GOLDEN AXE 3
Original Release: Sega, 1993, Genesis
Other Releases: PS2/PSP (in Sega Genesis Collection, 2006), Wii (2007), PS3/Xbox 360 (in Sonic's Ultimate Genesis Collection, 2009), PC/Mac/PS4/Switch/Xbox One (in Sega Genesis Classics, 2018)
Sega's final tilt at Golden Axe in the '90s freshened up the moveset and characters, but really seemed like it either had a low budget or was released too early
Golden Axe 3 (Genesis, Sega, 1993)
Where to Buy: eBay
How to Emulate: coming soon!
Review by: C. M0use
Did there really need to be a Golden Axe 3? You can tell that Sega must have been asking itself the same question, and the company's heart wasn't really in the project. It was a Japan-only release initially, only making it to North America in 1995 (when the console was about dead) as a download for the short-lived Sega Channel.
I'm "meh" at best on Golden Axe as a franchise, despite the nostalgic place it holds in many people's hearts. However, I actually think Golden Axe 3 is a slight step up from the original Golden Axe. It is a bit more playable, at least. It has some janky control / hit detection issues but overall I thought it was actually a little smoother and less repetitive than the original game.
This one also gives you some new characters and new moves to work with. Crazed dwarf Gillius Thunderhead has retired to an advisory capacity and in his place are two newcomers - some panther-man dude and a burly barbarian guy. The designs are a little questionable though. Like with Tyris Flare, they made her way too buff and totally neutralized any hotness she had. I mean, look at her when she's like sitting down or squatting. Euch. The new "wildman" character also seemed to be quite unpopular, probably because he seems to lack frames of animation and sometimes looks more like a beta character you'd unlock with a Game Genie.
The moves are mostly welcome additions though. You've got basically all the old stuff, but the attack+jump move is faster and improved for most of the characters. The magic system is also a little less "all or nothing" than it was in the original. Characters can also defend now, and each character has some super special unique move that often does big damage.
There are also multiple paths through most of the levels, but there's still not a whole lot of replay value to this one. It's actually a little too easy and you'll probably romp right through it the first time you play it. While it's at least an average beat-em-up, who has time for average beat-em-ups when there are so many other good gaming options out there?
I don't think Golden Axe 3 is terrible, at least not to the degree reviews of its time made it out to be. It's definitely more fun than Golden Axe 2 (if less nice-looking), and maybe even more fun than the original. But it's just too boring and uninspiring to really be worth the time and money.
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