It seems to have been developed less as an occupant of a specific sub-genre and more as the result of bringing together exemplary parts. In this sense it’s more than just another Metroidvania. The game was built taking the intriguing gameplay ideas from titles like these, deconstructing them and then putting them back together in meaningful ways. Other notable comparisons and influences often cited include Contra, Bionic Commando, Shatterhand, Rygar, a variety of Nintendo games from our childhoods, a phrasing the solitary developer of Axiom Verge, Tom Happ, used. I caught whiffs of Eric Chahi’s Another Worldwith the intro, the scientist and the accident, and Blaster Master (I played Zero) with the drone gameplay.
That “every wall could hide a secret” mentality is ever-present, so you poke and prod at any fixture or tile that’s even the slightest bit unusual.Īxiom Verge’s deliberate design points beyond just Metroid, however.
The map itself seems visually structured around Super Metroid’s. Power ups and weapons await you at every corner of the map. Creepy crawlies follow familiar patterns encircling platforms. Tube doors grant access to different rooms and accompanying screens. The similarities are not astounding because we know they’re not coincidental.Īlien environs exude fear. I would be remiss not to mention how much like a clone of classic Metroid I considered Axiom Verge to be. For my fledgling moments with the game, getting into the gameplay, exploring its world, experiencing the presentation, all seemed to be fairly cookie cutter. At the extent to which I believed the clarity of Thing Two, I came into Axiom Verge fully expecting to encounter the familiar blueprints of Metroidvania. Thing One set my suspicion on alert, as generally happens whenever I first experience something with an already established fandom. Thing Two: Axiom Verge is a Metroidvania. Thing One: Axiom Verge is an indie charmer with a very favorable reception and dedicated fanbase. I have been waiting to snag Axiom Verge for a long time and when better to seize the opportunity than with its recent release on the Nintendo Switch? Now going into it, I understood two things. If you’ve already played it or you have no intention of playing it, then read on, NPC. This is the kind of game that’s best enjoyed before an in-depth review. Reaching out into that darkness and exploring the unknown is the principal joy of Axiom Verge, so I’m putting up a SPOILERS warning right here. A frail voice calls to him out of the darkness. But then he awakes in a mysterious machine, some kind of egg-shaped pod. In his final moments, the scientist realizes his life’s work and his life itself are over. An explosion roars, tears the facility apart. A scientist and his assistant are conducting an experiment when chaos erupts. This article is available as a well-read review on our YouTube channel!Ĭlick here to see all audio reviews on this site.
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