Liked Super Metroid, but lamented the fact Nintendo seem incapable of providing a proper sequel to that 1994 classic? Enter Axiom Verge, the best side-scrolling Metroidvania title since Shadow Complex, and one that unashamedly wears its influences on its neon sleeves. It must be said the comparisons between Super Metroid and Axiom are vast; creator and one-man programming powerhouse Tom Happ is clearly a humungous fan of the original amass items and moves to progress through the world-setup, but its in the subtle ways the game modernises itself to bring the formula into the modern age where it really excels. Suitably gnarly and distorted blip n bloop sound effects are the big thing that really make combat spring to life, a tactile sensibility you'll get more than used to as you explore every nook and cranny of a very impressively-designed world. That all leads to you felling all sorts of screen-sized bosses along the way, some very visually pleasing explosions producing a gooey mess that makes overcoming each a total joy. The rollout of abilities is always what makes entrants in this genre sink or swim, and between the beginning and end of Axiom Verge youll have gone from mild-mannered laser-touting scientist, to space-distorting multi-limbed badass - replete with a little helper robot. Its brilliant.
