Review: Golden Axe Season One
Paramount has been on a strong streak with video game adaptations in recent years, thanks to the success of the Sonic the Hedgehog films and series and the well-received Among Us adaptation. The studio is also expanding its lineup with projects heading to Netflix, including a live-action Crazy Taxi movie, while a live-action Shinobi film is in development with Universal Pictures. Now, Paramount has teamed up with SEGA once again for Golden Axe, an animated adaptation of the iconic beat ’em up franchise that was originally planned for Comedy Central before moving to Paramount+. Considering Golden Axe was never one of SEGA’s most frequently revisited franchises, with only two notable arcade games followed by a handful of ports and sequels across later SEGA consoles, seeing it return in animated form is certainly an unexpected choice.
Developed by Solar Opposites co-creator Mike McMahan and American Dad! veteran Joe Chandler, Golden Axe follows Gilius Thunderhead, Ax Battler, and Tyris Flare as they discover that their homeland of Yuria is once again threatened by the villainous Death Adder. Rather than simply joining forces, however, the trio takes different approaches to stopping him, allowing their personalities to clash while giving the series room to expand upon the games’ familiar foundation. The inclusion of characters such as Chronos “Evil” Lait, the humanoid panther person introduced in Golden Axe III, helps amalgamate elements from the different installments into something that feels less like a direct adaptation of any one game and more like its own distinct Golden Axe entity. And the series’ original character Hampton Squib also develops beyond simply being the inexperienced comic-relief character, beginning as an overconfident wannabe adventurer desperate to prove himself before gradually finding his place alongside the veteran warriors. His journey gives him a genuine sense of purpose while providing some much-needed levity and an outsider’s perspective during the more serious parts of the story.
While Golden Axe has plenty going for it, its relentless focus on comedy can sometimes work against it. Some jokes fail to land, while the constant stream of meta humor occasionally comes at the expense of the story and character moments. Still, the show can be impressively self-aware, whether it’s acknowledging that Ax Battler hilariously doesn’t even use an axe or turning one of its strangest concepts, “The Potion Imp,” being portrayed as a perverted masochist into an unexpectedly compelling character arc about him finding purpose and developing beyond that initial gag. These bizarre choices won’t work for everyone, but they give Golden Axe a distinct identity and show that the series isn’t afraid to poke fun at its own source material.
The animation from Titmouse matches the show’s energetic personality, combining expressive character work with exaggerated action that suits its fantasy setting. Chris Westlake’s music also helps capture the larger-than-life atmosphere of the games, while Associate Producer Ruby Westkaemper, Casting Director Mary Hidalgo, Art Director David DePasqual, and Editor Kevin Piper round out the production team, with CBS Studios handling production.
Overall, Golden Axe is a fun and irreverent take on SEGA’s classic franchise that isn’t afraid to swing in a completely different direction. Its humor can be hit-or-miss, and its story occasionally gets buried beneath the jokes, but the series makes up for those flaws with personality, self-awareness, and plenty of chaotic energy. It may not be the Golden Axe fans remember, but considering how rarely the franchise itself has been dusted off over the years, there’s something fitting about its return taking such an unexpected form, and that’s part of what makes this adaptation such a wild swing.
