Axelay is a shmup for the SNES.
Unused Text#
- The game includes names of 3 unimplemented weapons: 'Heat Blaster', 'Flare Grenade', and 'Homing Missile'.
- The game includes a 4th unlockable difficulty level, which is referred to internally as 'Monkey'.
- The game once had a level select on the title screen, but it's been replaced. Curiously, there are only options for the first 4 levels, leaving the 5th and 6th out.
Sound Test#
The options menu had a non-functioning partially implemented sound test that has been disabled.
Unused Graphics#
The game loads a Konami logo into the graphics at the beginning of the 4th stage, but never displays it. It's overwritten later.
These graphics are loaded during the 4th stage boss fight.
Regional Differences#
Introduction#
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The international release added a trademark symbol.
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The Japanese version includes some additional story, roughly translating to "Peace was supposed to last forever...".
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In the Japanese version, the system had already been under attack for 5 years, while the international version was only under attack for months.
Title Screen#
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The international version adds Licensed by Nintendo and moves the game options up to make room.
Gameplay#
Your ship can move further down on the screen on the vertical scrolling levels in the international versions.
Demo#
If you wait at the title screen, the game will start playing through demos of each of the six levels in order. The gameplay in the demos was rerecorded in the international release for all but the last 2 levels. The demo continues until the player loses a life; in most cases, the Japanese demo player lives longer.