Retro Replay Review

Gameplay

Axe of Rage picks up where Barbarian/Death Sword left off, but this time the stakes feel higher. You step into the grim corridors of Wizard Drax’s dungeon, wielding your trusty axe alongside the newly-minted warrior princess. The core combat remains as deliberate and weighty as its predecessor—each swing, thrust, and parry carries real impact. However, the addition of multiple enemy types demands that you adapt your tactics on the fly: a charging troll will punish a reckless overhead chop, while nimble goblins force you to keep your defenses tight.

(HEY YOU!! We hope you enjoy! We try not to run ads. So basically, this is a very expensive hobby running this site. Please consider joining us for updates, forums, and more. Network w/ us to make some cash or friends while retro gaming, and you can win some free retro games for posting. Okay, carry on 👍)

The strategic nuance shines through in how each monster must be approached. On the first dungeon level, skeletons fall easily to horizontal slashes, but by the third tier, armored brutes require more careful footwork and well-timed feints. There’s also a light puzzle element: certain gates only open once you’ve dispatched all creatures in a chamber, encouraging you to clear each area thoroughly before proceeding. A total of four increasingly perilous floors separate you from Drax’s lair, and each ring of the dungeon introduces new hazards and enemy behaviors.

Controls feel responsive on both gamepad and keyboard, with a pleasantly rigid sensation that reinforces the heft of your weapon. A dedicated block button lets you absorb frontal blows, but positioning matters—get cornered, and you’ll find yourself juggling attacks from multiple directions. The princess character can be switched in at any time, and her lighter frame offers faster combos at the expense of raw damage. This trade-off makes it easy to tailor your approach based on the foes you face.

Exploration elements give the action a welcome break from non-stop combat. Secret alcoves hide health potions, and occasional scrolls tease lore about Drax’s rise to power, though the game never burdens you with too much exposition mid-battle. Overall, the rhythm of Axe of Rage blends hack-and-slash thrills with measured exploration, rewarding patience as much as quick reflexes.

Graphics

Visually, Axe of Rage captures the gritty aesthetic of early ’90s dungeon crawlers, delivering blocky but charming pixel art that evokes a sense of looming danger. Character sprites are sizable and well-animated, with each swing of your axe accompanied by a satisfying “woosh” frame. Monster designs range from skeletal warriors to oversized ogres, each sporting enough detail to distinguish their attack patterns at a glance.

The dungeon backdrops lean heavily on dark stone textures and torchlit alcoves, creating an oppressive atmosphere that perfectly suits the game’s revenge-driven narrative. While the color palette stays within moody browns and greys for the most part, occasional splashes of crimson—whether from spilled potion or a boss’s glowing eyes—add visual flair. However, room layouts can feel repetitive after extended play; a bit more environmental variety would have helped each level retain a stronger sense of identity.

Performance is generally stable, but you may notice a slight slowdown when multiple enemies and particles appear simultaneously. It’s never severe enough to disrupt the combat flow, but purists seeking frame-perfect responsiveness might find it noticeable. On modern systems, you can toggle a “classic CRT filter” that softens pixel edges and ramps up the nostalgia factor, though it slightly darkens mid-dungeon visibility.

All told, Axe of Rage’s graphics won’t win awards for innovation, but they serve the gameplay well. The visual design complements the tense atmosphere, and the local co-op option (allowing a second player to hop in as the princess) benefits from clear on-screen character distinction. If you’re fond of retro visuals with a few contemporary flourishes, the game’s presentation will feel right at home.

Story

The narrative of Axe of Rage picks up directly after your triumph in Barbarian/Death Sword, when Wizard Drax’s dark magic was finally undone. In a surprising twist, the princess you once rescued has set aside her royal duties and taken up arms, determined to see Drax’s reign of terror end once and for all. This role reversal—where the princess evolves from damsel in distress to fierce ally—gives the plot an unexpectedly empowering angle.

Cutscenes between dungeon levels are brief but effective, featuring pixel-art stills and staccato captions that sketch out Drax’s descent into madness. You learn that he’s siphoned arcane energy from his own prison, mutating the dungeon’s inhabitants into nightmarish forms. These story beats, while not groundbreaking, offer enough context to keep you invested as you hack your way deeper into his domain.

Character interaction is sparse in the heat of battle, but the banter between you and the princess during loading screens adds a fun dynamic. She’s voiced with a touch of sass, lamenting how the royal court will react when they discover her new profession. Your hero, by contrast, offers stoic grunts and occasional one-liners, reinforcing the classic barbarian archetype.

Ultimately, the plot serves its purpose as a backdrop for the action, rather than stealing the spotlight. If you’re after a sweeping fantasy saga with branching dialogue trees, Axe of Rage won’t satisfy. But if you appreciate a lean, revenge-fueled premise that propels you through four levels of dungeon mayhem, its straightforward storytelling is more than adequate.

Overall Experience

Axe of Rage nails the core appeal of its predecessor while introducing fresh wrinkles to the formula. The blend of tactical swordplay, monster-clearing exploration, and period-appropriate visuals strikes a nostalgic chord without feeling like a mere retread. Whether you’re revisiting the world of Barbarian or discovering it for the first time, the game’s pacing maintains a consistent sense of momentum.

Difficulty ramps up gradually, allowing newer players to grasp the combat basics before facing the more challenging foes deeper within Drax’s dungeon. Veteran slashers will appreciate the tight hitboxes and responsive control scheme, which reward precision as much as brute force. The princess’s agility-focused moveset provides an alternative playstyle that extends the game’s replay value.

While some graphical repetition and occasional slowdown prevent Axe of Rage from achieving perfection, these minor quibbles rarely undermine the enjoyment. The soundtrack—an assortment of driving percussive beats and eerie dungeon loops—keeps the tension high throughout your descent. Short load times and a user-friendly map system make backtracking painless, so the focus remains firmly on the action.

In summary, Axe of Rage offers a satisfying blend of old-school hack-and-slash thrills and modest modern enhancements. It excels at delivering visceral combat, atmospheric graphics, and a lean revenge tale that keeps you engaged from the dungeon entrance to the final showdown with Wizard Drax. If you’re in the market for a challenging, retro-flavored adventure, this is one axe you’ll want to swing.

Retro Replay Score

6.8/10