Golden Axe Warrior is basically Sega Master System’s answer to Zelda—top-down adventure, sword swinging, and all that good stuff. You start in some village, get a wooden sword (which feels like hitting enemies with a pool noodle at first), and then it’s off to hunt for keys, magic spells, and better gear. The overworld’s packed with little secrets—burn bushes for hearts, bomb walls for hidden caves—and the dungeons are these mazey, monster-filled nightmares where you’ll definitely get lost at least once.

Combat’s simple but satisfying once you upgrade from that sad starter sword. There’s a weird mix of fantasy and barbarian vibes—like, you’ll fight skeletons one minute and then some dude with a battle-axe the next. The music’s got that classic 8-bit charm, all heroic and repetitive in the best way. If you’ve played the arcade Golden Axe games, don’t expect the same thing—this is slower, more exploration-heavy, but it’s got its own weird appeal. Just don’t expect the graphics to blow your mind.

It’s one of those games where you’ll scribble down notes like “red key in dungeon 3” because good luck remembering everything. Worth a shot if you’re into retro RPG-lite adventures.