SEGA's Golden Axe Slashing On Next-Gen Consoles

Looks like the folks from SEGA were pretty serious when they said they would keep bringing their golden classics back to life. And what a classic this is! On their never ending "Road to E3", SEGA announced today that Golden Axe is being re-imagined for the next-generation consoles (PlayStation 3 and Xbox 360). This also marks the first project coming from Secret Level, since the San Francisco-based studio was acquired by SEGA just a month ago (story).

"Golden Axe delivers action-RPG thrills as a small band of Riders embark on an epic adventure to recruit allies, expose the enemy and prevent the annihilation of their breed. Delivering an intense and unique combat experience, players charge into battle on the backs of ferocious beasts or take their chances with the enemy while on foot. Fighting skill, wits and even magic are all called into action as players immerse themselves in the struggle to defeat an evil intent on enslaving the remains of civilization."

It might seem silly to bring back such an old franchise on next-gen consoles (after all we haven't seen any Golden Axe for more than a decade, if we're to omit the PS2 remake from 2003). But SEGA promises to do more than that: they want to completely "re-imagine" the story, and as SEGA of America's Vice President of Marketing, Scott A. Steinberg puts it - "The vision we have for the remake of Golden Axe is nothing short of remarkable and it can only be realized on the PlayStation 3 system and Xbox 360". I guess we'll learn more about this vision of theirs, as the game will approach its release in 2007.

(N.B. Archive text, links removed)