Pros & Cons
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- Gloomy, alien atmosphere.
- Tight gameplay.
- Satisfying retro science-fiction soundtrack.
- Numerous areas and weapons to explore.
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- The story takes a bit too much time to develop.
- The bulk of your arsenal becomes useless over time.
- The game sometimes clings too hard to its influences.
Tom Happ, who is known for his development work on EA's Tiger Woods PGA Tour and NFL Street franchises, has gone indie and crafted a delightful tribute to the exploratory action (A.K.A."Metroidvania") genre. Axiom Verge ($19.99) is a 2D platformer that combines the best aspects of classic side-scrollers like Contra and Castlevania: Symphony of the Night, while incorporating Metroid-like gameplay to deliver a refined experience for newcomers of the genre and seasoned vets alike. Axion Verge is a fun, engaging title; in fact, it's one of the best PC games you can play. Still plodding story elements and seemingly pointless weapons mar the experience a bit. I reviewed Axiom Verge on PC, but it's also available for PlayStation 4 and PlayStation Vita.
You control a scientist named Trace, who is working on an unexplained experiment that goes horribly wrong. One explosion and dilapidated research facility later, Trace is awakened by a strange voice that directs him to a nearby gun. Stranded on an alien world ran by biomechanical entities, most of which have been infected with a deadly pathogen, Trace takes it upon himself to restore the world to its former glory.
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