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アクスレイ
©1992 Konami
Release: 1992-09-11 (¥8800)
Cartridge SHVC-AX
Shooter/Vertical/Horizontal
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Released in America as
AXELAY
( SNS-AX-USA )
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Released in Europe as
AXELAY
( SNSP-AX-XXX )
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Axelay is a horizontal/forward shooter developped by Konami. In a far
future, the peaceful Ilis star system has been invaded by a merciless alien army
known as the Dark Empire. The star fighter Axelay is developed
in an attempt to stop the invading force, and it is sent out to fly deep inside
enemy territory to destroy it from within. The most unique
feature of the game is definitively the overhead/vertical stages - unlike most of its peers,
Axelay alternates between two styles of play : overhead/vertical and horizontal stages.
The overhead levels heavily rely on sprite deformation and scaling effects, and the enemies as
well as the background scenery smoothly roll into view and give the game its distinctive
character. The horizontal stages are a lot more traditional and yet, they also feature smooth
parallax scrolling, sprite deformations and unique visual effects. However, the game doesn't
feature any in-game power ups, and the Axelay fighter comes equipped with three weapon
slots (main weapon, side weapon and missiles) and the player can freely
switch from one slot to another at any time during the game. Beside, the Axelay prototype
star fighter can only acquire new types of weapons after completing a new area, which
gives the player the ability to pick different slot combinations as the game
progresses. Weapon slots also act as
temporary shields, and sustaining a hit automatically damages and eventually disables the
active weapon. Axelay consists of six stages and is single player only.
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For some obscure reasons, Konami slightly modified the game's original
story for the
American and European versions of the game. The Dark Empire was
renamed the Armada of Annihilation, and the Axelay doesn't collect
new weapons from secret bases anymore, but recapture them from the enemy. Also,
all the planets were renamed - the original Japanese version featured the
Mother Planet, Cloud Planet, Colony, City Planet,
Aqua Planet and Magma Planet, whereas the American version
renamed them Cumuluses, Tralieb Colony, Urbanite,
The Cavern and Sector 3 Lava Planet.
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Game story copied from the Japanese instruction manual:
Ilis defensive armed forces executed the Axelay plan against the invasion
of the Dark Empire.
The main weapon is the Axelay which is a small multi-purpose fighter.
Because Axelay is developed to be small size for thinking much of mobility,
it can equip only necessary mirimum weaponry.
To be mobile, powerful and deffensive fighter, armed force decided to
have Axelay equip special weaponry.
Such special weaponry is developed at secret bases on different planets of
the Ilis Solar system.
Now, Axelay has become a more powerful fighter than other huge enemy
fighters.
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Teaser text from the American version:
Kiss your Axelay good-bye.
You're stewed. Even though you've got the Axelay prototype combat stratafighter
with the most sophisticated weaponry in the Illis solar system, the 3-D graphics and
perspectives are so realistically shocking that you'll probably freak out and bury the
ship in an asteroid. Nevertheless, you're the only remaining hope for a cluster
of worlds bonded by one common goal - to suppress the ruthless onslaught brought
forth by the Armada of Annihilation in a six level galactic blitzkrieg.
The planets of the Illis solar system combined their technology to create a defense
force like no other by engineering the D-177B, code name : Axelay. A fighter so
advanced and costly, only one could be built.
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Game Staff (Copied from the end credits) :
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Main Program
"Dreamer" Ueda♥
Sub Program
S. Tamate
Support Program
"König" Ishida
Main Design
Θ山形茶王Θ Kodama
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Chara Design
"Boncharu" Yada
Sub Design
"Furiten" Nagisa
Main Design
1st Help Man
T. Furukawa
2nd Help Man
"Kagenin" Sasaki
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Opening.Ending
S. Kushibuchi
Sound Program
A. Fujio
Effect & Ending-1
Äki
Music Compose
Taro
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ST2-Remix
M.C.Ada
Art Design
Pd. Namba
Special Thanks
Kurokotai
Produce
Mr. Kitaue
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G
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Japanese CD Soundtrack
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Click on picture to enlarge |
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LK
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Add your Pov here !
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P
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As Salamander did before it, Axelay brilliantly and seamlessly combines
two shooter types into one single game. But, more importantly, Konami managed to
create a technically flawless shooter with a veritable feast of special effects, amazingly
large and sumptuous bosses, and a spotless and intense gameplay. Without pause for breath, the
game segues between intense shooting action and boss attacks with impressive efficacity.
So why not give Axelay the highest score ?
Well, I think there're two things that disrupt this idyllic picture. First,
the overhead stages take some time to get used to, and I've never been a big fan of the
"rolling" effect (some enemies appear flat with no perspective, whereas others appear
inside the 'rolled' background). Then Axelay is an incredibly tough nut to crack,
and difficulty quickly ramps up to a brutal and frustrating level. But all in all, Axelay
is an excellent and impressive shooter, despite the hit and miss overhead levels (in my opinion).
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