Soldier Blade vs. Axelay - Which is better?

[FraGMarE]

Which of these console showcasing shmups takes the cake?

[NecroPhile]

Soldier Blade is my favorite huey shewty and Axelay doesn't have a timed score mode, so you can guess how I voted. 

[Otaking]

I do love Axelay it's an absolute classic but IMO it can't beat Soldier Blade.

[PunkCryborg]

lol no contest

[PukeSter]

The winner would be very different on a SNES forum...

That said, having played one stage from both games (emulated, do not own yet), Soldier Blade wins, no contest.

Soldier Blade has perfect music, perfect graphics and perfect gameplay.

Axelay is a nice tech demo, but the music is lame, and the control is sluggish.

That's just my opinion per Stage 1 for both games, though.

[Otaking]

Axelay is a nice tech demo, but the music is lame

really? that surprises me, I've always thought the music in Axelay was excellent, particularly the first stage.
 

[PukeSter]

Axelay is a nice tech demo, but the music is lame

really? that surprises me, I've always thought the music in Axelay was excellent, particularly the first stage.
 

Maybe it is. Could just be the bad instruments that didn't make me notice.

[Tatsujin]

I can't vote on this. for me they are just way too far apart from each other.

and axelay has absolut great musics. if it can't be blamed for something then sure for its musics.
and it sure isn't just a tech demo..ROLF?! it really is a quality shewty on every regard possible and controls just very fine and I also like its weapon system.
only downers are the few slow downs and some heavier sprite flickers in the super big bosses.

for me probably a top 3 SFC game. konami really did one unique job on that gem.

[RyuHayabusa]

Axelay all the way. Great graphics, music, controls, and amazing bosses. The only negative is the length. 6 stages is just a bit too short. Soldier Blade is good but Axelay is among my favorite 16-bit shooters ever.

[FraGMarE]

Lol yea, I'm pretty sure if this were a SNES forum, there would not be one single vote for Soldier Blade

[Tatsujin]

Now that's for certain.

[oldskool]

As much as I love Soldier Blade - I do believe that Axelay is a better game.  And yes this is going to be a biased poll around here.  Would be better to post it somewhere like Digital Press.

[TR0N]

Fragmare really wants a civil war doesn't he 

[Joe Redifer]

As much as I love Soldier Blade, its graphics are quite sparse. One thing I tend not to enjoy about shooters like that is that there's way too many stages that take place in space. And space is pretty boring in videogames. Just some boring multiscrolling white dots and maybe a structure you're flying over. At least spice it up with a big-ass nebula or the side of a moon/planet or something. Add some color. Add some detail. Add some visual interest. You've already got the gameplay and the music down perfectly, why stop there?

Bottom line: Stage 1 or 2 should NEVER be a space stage, because those stages make the first impressions. You don't want everyone to think of a boring-ass black stage with a boring-ass structure pasted on top of it every time you hear "Soldier Blade" like I do.

[esteban]

Bottom line: Stage 1 or 2 should NEVER be a space stage, because those stages make the first impressions. You don't want everyone to think of a boring-ass black stage with a boring-ass structure pasted on top of it every time you hear "Soldier Blade" like I do.

I can't argue with you there. The same rule applies to albums (does anyone listen to albums anymore?)...the first two tracks (stages) are crucial for first impressions. They are literally burned into your brain. Literally. Ouch.

Actually, Joe, a good topic would be to explore (1) games that do/don't deliver first two stages...and if they are (2) ruined/redeemed by subsequent stages.


BACK ON TOPIC: this holiday season, I am grateful for both Soldier Blade and Axelay.

[jperryss]

Lol yea, I'm pretty sure if this were a SNES forum, there would not be one single vote for Soldier Blade

No kidding. And it feels like an odd pair of games to compare.

"But, but...OBEY!"

[Obfuscate]

Soldier Blade is way better. It has my favorite chip tunes, perfect difficulty, plus you get the best Caravan mode ever. I like Axeley but never really go back to it. I have way more fun shooting through Soldier Blade and play through it at least a few times a year.

[NightWolve]

It's been way too long since I played these... I do know I liked "Super Star Soldier" better than "Soldier Blade" because I never bothered with the latter again after I beat it. :\ Axelay, the graphics/effects were great, I remember that, but I never formed any bond with it, that is, have fond memories of it which probably means I didn't give a shit about its music and that factors high on my gauging as to whether I'll remember and ever wanna return to a game. For example, "Summer Carnival '93 - Nexzr Special" which I bought used, I can still remember the stage 1 track music because that's how good it was. Since its in the mold of SSS but with Redbook audio tracks, I have good memories of it and recall multiple play-thrus.

Well, I'm not voting either way cause I just don't remember them enough to choose. Also, Fragmare's whirlwind of versus battles is making brain hurt. Gonna just bow out now.

[YANDMAN]

Axelay is a beautiful powerhouse display of graphical goodness but the sound fx suffer from the classic snes reverb in a big way, Soldier blade is an entirely different beast but a better one for it, Its fluid,B Beautiful and fun= perfect game ingredients.

[turbokon]

Axelay does have some nice effect, the pace is kindly of slow and so is the soundtrack. Soldier blade is more up tempo so I prefer soldier blade, Axelay is still one of the better ones for a SNES shooter.

[roflmao]

My vote goes to Soldier Blade, only because I play it much more than Axelay.  But Axelay is a damn fine shooter, and one of the very few available on the SNES.

[wyndcrosser]

Axelay seems clunky, while soldier blade seems like butter when moving around. The control mechanics are definitely different.

[deubeul]

Always hated Axelay. I tried several times since it was out, though, giving the game a chance after reading good things about it. But no, each time i try it i find the game so boring and the controls so crappy. Just a beautiful empty shell.

Soldier Blade, apart its easiness, is the best vertical shooter on Hucard along with SSS, the one you'll still play 20 years after and the one you'll show to someone who doesn't know the PcE, "What?! this credit card is the game? "

[dq333]

As much as I love Soldier Blade, its graphics are quite sparse. One thing I tend not to enjoy about shooters like that is that there's way too many stages that take place in space. And space is pretty boring in videogames. Just some boring multiscrolling white dots and maybe a structure you're flying over. At least spice it up with a big-ass nebula or the side of a moon/planet or something. Add some color. Add some detail. Add some visual interest. You've already got the gameplay and the music down perfectly, why stop there?

Bottom line: Stage 1 or 2 should NEVER be a space stage, because those stages make the first impressions. You don't want everyone to think of a boring-ass black stage with a boring-ass structure pasted on top of it every time you hear "Soldier Blade" like I do.

I can see your point there but......... the first two levels of Layer Section are awesome.  Man I love that game , probably my all time fav shooter.  Soldier Blade vote for me.

[yoyo]

Ooo, damn, that's a hard one. Well, I have to be fair. I love both, about the same really. But.. I gotta be honest, the first time I played Axelay, my eyes about popped out of my head, I'd never seen anything like that done with the SNES, it impressed me quite a bit. Only by a pinch, I vote Axelay.

[imparanoic]

soldier blade has better traditional shootemup gameplay, but normal mode is a bit easy, yet hard too challenging, if soldier blade combines innovation of this game with visual innovation Ginga Fukei Densetsu Sapphire ( which I don't have original), then this would be much better than axelay

axelay is better for technological advances and innovation, hardness is perfect, also emulators can never get this game right ( classic example why real cartridges and machines are better), but sometimes, the gameplay is a bit sparse and slower

I own both. both have advantages in different areas

[yoyo]

also emulators can never get this game right ( classic example why real cartridges and machines are better)

Goddamn, ain't that the truth. Playing Star Fox on an emulator just makes me jump right onto my SNES and pop in my Star Fox cart. The timing is god-awful on an emu.

[o.pwuaioc]

Axelay is technically excellent, but I always thought it was a bit overrated as far as gameplay goes. It lacks the atmosphere I desire. Soldier Blade wasn't anything special, but it was nicer looking, I thought, and I'm a fan of the Star Force/Soldier series.

[Bklyn4ever]

I would love to comment, however soldier blade is one of the titles I do not have nor played.maybe one day I will get the opportunity to buy one.