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Episode 671: Golden Axe, Second Swing
🕑 Added 2025-02-10 12:00:10 +0000 UTCStuart: Stay with me here. We did the first part of the Golden Axe coverage, right. Then we did the second and final part. And that’s this. Not literally this. These are the words I wrote to tell you about the podcast. The podcast is another thing, with people talking. And you can hear them, and that. Look, surely you get it by now. Even if you haven’t listened to Retronauts before, you must have a basic conceptual awareness of what a podcast is. And even if you don’t, it’s not like it’s very difficult to figure out. Come on. We can’t do it all for you. To be honest, even if we could, we wouldn’t. How will you learn if you don’t try? It’s easy.
Less easy? Figuring out things to write about the second part of a podcast wherein the description of the first part effectively told you everything you need to know – which is why this description has, so far, been a bit cack. But the episode certainly isn’t, covering what remains of Sega’s beloved yet underrated Golden Axe series, all the way up to the relatively recently announced new one, which thankfully there hasn’t been any new information about since the recording, making this episode zeitgeist-tastic! Of course, by writing that, I’ve no doubt guaranteed that new information on the game in question will be released on the day, solely so the cosmos can once again render me a liar. I find the cosmos one of the most common causes of my being rendered a liar. Second only to my lies.
The Euronauts team of John Linneman and Thomas Nickel gather here once again, with the addition of the non-Euronaut Diamond Feit, as it only seemed reasonable to keep xem around given they were on the first one (and also, as you know, worth having on any podcast). There’s still more Sega to come, so don’t touch that dial. Assuming your means of listening to podcasts requires the use of a dial, somehow. Hearing aid, perhaps? Do those have dials? I’m very ignorant on the subject, to my shame. Hang on, I’ll just look it up.
I just checked and some do. Nailed it once again, Gipp.
Edits by Greg Leahy; art by Leeann Hamilton
09:51 - Golden Axe: The Revenge of Death Adder: Main Theme
19:32 - Golden Axe: The Revenge of Death Adder: Character Select
28:44 - Golden Axe: The Revenge of Death Adder: Waterfall Assault
36:59 - Golden Axe III: The Vast Field
44:21 - Golden Axe III: Dim Jungle
56:25 - Golden Axe: The Duel: Theme of Green
1:05:41 - Golden Axe: Beast Rider: Staff Credits
1:15:40 - Golden Axe: The Revenge of Death Adder: Hope for Tomorrow
1:22:34 - Sonic & All-Stars Racing Transformed: Adder's Lair Intro
Closing - Golden Axe III: The Gate of Fate
Comments
Drew Mackie
Stu, I cannot wait to gently condemn you
Stuart Gipp
I've made it through all these episodes without making a joke about John Thomas being a slang term for the penis, and I feel as though I deserve applause for that
Stuart Gipp
DIAMOND FEIT WHAT HAVE YOU DONE
Stuart Gipp
;_;
Jack Buser
The Revenge of Death Adder is indeed actually four player. The release from Arcade 1up is pretty cool in that regard. Just like the original it supports four players at once… Code Mystics did the emulation so that part is great, but the hardware itself is a bit laggy unfortunately (not unlike the Astro City Mini)
Drew Mackie
You brought this on yourself in creating an atmosphere where we all feel free to gently condemn you. Thank you for this safe space.
Diamond Feit
“Great episode. Here’s why Diamond is wrong” what an opener
KendoHead
Top quality shenanigans as always. One thing I want to say, though: I subscribed a while ago after hearing a few episodes with Stu, specifically - being of a similar age, hearing him talk of his experiences growing up with games in the UK/ Ireland, as well as his humour, resonated with me. One of my better decisions, as I've since discovered Diamond et al, with his columns and the monthlies being specific highlights. A few years later, the appeal of Stu's experiences and stories is still there, but it's genuinely really nice to hear how confident he has become with not just sharing them, but also holding his own as a host. Well done, mate - keep it coming.
Drew Mackie
Great episode. Here’s my take for why Diamond is wrong about centaur grammatical gender. In Ancient Greek, nouns are classified as masculine, feminine or neuter and indeed the Greek term for a female centaur would be Centauride/Kentauride. In modern English, however, there is a movement to not change the noun regardless of gender: “actors” to encompass people of all genders rather than “actors and actresses,” both because you can include nonbinary folks but also because it skips over this weird thing where it’s sometimes implied that female versions of a thing are unusual, surprising, nonstandard. (“A lawyer” vs. “a female lawyer” raises the question of why you’re specifying her gender.) And we just generally don’t use feminine speciality words like murderess, authoress, aviatrix, etc. So I think it’s fine to just say “She is a centaur” rather than “She is a female centaur.”
Kormakur Gardarsson
My adage of “every episode with John and Thomas on it is a good one” still holding up.
John Simon
Regarding new companies rolling into making fighting games: I think a good fighter one of the hardest things to make. Game studios are always pressed for time, so a studio head might say "Okay the sprites, backgrounds and music department all have their final deliverables, why are we still working on gameplay? Ship it!" so, either there are constant tweaks and re-releases like in Street Fighter, or it's a few super dedicated people working for a decade - Skullgirls, Them's Fighting Herds.
John Simon
I actually DID get to play this in Enchanted Castle arcade in 1993, near Chicago. IIRC its the only time I saw the ending. Standing 30 minutes in these dang beat'em-ups while your coins get whittled away at an increasing rate is just tiring. Like, I loved Sengoku 1 batshit as it is, but the last level is an opportunity to send your kid brother to the change machine with a fiver while you hope you can last long enough. They had a lot of other weird stuff like Outrun with a frensel lens (look it up), a Mortal Kombat II that was converted to use a projector, and that Sega Hologram+Laser Disc game, Time Traveler. At the time I didn't know what an adder was, "Death Adder? Uh, he increases or adds death, like in a mathematical sense." It'd be clearer if he was "Death Boa" or "Death Python" or "Death Garter Snake" Shame this was never brought over to Saturn. In any case, the current Mame romset is up to 80 GB compressed, not counting hard drive based games now. There have to be some more hidden gems Sega/Konami/Taito/Capcom's back catalog that didn't get enough attention. Also out of sheer coincidence Podouken (arcade podcast) also covered this.
Patrick McClafferty
Saw a The Duel cabinet recently at a barcade. First time I saw any cabinets for the series in person.
Retronauts
Leann Hamilton, again!
Infernal Jim
FANTASTIC artwork!
Diamond Feit
indeed this very crew may have another SEGA-related recording Very Soon...
