36 Years Later, 1 of the Best Retro Sega Games of All Time Is Getting an Atari 2600 Port

Some retro games have stuck around long past their initial debut. Sometimes, it's because the titles had a revolutionary approach to their gameplay, while others had a memorable story or a revolutionary approach to gameplay. In the case of Golden Axe, all three descriptions apply. It was truly a title ahead of its time and remains endlessly replayable for modern and throwback audiences alike.

There have been several Golden Axe ports over the years, but a recent unofficial port is doing something that's never been done before: bringing Golden Axe to the Atari 2600. Golden Axe was originally released in arcades in 1989, near the end of the Atari 2600's lifespan, but the two feel like a partnership made in gaming heaven.

Golden Axe Comes From The Golden Age Of Gaming

Truly retro readers might have fond memories of their own of Golden Axe. The title launched in 1989 and utilized the classic beat' em-up mechanics of the era. The side-scroller featured complex levels, simple animations, and almost addictive combat. While its visuals were inventive, pulling on classic fantasy lore, its sound design and score, or soundscape, is perhaps one of the most immersive elements. Golden Axe was absolutely a game that always seemed to have a queue forming around the cabinet, and it was one of those releases that ultimately gave power to SEGA in the gaming space. It's an iconic entry into the SEGA vault and thus one that has been returned to again and again.

Many retro gamers have fond memories of Golden Axe. The side-scrolling beat 'em up utilized classic mechanics but stood out thanks to its complex levels and addictive combat. Its fantasy-inspired visuals were inventive, but its sound design and score were what really made the game immersive. While later entries in the series refined its mechanics, many fans still prefer the original.

Decades after its release, Golden Axe is still rated as one of the greatest arcade games of all time. The beauty of the title lies in how it takes advantage of its high-fantasy landscape, introducing enemies that are versatile and intriguingly designed. It also offers three unique playable characters, which was somewhat rare for beat 'em ups in that era.

What really sets the game apart from its competitors is that the choice between its three heroes was about much more than aesthetics. Each character had unique skills that shaped their style of gameplay. Ax Battler is a classic barbarian, and the dwarven hero Gilius Thunderhead takes on enemies with his battle axe. Rounding out the cast is Tyris Flare, an Amazonian who cuts down enemies with her sword.

Golden Axe is an iconic entry in the Sega vault and has been ported to more than 10 platforms, including Sega systems like the Genesis and Sega CD, as well as the Commodore 64, Amstrad CPC, and the Atari ST. It's also been revived through various disc collections, like Sega Genesis Classics on the PS4 title, which included three installments to the Golden Axe franchise, each masterfully restored for contemporary audiences.

Decades after its release, Golden Axe is still rated as one of the greatest arcade games of all time. The beauty of the title lies in how it takes advantage of its high-fantasy landscape, introducing enemies that are versatile and intriguingly designed. It also offers three unique playable characters, which was somewhat rare for beat 'em ups in that era.

What really sets the game apart from its competitors is that the choice between its three heroes was about much more than aesthetics. Each character had unique skills that shaped their style of gameplay. Ax Battler is a classic barbarian, and the dwarven hero Gilius Thunderhead takes on enemies with his battle axe. Rounding out the cast is Tyris Flare, an Amazonian who cuts down enemies with her sword.

Golden Axe is an iconic entry in the Sega vault and has been ported to more than 10 platforms, including Sega systems like the Genesis and Sega CD, as well as the Commodore 64, Amstrad CPC, and the Atari ST. It's also been revived through various disc collections, like Sega Genesis Classics on the PS4 title, which included three installments to the Golden Axe franchise, each masterfully restored for contemporary audiences.

The Atari 2600 Is Still Getting New Games

The final Atari 2600 game, Klax, was released in 1990, and the console was officially discontinued in 1992. Despite that, the 2600 remains one of the most beloved entries in Atari's console line and still has many fans to this day. In fact, it remains so popular that it continues to receive new unofficial games via platforms like Atari Age, including titles like Medieval Mayhem and Space Rocks, a modern take on Asteroids. It's also receiving new ports, like the upcoming Golden Axe release.

This unofficial port is intended to be true to the original Golden Axe, but it reimagines the title for the Atari 2600, with new visuals and gameplay that takes the limitations of the console into consideration. Even though the game had yet to be officially released, it looks like something that could have come out in the early '80s, and that's part of what makes the port so much fun.

Even though Golden Axe never made its way to the Atari 2600, the console was famous for its arcade ports, so this port feels like a natural fit. Some of the greatest Atari 2600 games of all time, like Space Invaders and Berserk, were released in arcades first, and Sega titles, like Spy Hunter and Thunderground, were released on the platform as well. In some ways, it feels like the new Golden Axe port is righting an old wrong.

The Atari 2600 version of Golden Axe is still very much a work in progress, and it's unclear when this title will be made fully available. That said, there are plenty of fans who are chomping at the bit to play a new version of one of the best Sega games ever. Even when they're unofficial, retro ports like this one help keep classic games alive, and this Golden Axe release seems like a fantastic way to celebrate the console's legacy.