Sega has issued a DMCA takedown for ZVitor's excellent Golden Axe Returns.
Game Jolt, the service which hosts the game, received the request, and informed the developer of the takedown.
Built using the OpenBOR ("Beats of Rage") game engine, the game is set after the events of the often divisive Mega Drive outing Golden Axe III but prior to the arcade-exclusive Revenge of Death Adder.
On the surface, it's an updated take on the traditional Golden Axe entries – belt-scrolling action involving swords and sorcery set across a wide range of fantasy locations.
Tyris Flare, Ax Battler and Gilius Thunderhead all return, as do cast members from the likes of Revenge of Death Adder, Golden Axe: The Duel and Golden Axe III.
"Visually, Golden Axe Returns looks fantastic, taking assets from several previous entries in the franchise (as well as some outside of it – enemies from Capcom's Knights of the Round appear at one point, for example) while adding in some new locations to spice things up," is what we said when we went hands-on with the game at the start of 2023. "The soundtrack is also suitably epic, comprising of classic tunes that have been skillfully rearranged using modern tools."
Sega is currently working on a revival of the Golden Axe series.
[source twitter.com]
Comments 7
Like I always said if it's not Sonic, then it's not allowed. Sega only allowed Sonic to have fan made games, fan made any other Sega IP and they will DMCA you for it.
I don't blame sega. Golden axe is one of the games their bringing back, can't have a golden axe knock off appearing.
Glad i downloaded it sometime last year or so. Quite a good game and a worthy GA entry. Too bad, but not unexpected.
@Skynett For some reason the one they are working on doesn't seem to look all too exciting compare to the one they just took down but I hope they could surprise me.
If you have the ability to recreate all the sprites, backgrounds, sounds, music, etc. and make it all playable, it might be time to just come up with your own designs and make your own IP.
I don't even really like this dev's sprite/pixel art style but they clearly have some skills. This could be the sign that they should take the leap from fan-game developer to original indie-game creators.
Such a shame. I don’t know the ins-and-outs of the legal, or the people involved in the fan games. But this and that Streets of Rage remake from yard back would be great under Sega’s belt (although the real SoR 4 was a banger tbf!)
Well this game at least looks better visually than the new game Sega is making, which has a tired and bland Warcraft-knockoff style. But what I really wonder about is the music in the new game. Golden Axe 1 and 2 especially had outstanding soundtracks. A new game in the series should have one as well, and not just new versions of the same old tunes which sound better with FM synth anyway.
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