Axelay

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Axelay

Developer(s)	Konami
Publisher(s)	Konami
Release date(s)	^JPN September 11, 1992 ^NA September, 1992 ^EU September 30, 1993
Genre(s)	Multi-scrolling shooter
Mode(s)	Single player
Platform(s)	SFC/SNES
Media	8-megabit cartridge

Axelay is a 2D shoot 'em up video game developed by Konami of Japan for the Super NES (SNES). It was launched on September 11, 1992 in Japan, later in that month in the United States, and on September 30, 1993 in Europe.

The game story begins with a scene where alien ships are invading the Earth-like Corliss and destroy it entirely, so that it falls to the Axelay ship to fight with the alien invaders. The game earned significant popularity for use of the SNES mode 7 and parallax effects in comparison to other games at the time. Such visual effects combined with what was then seen as an advanced selection of weapons available as well as the music score made Axelay into a popular shooter for the SNES console. The shooter was somewhat unique in that it utilized a subtle fantasy motif rooted in adventure RPG's, yet still retained all aspects of a sci-fi shooter. Some bosses reflect this idea: A large mechanical spider, a craft shaped like a massive witch's hat, and a fiery ogre.

Axelay is largely considered a classic of the genre, and was voted one of EGM's 100 best games of all time in their 100th issue.

The Music Composer for this game was Souji Taro.

One of the developers of Axelay would leave Konami, and then help found Treasure Co. Ltd.

At the end of the game on the hardest difficulty, after beating the game thrice, a message promises a sequel to this game, though it never materialized. According to Konami, it was never made because the game sold poorly, though many players think that the real reason was because of the aforementioned departure of the game's developers to form Treasure Co. Ltd.