JustAxe takes me back to the good old days of Adobe Flash games on platforms like Newgrounds and Kongregate. It’s a straightforward platformer that carries that familiar Flash game vibe, complete with fluid—albeit clunky—controls. For newcomers to this style, the game’s sluggishness and quirky physics might be a bit of a shock. It feels a bit out of place on a modern console, especially one launching in 2024.
Imagine controlling little Martha as she navigates through levels, with enemies persistently on her tail. These foes are so fixated on her that they’ll stack up and tumble into traps and gaps just to get close. When they do make contact, they knock her back by what feels like unrealistic distances—classic Flash game physics at its finest.
Martha’s movement through the game world feels equally bound by this quirky physics engine. She runs, jumps, and wields her trusty axe just as you’d expect, but something about the controls feels slightly off. Take one of the chase levels, for example—falling into a spiky pit usually spells instant doom. But not here. Instead, Martha bizarrely bounces off each spike, taking damage with each bounce instead of facing an immediate game over. Little quirks like these highlight the game’s lack of polish.
On the bright side, JustAxe is brief—just a three-hour jaunt that you could wrap up on a lazy afternoon. Its story is barebones, which comes as no surprise for this genre. Really, it’s more of a diversion for those wanting to pass the time on a long commute or during an awkward family dinner. The tricky levels and relentless enemies are sure to keep your mind off the world outside.
This review is based on a retail copy of the game, generously provided by the publisher.
