busy, and your curiosity at fever pitch. It’s not a stretch to say that Axiom Verge is better than the games that inspired it, because it’s so inventive and thoughtfully crafted. There’s no excuse to hold onto the past when the present is this amazing.

Eurogamer: Recommended

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It’s just a shame that given the obvious talent and passion involved, it doesn’t really have much of its own to add to the Metroidvania template. As charmed and delighted as I often was with its smartly paced escalation, its perpetually teasing construction, I kept waiting for some new element to appear, a eureka moment that either hadn’t been thought of in 1986, or that could only be done today. It never quite happens. Axiom Verge seems content to be a homage, rather than a revival or reinvention. That’s fine, since there’s already plenty to justify your interest, but it feels like Happ has more to contribute than he’s showing here.

It’s out now, and is a measly R259 on the PlayStation store. Buying it nets you the Vita version, which’ll be released later.

Last Updated: April 1, 2015

38 Comments

  1. Greylingad

    April 1, 2015 at 10:07

    If I only had a ps4… Ag well, I’ll have to wait for the pc release then… In the meantime, I’ll play fez…

    Reply

    • Admiral Chief

      April 1, 2015 at 10:10

      I stopped playing FEZ out of protest against that dumbass, even though I got it for free

      Reply

      • Greylingad

        April 1, 2015 at 10:13

        Yep, I also stopped playing it, Yiss that dude’s an idiot… Anyway, I do love the 8 bit culture though, there is something about that nostalgic feel to a game that makes me smile…

        Reply

        • Sageville

          April 1, 2015 at 11:25

          I just can’t, I’m the opposite, I lived through all the different “bits”.

          I suppose it appeals to some, but to me it’s like people getting excited for a Nokia 3310 being re-released, now I’m just happy that the box art is actually close to in-game.

          Each to their own.

          Reply

          • Greylingad

            April 1, 2015 at 11:39

            You make a good point! I used to hate it when you played a game with a newer PC and suddenly the in game graphics look better than that of the CGI cut scenes… I also lived through all of the “bits” but there is something about playing a game where you know it’s not about the graphical fidelity, so there must be an amazing story behind it… But yes, each to his own…

  2. Admiral Chief

    April 1, 2015 at 10:10

    Dat Eurogamer, lol

    Reply

  3. Dutch Matrix

    April 1, 2015 at 10:11

    Hey! That looks a hell of a lot like that one game I played in 1995! Is there a slot I can put my 20c in???

    Reply

    • Greylingad

      April 1, 2015 at 10:16

      Did you play it at the local cafe?

      Reply

      • Dutch Matrix

        April 1, 2015 at 10:16

        Not the Local cafe no. I had to cycle to the city centre to play it at a cafe there.

        Reply

        • Greylingad

          April 1, 2015 at 10:19

          Hahaha! I had to walk almost a kilometer to play it at ours… The memories… The cafe was one of those portogeus shops, with a fish and chips place right next to it… Aah sweet nostalgia…

          Reply

          • Dutch Matrix

            April 1, 2015 at 10:24

            Man, the cafe I was referring to had all the cool games. Robocop, DragonNinja and some strip poker sorry pool game, Pocket Gal I think. And right around the corner was this arcade, dodgy as hell but they had a few good ones as well.

          • Greylingad

            April 1, 2015 at 10:26

            Gee wizz, how come almost every arcade is dodgy as hell though? The most fun though, but bloody dodgy…

          • Dutch Matrix

            April 1, 2015 at 10:39

            It’s the people. Non Gamers went there to smoke, indulge in under age drinking and the local pervs only went to pick up school girls. I kid you not. My parents actually forbade me the arcades. It was THAT bad that I actually agreed with my mom. 🙂

          • Greylingad

            April 1, 2015 at 10:43

            Yes! Yes! That’s exactly it! I also found the place appalling! To such an extent that I just stayed away, some things are just not meant to be seen by children…

          • Dutch Matrix

            April 1, 2015 at 10:45

            LoL. It was there that I found out about our Sunday School teacher’s skill at playing Pinball Action, all strippers edition. With one ball that guy could strip a nicely drawn girl naked in no time.

          • Greylingad

            April 1, 2015 at 10:48

            Bwaahaahaa! Aah the hidden talents, just amazing, maybe it’s a good thing that we stopped going to places like that…

          • Greylingad

            April 1, 2015 at 10:59

            I still think we grew up in the best of times…

  4. Lord Chaos

    April 1, 2015 at 10:16

    I miss Contra now.

    Reply

    • Dutch Matrix

      April 1, 2015 at 10:18

      • Lord Chaos

        April 1, 2015 at 10:21

        I have no idea what that is.

        I actually connected the console to the tv and still have a bunch of the cartridges.

        Reply

        • Dutch Matrix

          April 1, 2015 at 10:22

          This was Contra, only renamed to Gryzor, back in a day when we did not give a rats ass about copyright.

          Reply

  5. Hammersteyn

    April 1, 2015 at 10:26

    SOLD! Got way too many games to play now :'(

    Reply

    • Skyblue

      April 2, 2015 at 01:02

      I’m def playing this as well!

      Reply

      • Hammersteyn

        April 2, 2015 at 07:43

        Downloaded last night. Cost R256 (not including the PS+ discount) at a size of 256MB. I lolled 1MB @ R1

        Reply

        • Skyblue

          April 2, 2015 at 08:45

          Does it play as cool as it looks?

          Reply

          • Hammersteyn

            April 2, 2015 at 09:02

            Haven’t played it yet, got stuck into Bloodborne

          • Skyblue

            April 2, 2015 at 09:05

            I’ve finally started on my backlog so everything else is on the backburner for a while. Also just had to finish up Zeus in Apotheon but then switched to GoW and moered him in that instead.
            Here’s to a great gaming, whisky fuelled long weekend, cheers!

          • Hammersteyn

            April 2, 2015 at 09:31

            Ditto XD

  6. Hammersteyn

    April 1, 2015 at 10:33

    Seriously, this is a sober reminder of what games used to be like. Prioritizing gameplay over graphics for instance. Also it isn’t a day one patch, overladen with DLC, broken and buggy mess that AAA gaming has become. They can have my money and the money for the sequel as well

    Reply

    • Greylingad

      April 1, 2015 at 10:41

      Well anything that came on a disk really didn’t/couldn’t afford to be broken, the whole atari thing was a perfect example, but today we have the interwaps with its glorious “well fix it after its released” crap, which promotes a lack luster development cycle… Sadly…

      Reply

      • Dutch Matrix

        April 1, 2015 at 10:42

        And you know, that is what murdered gaming for me. I cannot buy a game instore, then wait an entire day or weekend for a patch to download.
        I’d rather stick to playing Mass Effect and Doom for the 39th time than that.

        Reply

        • Greylingad

          April 1, 2015 at 10:46

          Man, that’s just it isn’t it, I bought a game, expecting it to be complete, right? That’s why there is a formal release date… Not to sit and stare at a downloading bar in great anticipation…

          Reply

    • Blood Emperor Trevor

      April 1, 2015 at 10:47

      You mean wait for it to become free on PS+ right? *run*

      Reply

      • Hammersteyn

        April 1, 2015 at 11:09

        Hahahaha no, gonna buy it now.

        Reply

  7. Umar

    April 1, 2015 at 10:51

    Fuck I need this!!

    Reply

    • Skyblue

      April 2, 2015 at 01:02

      Both of us, looks sick as hell!

      Reply

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