Golden Axe

Golden Axe is a beat 'em up game developed by Sega and released in 1989 for the Sega System 16 arcade machine. The Mega Drive version has differences from the original: some levels were shortened, but a final level was added featuring another boss, Death Bringer, who is a repainted version of the main villain, Death Adder. The game's style is heavily inspired by the Conan the Barbarian films.

The story takes place in the fictional land of Yuria, where a villain known as Death Adder has kidnapped the king and his daughter, holding them captive in his castle. Furthermore, he has stolen the "Golden Axe"—the magical emblem of Yuria—and threatens to destroy it if the people do not accept him as their ruler. The player's task is to travel to Death Adder's castle, stop him, rescue the captives, and recover the axe.

Three characters to choose from:

Ax-Battler - A barbarian seeking revenge on Death Adder for the murder of his mother.

Gilius-Thunderhead - A dwarf whose twin brother was killed by Death Adder's soldiers.

Tyris-Flare - An amazon whose parents were also killed by Death Adder.

The gameplay is a classic beat 'em up for one or two players. Three actions are available: attack, jump, and magic. Characters can run and perform a dashing attack, as well as a special attack (B+C button combination). The jump attack is particularly effective. Using magic damages all enemies on the screen. The magic supply is displayed as a meter at the top of the screen, and when activated, the character uses their entire accumulated stock at once. Magic can be replenished by attacking small, blue-clad thieves. The game is also notable for the ability to fight while riding on mounts.