Playing JustAxe takes me back to the era of Adobe Flash games that thrived on platforms like Newgrounds and Kongregate. It’s a short, straightforward platformer that echoes the fluidity and control style of those early web games. For players new to this kind of physics and gameplay, it might feel a bit clunky and dated, especially for a console release in 2024.
In the game, you control Martha, navigating her through different levels where enemies relentlessly pursue her with surprising aggression. They are so focused on reaching Martha that they’ll pile on each other, falling into traps and over cliffs in the process. However, when they do manage to attack, they can send her flying unnaturally far, a clear nod to the quirky physics typical of classic Flash games.
Moving around in JustAxe feels very reminiscent of those older titles. Martha can run, jump, and swing her axe as you’d expect, but there’s a noticeable stiffness in the controls. Take, for instance, one of the chase levels where you might expect a fall into a pit of spikes to be fatal. Instead, Martha bounces repeatedly, taking damage with every hit, which can make the game feel a bit unfinished or rough around the edges.
The saving grace here is that JustAxe doesn’t overstay its welcome. With a running time of just about three hours, it can be completed in a single afternoon. The storyline is sparse, which is par for the course with games in this niche. It’s more of a distraction, perfect for whiling away time on a long commute or during a family gathering where you’d rather not engage too much. Even as you tackle its somewhat frustrating levels and persistent foes, it offers a brief escape from reality.
Please note, this review is based on a retail copy provided by the publisher.
