Axiom Verge

Axiom Verge is an indie metroidvania released in 2015. Around this time, indie games exploded. Games were becoming easier and easier to create and sell. Axiom Verge was a part of this push. Its success can be credited to a variety of factors; it was a PS4 exclusive at a time where the PS4 didn’t really have many games, and it was the first notable metroidvania since the release of Castlevania: Symphony of the night. Now that metroidvanias are a dime a dozen, is Axiom Verge still worth playing? Skip to the end if you want a shorter review. Story After being knocked out by an explosion, a man named Trace wakes up on an alien planet known as Sudra. A mechanical head known as Elsennova requests his help to reactivate her kind, the Rusalki. The story here isn’t terrible, but it’s far from the game’s focus. Gameplay Axiom Verge is a metroidvania. If you don’t know what that is, essentially, it’s a 2D side scroller platformer with areas gated behind abilities. After you boot up the game, you can immediately tell that it is very much inspired by Super Metroid, not just in the visuals. There was something of a push for 8 and 16-bit games at the time, as the people actually creating games at this time had grown up with them. Axiom Verge has many similarities with Super Metroid, such as exploring an alien planet, collecting beam upgrades, and the sort. The actual world is designed quite well. In lots of metroidvanias, they leave points where you need an upgrade so far back that you’ll probably forget about them, and get lost. Fortunately that is not the case with Axiom Verge. The play control is very good. I do wish there was a run button, or the movement speed was just longer, but otherwise it’s solid. A gripe I do have with the game is that the map isn’t super detailed. In more modern metroidvanias like Hollow Knight or Metroid: Dread, the geometry of the area is on the map, so you can tell exactly why you couldn’t progress any further. Unfortunately, this is not the case with Axiom Verge. There is a fast travel system, but it’s incredibly limited. As for the upgrades, something I love that this game does is that it constantly subverts expectations with upgrades. I can’t provide any examples, as this is a spoiler-free review. But usually, you’ll expect a Metroid-adjacent upgrade, but the game gives you something completely different. Some of the upgrades you get are beams. Outside of the first three, they’re all optional, and they don’t help with progression. Instead, they offer different ways to fight enemies. This sounds cool in concept, but there’s two that you’ll most likely just use the whole time; it’s not that those ones are overpowered, it’s just that the other ones are underpowered. As for the actual combat, it’s certainly like Super Metroid, for better or worse. It’s sort of clunky, and there isn’t a clear way to dodge the ranged ones. Presentation Axiom Verge obviously goes for a 16-bit presentation. It fits the game quite well. All of the areas are vibrant and nice. As for the sound effects, they sound 8-bit as well. They’re done well for what they are, but that older sound just isn’t for me. The music bangs, though. They made some weird decisions for sampling in the songs, but it works out nicely. Content According to Howlongtobeat.com, the game is 10 hours long. The map is very expansive, and there are lots of optional secrets and upgrades in the main game. There is a speedrun mode if you’re into that kind of thing, too. Lastly, there’s a randomizer, which sounds fun. These are built into the game, too, like they aren’t mods. That’s incredibly cool from the devs. Positives: -Good play control -Unique upgrades -Fun exploration Negatives: -Limited fast travel system -Undetailed map -Unbalanced beams Axiom Verge is a similar case to Shovel Knight. It was an indie game which brought concept that hadn’t been seen in a long time back into the fold. With all of the progression the metroidvania genre has made since, Axiom Verge has stood the test of time and aged well.

Great Super Metroid heavily-inspired game, with great support for players that love to challenge themselves with speedruns or randomizers.

пока выполнял все ачивки чуть не стал инвалидом как гг

doesn't even get a chance to be comparable to super metroid, it's quite repetitive.

Created by one man (Thomas Happ), this game is a true hymn to the golden age of metroidvanias. This is not just a Metroid clone - it is its spiritual successor, distorted and turned into something unique. Axiom Verge is a game for those who are not afraid to get lost in order to find something new. If you love Metroid, Hollow Knight or even Dark Souls for their atmosphere and world - Axiom Verge gives you all this in a compact but rich form.

Buen juego...PERO POR DIOS QUE JEFE FINAL DE MIERDAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA Haganme caso, no se la compliquen tanto, simplemente quedense debajo de la barra celeste y espameen salto largo más teletransportación hacia arriba, si se puede vayan matando así a los robots para obtener vida. Fue la única forrma de pasarmelo, qué cáncer de jefe

40 minutes in. I counted, and I have found 16 directions that I cannot go with no clear path forward. There has been no plot, so I don't know where I am, what's going on, where I'm trying to go, or anything. One boss beaten, two weapons, and one drill. I haven't even found the main mechanic of the game yet! Just lost drilling walls hoping one will break and reveal a path. I shouldn't need a guide within 40 minutes. Edit: I found a 17th way!!!! EditEdit: It's a dead end too.