Axiom Verge

Axiom Verge is a real homage to a time gone by. But instead of feeling old and tired, it injects new life into an old genre by coming up with inventive ways to push you forward. It is also the kind of game that works great on the Switch. Its simple design means it plays well on the go and also doesn’t kill the battery. If you are looking for something to dip in and out of during the busy Fall period, then look no further.

As a game that stands on its own, it’s an incredible effort by a one-man army that had me glued to the screen for hours on end. Everything works so effortlessly in sync, and is topped with a layer of polish that can only ever be found with tons of loving hard work, care and attention. With plenty of hours of gameplay, neat ideas and lots to explore Axiom Verge is a must-have title for your Nintendo Switch.

Any fan of classic action games should take a look at Axiom Verge; this game has a lot to offer. Playing through the game offers a challenge and a decent story to keep players interested. The mix of weapons and items are interesting, adding an exciting feeling of being able to explore ‘glitched’ areas in the game. Axiom Verge is a welcome retro-inspired addition to the Switch library.

But regardless of small blemishes, Axiom Verge is one of the best Metroid-esque games I’ve played outside of Samus’ orbit. It’s the rare game that seems to understand exactly what made that series so spectacular, using that understanding to craft original power-ups and concepts that make this more than just a hollow Metroid rip-off. While the Wii U’s second screen might be my favorite way to play this game, having it on my fancy new hybrid console is worth the minor sacrifice.

Axiom Verge was already one of the best Metroid-style games in years and it lands on the Switch like it belongs there.  The game is endlessly creative with new enemies, weapons and tools, making each new area a fun challenge to explore while giving plenty of reason to revisit the older ones.  The huge, detailed bosses can seem insurmountable at first, but give up their patterns after an attempt or two, and good odds of receiving a new ability afterwards makes the fight worthwhile.  Axiom Verge is a throwback to a SNES classic, bigger and more detailed in its art and effects than that system could ever hope to handle while still looking like a game that might have found a home there, with music and sounds to match.  It hasn’t gotten any less excellent over the last few years, and whether you’ve played it before or never gotten around to it until now, Axiom Verge earns every bit of space on the Switch’s memory card.

Given that the title remains true to its roots and maintains all of the classic game elements, it's hard to find an actual fault with it other than its limited appeal and niche market; sadly some of the younger generation of gamers might not appreciate its classic style or nostalgia value. For the rest, it's simply a great metroidvania title. Fans of the genre who are looking for a title on the current generation of consoles need look no further — Axiom Verge has it all.