Golden Axe (Arcade)

Conan, Red Sonja, and a dwarf team up to kill the evil lord Death Equals Adder. Along the way, they commit murder, robbery, and grand theft dragon.

Unused Graphics#

This is how life bars are stored in the character graphics ROM. The palette used in the final game assigns the same color to both the text and background of the bar, effectively erasing the "LIFE" text.

A simpler game logo that uses the same font as the copyright graphic. This was probably replaced by the fancier, flashing Golden Axe logo seen in attract mode.

Unlike a lot of other brawlers at the time, this game doesn't operate on a timer, though this graphic suggests that wasn't always the case.

Unused Text#

Starting at 0x2CA8 (Set 6 address) in the main CPU is a table that has area names and even the dates that the stages take place! Unfortunately, there are only entries for the first three stages, with the slots for Stages 4 & 5 just pointing to the Stage 3 text.

B.C.1989.1.27
 UENO FOREST

B.C.1989.1.28
TURTLE VILLAGE

B.C.1989.1.29
   AXE CITY

Regional Differences#

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The Japanese version has an extra sequence in the attract mode: it shows Ax Battler decapitating a Silver Longmoan enemy, sending his head flying towards the screen.

Japan	International

The text on the character select screen drips blood in the Japanese version.

Oddly, despite these changes, Death=Adder still bleeds upon being impaled by his axe after his defeat in the international game.

Japan	International

Text introducing the bonus stage was added in the international versions. These versions also inflate the total number of stages by counting the bonus rounds alongside the regular stages, bringing the total number from five to nine. As such, the current stage number is now displayed during these sections as well. The game's actual length is otherwise the same.

Japan	International

"Hensachi", a Japanese term for an educational ranking system (that's too complex to be explained here), was replaced by the more internationally easy to understand "Your Strength". The difference in stage labeling is also (rather awkwardly) reflected here.