Axiom Verge

Axiom Verge

Developer(s) Tom Happ
Publisher(s) Thomas Happ Games
Engine MonoGame[1]
Platform(s) PlayStation 4, PlayStation Vita, Microsoft Windows
Release date(s) PlayStation 4
  • WW March 31, 2015[2]
Microsoft Windows
  • WW May 14, 2015[3]
Genre(s) Action-adventure
Mode(s) Single-player

Axiom Verge is an indie action-adventure video game developed by Tom Happ. The game was released on March 31, 2015, for PlayStation 4. PlayStation Vita and Microsoft Windows versions are scheduled for release.

Gameplay

Pre-release screenshot of Axiom Verge. The game's graphical style draws inspiration from the Metroid series of video games.

Axiom Verge is a side-scroller action-adventure game game where the player controls Trace, a scientist who, after suffering a fatal injury, wakes up in an ancient and high-tech world. The game focuses on action and exploration, and features over 60 items and power-ups. The gameplay borrows elements from classic games such as Metroid, Contra, Blaster Master, and Bionic Commando, among others.[4]

Development and release

Axiom Verge is an independent project by Petroglyph Games engineer Tom Happ, who has worked on games such as End of Nations, NFL Street, and the Tiger Woods PGA Tour series.[4] Happ also worked on a small Game Boy Advance project named Orn, a small Metroid fangame.[5] He is the sole developer, artist, and musician of the game, and began work on it in March 2010 as a side project.[4]

An alpha build of the game was submitted to the 2012 Dream.Build.Play challenge on May 15.[6] The game was originally expected to be released for Microsoft Windows and Xbox 360 in 2013,[4] but was ultimately delayed. In 2014, Axiom Verge was included in Indie Statik's list of Top 100 Most Anticipated Indie Games Of 2014.[7] In April 2014, it was announced that Axiom Verge would be released for PlayStation 4 and PlayStation Vita in early 2015.[8] Happ confirmed that a Microsoft Windows release was still forthcoming, but it would be later than the initial release.[9]

Reception

Pre-release

GameSpot editor Marco Martinez described the preview as "a game you should be paying attention to once a final build is released."[10]

Post-release

Reception
Aggregate scores
AggregatorScore
GameRankings(PS4) 87%[11]
Metacritic(PS4) 86/100[12]
Review scores
PublicationScore
Destructoid7.5/10[13]
Game Informer9.25/10[14]
Game Revolution[15]
GameSpot8/10[16]
Giant Bomb[17]
IGN7.9/10[18]

The game received critical acclaim upon release, with praised particularly directed to its setting, weapons, boss battles, control, upgrades and secrets featured. Aggregating review websites GameRankings and Metacritic gave the PlayStation 4 version 87% based on 25 reviews and 86/100 based on 26 reviews.[11][12]

Jeff Gerstmann from Giant Bomb gave the game a perfect score, praising its huge variety of weapons, as well as its rewarding and worthwhile upgrades. He also praised the game for encouraging players to reach 100% completion, the audio and visuals for evolving in meaningful ways while being similar to those of the 8-bits and 16-bits era. Regarding the difficulty of the game, he stated that it "makes things challenging without making them overtly frustrating". He summarized the review by saying that "If you've ever been into this sort of action-adventure game, Axiom Verge is positively terrific."[17]

Peter Brown from GameSpot gave the game a 8/10, praising its high replay value, surprising and rewarding story, occasionally breathtaking scenery as well as the setting, which he stated "instills a strong mixture of curiosity and dread". The game's secrets, large selection of weapons and soundtracks were also praised. He also particularly praised one of the weapons featured, the Address Disruptor, calling it "one of the most interesting weapons or tools that I've ever seen in a game." He summarized the review by saying that "Axiom Verge is a game that's easy to fall in love with because it hits so many high notes. It takes the Metroidvania model and adds layers of ingenuity that are in a league all of their own. It's not a stretch to say that Axiom Verge is better than the games that inspired it, because it's so inventive and thoughtfully crafted."[16]

Marty Sliva from IGN gave the game a 7.9/10. While praising its satisfying character progression, challenging boss encounters, responsive control and great sense of movement and combat, he criticized the forgettable story, characters that can't be related to and the map-design, which never evolves throughout the game and discourages exploration. He added that the game doesn't have enough distant and memorable regions. He also criticized the game for being too familiar with the Metroid series and for lacking a clear objective.[18]

References

  1. ↑ Culafi, Alex. "Dan Adelman Explains Why Axiom Verge is Not Coming to Wii U". Nintendo World Report.
  2. ↑ Favis, Elise (2015-02-23). "Axiom Verge: 2D Sci-Fi Platformer Coming to PS4, Vita, and PC". Game Informer. Retrieved 2015-02-23.
  3. ↑ Eddie Makuch (April 22, 2015). "Following PS4 Release, Metroid-Style Axiom Verge Hits PC Next Month". GameSpot. Retrieved April 22, 2015.
  4. ↑ 4.0 4.1 4.2 4.3 Marco Martinez (2012-04-11). "A Mix of Contra, a Dash of Metroid. What Do You Get? Axiom Verge.". GameSpot. Archived from the original on 2012-07-29. Retrieved 2012-04-22.
  5. ↑ Thomas Happ (2003). "Orn". Computer Science. Archived from the original on 2014-10-25. Retrieved 2014-11-21.
  6. ↑ "Press release for Axiom Verge". Gamasutra. 2012-04-17. Archived from the original on 2012-05-11. Retrieved 2012-04-22.
  7. ↑ "Top 100 Most Anticipated Indie Games Of 2014". Indie Statik. 2014-01-01. Archived from the original on 2014-03-01. Retrieved 2014-03-08.
  8. ↑ Tom Happ (2014-04-30). "Axiom Verge: Sci-fi Sidescroller coming to PS4, Vita". PlayStation Blog. Archived from the original on 2014-05-01. Retrieved 2014-05-01.
  9. ↑ Tom Happ (2014-04-30). "Axiom Verge Coming To PS4 And Vita!!!". Tom Happ. Retrieved 2014-05-21.
  10. ↑ Marco Martinez (2012-04-17). "Axiom Verge, a 16-Bit Game Worth Your Attention". GameSpot. Archived from the original on 2012-10-10. Retrieved 2013-01-10.
  11. ↑ 11.0 11.1 "Axiom Verge for PlayStation 4". GameRankings. CBS Interactive. Retrieved March 31, 2015.
  12. ↑ 12.0 12.1 "Axiom Verge for PlayStation 4 reviews". Metacritic. CBS Interactive. Retrieved March 31, 2015.
  13. ↑ Zimmerman, Conrad (March 30, 2015). "Axiom Verge review: Verging on greatness". Destructoid. Retrieved March 31, 2015.
  14. ↑ Vore, Bryan (March 30, 2015). "Axiom Verge review: What's Old Is New". Game Informer. Retrieved March 31, 2015.
  15. ↑ LaBella, Anthony (March 30, 2015). "Axiom Verge review". Game Revolution. Retrieved March 31, 2015.
  16. ↑ 16.0 16.1 Brown, Peter (March 30, 2015). "Axiom Verge review: Don't Look Back". GameSpot. Retrieved March 31, 2015.
  17. ↑ 17.0 17.1 Gerstmann, Jeff (March 30, 2015). "Axiom Verge Review". Giant Bomb. Retrieved March 31, 2015.
  18. ↑ 18.0 18.1 Silva, Marty (March 30, 2015). "Axiom Verge review: Strangely Familiar". IGN. Retrieved March 31, 2015.

External links