{{Short description|1990 video game}} {{Infobox video game |title = The Legendary Axe II |image = Legendary Axe II Coverart.png |developer = Atlus, Red Company |publisher = {{vgrelease|JP|Victor Musical Industries|NA|NEC}} |producer = Harunobu Komori<br />Satoshi Honda |designer = Kyon Kyon |programmer = Mamoru Shiratani |artist = Boku Kubo<br />Hikari Mitomi<br />Jyurō Tsuji |composer = Hirotoshi Suzuki |series = ''The Legendary Axe'' |platforms = TurboGrafx-16 |released = {{vgrelease|JP|7 September 1990|NA|October 1990}} |genre = Platform |modes = Single-player }}
'''''The Legendary Axe II'''''{{efn|Also known as {{nihongo|'''''Dark Legend'''''|暗黒伝説|''Ankoku Densetsu''||lead=yes}} in Japan and simply as '''''Legendary Axe II''''' in the North American packaging.}} is a horizontal platform video game released in 1990 by Victor Musical Industries and NEC. It is the follow-up to ''The Legendary Axe''.
== Gameplay == {{Expand section|date=February 2020}} thumb|left|Gameplay screenshot. Gameplay is similar to the previous game, but the "strength charging" has been removed. Multiple, swappable weapons have been added, obtained by collecting those icons: sword, axe, and morning star. In addition, the player has a stock of screen-clearing bombs that can be used by pressing Run. Defeated enemies drop these weapons and bombs, as well as health refills and extensions, and so on.<ref>''Legendary Axe II'' manual (TurboGrafx-16, US)</ref><ref>{{cite web|author=GrendalMK2|url=http://www.hardcoregaming101.net/legendary-axe-ii-the/ |title=Legendary Axe II, The|website=Hardcore Gaming 101|date=September 21, 2008|access-date=2020-02-10|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190503130517/http://www.hardcoregaming101.net/legendary-axe-ii-the/|archive-date=May 3, 2019|url-status=live}}</ref>
Unlike the previous entry and its vibrant and colorful visuals and sound, ''II'' is dark and threatening in tone; combined with the changes to the weapon system, ''The Legendary Axe II'' is even more like ''Rastan''.<ref name=EGMr/>
== Plot == {{More plot|date=February 2020}} The king and queen of a royal kingdom die and their two sons have to fight for the throne. Prince Sirius loses to the evil Prince Zach. The tone is set for the good son, Prince Sirius, to reclaim the throne.
== Development and release == {{Expand section|date=February 2020}}
== Reception == {{Video game reviews |CVG = 91%<ref name=CVGr>{{cite magazine|last=Swan|first=Robert |url=https://archive.org/stream/computer-video-games-magazine-109/CVG109_Dec_1990#page/n135/mode/2up|title=CVG Review: Legendary Axe 2|magazine=Computer and Video Games|issue=109|publisher=Future Publishing|date=December 1990|pages=136–137|access-date=2020-02-10|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160613215848/http://archive.org/stream/computer-video-games-magazine-109/CVG109_Dec_1990#page/n135/mode/2up|archive-date=2016-06-13|url-status=live}}</ref> |EGM = 7 / 10<ref name=EGMr>{{cite magazine|last1=Harris|first1=Steve |last2=Semrad|first2=Ed|last3=Alessi|first3=Martin|last4=Williams|first4=Ken|url=https://archive.org/stream/Electronic_Gaming_Monthly_15#page/n81/mode/1up|title=Turbo Champ - Legendary Axe 2|magazine=Electronic Gaming Monthly|issue=15|publisher=Sendai Publishing|date=October 1990|page=82}}</ref> |Fam = 23 / 40<ref name="WFTad">{{cite magazine|url=https://archive.org/stream/bi-weekly-famitsu-no.-109-september-14th-1990/Bi-Weekly%20Famitsu%20-%20No.%20109%20September%2014th%2C%201990%20%28Compressed%29#page/n19/mode/1up|title=暗黒伝説 (PCエンジン)|magazine=Famitsu|issue=109|publisher=ASCII Corporation|date=September 14, 1990|page=20|language=ja}}</ref> |IGN = 8 / 10<ref name=IGNr>{{cite web|last=Buchanan|first=Levi |url=https://www.ign.com/articles/2008/06/23/legendary-axe-ii-retro-review|title=Legendary Axe II Retro Review - The simple pleasures of slashing everything|work=IGN|publisher=Ziff Davis|date=June 23, 2008|access-date=2020-02-10}}</ref> |rev1 = ''CVG Mean Machines'' |rev1Score = 93%<ref name=CVGMMr>{{cite magazine|last=Rignall|first=Julian |author-link=Julian Rignall|url=https://archive.org/stream/Complete_Guide_to_Consoles_Volume_IV_1990_EMAP_Publishing_GB#page/n46/mode/1up |title=Complete Guide to Consoles – The Complete Games Guide: PC Engine – Legendary Axe II|magazine=Computer and Video Games Mean Machines|issue=4|publisher=EMAP|date=November 1990|pages=40–57}}</ref> |rev2 = ''Génération 4'' |rev2Score = 92%<ref name=G4dl>{{cite magazine|url=http://download.abandonware.org/magazines/Generation%204/generation4_numero030/generation%204%20-%20N030%20-%20fevrier%201991%20-%20page074%20et%20page075.jpg|title=Tests CoregrafX - Dark Legend|magazine=Génération 4|issue=30|publisher=Computec Media France|date=February 1991|page=74|lang=fr}}</ref> |rev3 = ''HonestGamers'' |rev3Score = {{Rating|3|5}}<ref name="HGtlaii">{{cite web|last=Golding|first=Marc|url=http://www.honestgamers.com/1484/turbografx-16/legendary-axe-ii/review.html|title=Legendary Axe II (TurboGrafx-16) review|publisher=HonestGamers|date=December 6, 2003|access-date=2020-02-10|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190523100545/http://www.honestgamers.com/1484/turbografx-16/legendary-axe-ii/review.html|archive-date=May 23, 2019|url-status=live}}</ref> |rev4 = ''Joystick'' |rev4Score = 87%<ref name="Jstickdl1">{{cite magazine|last=Demoly|first=Jean-Marc|url=http://download.abandonware.org/magazines/Joystick/joystick_numero011/Joystick%20011%20-%20Page%20124.jpg|title=Tests - PC Engine: Dark Legend|magazine=Joystick|issue=11|publisher=Anuman Interactive|date=December 1990|page=124|lang=fr|access-date=2020-02-10|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140118083250/http://download.abandonware.org/magazines/Joystick/joystick_numero011/Joystick%20011%20-%20Page%20124.jpg|archive-date=2014-01-18|url-status=live}}</ref><br/>87%<ref name="Jstickdl2">{{cite magazine|last=Demoly|first=Jean-Marc|url=http://download.abandonware.org/magazines/Joystick/joystick_numerohs03/Joystick%20HS%20n%b03%20-%20Juillet%20Ao%fbt%201991%20-%20Page%20076.jpg|title=Console News - PC Engine: Dark Legend|magazine=Joystick|issue=Hors-Serie 3|publisher=Anuman Interactive|date=July–August 1991|page=76|lang=fr}}</ref> |rev5 = ''PC Engine Fan'' |rev5Score = 17.31 / 30<ref name="PCEFad">{{cite magazine|title=PC Engine All Catalog '93 10月号特別付録 - 暗黒伝説|magazine=PC Engine Fan|volume=6|issue=10|publisher=Tokuma Shoten|date=October 1, 1993|page=6|lang=ja}}</ref> |rev6 = ''Player One'' |rev6Score = 89%<ref name="POdl">{{cite magazine|last=Scamps|first=Olivier|url=http://download.abandonware.org/magazines/Player%20One/playerone_numero007/Player%20One%20007%20-%20Page%20049%20%281991-03%29.jpg|title=Tests De Jeux - PC Engine CD-ROM: Dark Legend|magazine=Player One|issue=7|publisher=Média Système Édition|date=March 1991|page=49|lang=fr|access-date=2020-02-10|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140914043948/http://download.abandonware.org/magazines/Player%20One/playerone_numero007/Player%20One%20007%20-%20Page%20049%20(1991-03).jpg|archive-date=2014-09-14|url-status=live}}</ref> |rev7 = ''Power Play'' |rev7Score = 74%<ref name="PPtlaii">{{cite magazine|last=Gaksch|first=Martin|url=https://www.kultboy.com/index.php?site=t&id=3924|title=Power Tests / Video-Spiele: Der Pakt Mit Der Axt - Legendary Axe 2|magazine=Power Play|issue=33|publisher=Future Verlag|date=December 1990|page=158|lang=de}}</ref> |rev8 = ''Raze'' |rev8Score = 68%<ref name=Rar>{{cite magazine|last=Ellis|first=Les|url=https://archive.org/stream/raze-magazine-02/Raze_02_Dec_1990#page/n34/mode/1up|title=Reviews - Legendary Axe II |magazine=Raze|issue=2|publisher=Newsfield|date=December 1990|page=35}}</ref> |rev9 = ''Tilt'' |rev9Score = 15 / 20<ref name="Tiltdl">{{cite magazine|last=Huyghues-Lacour|first=Alain |url=http://download.abandonware.org/magazines/Tilt/tilt_numero087/TILT%20-%20n%b087%20-%20fevrier%201991%20-%20page070%20et%20page071.jpg|title=Rolling Softs - Dark Legend (PC Engine, carte Victor)|magazine=Tilt|issue=87|publisher=Editions Mondiales S.A.|date=February 1991|page=71|lang=fr}}</ref> |rev10 = ''TurboPlay'' |rev10Score = {{Rating|4}}<ref name=TPr>{{cite magazine|url=https://archives.tg-16.com/archive-one/TP-03-07.jpg|title=Closer Look - Legendary Axe II|magazine=TurboPlay |issue=3|publisher=L.F.P., Inc.|date=October–November 1990 |page=7|access-date=2020-02-10|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170105225418/http://archives.tg-16.com/archive-one/TP-03-07.jpg|archive-date=2017-01-05|url-status=live}}</ref> |rev11 = ''VG&CE'' |rev11Score = 8 / 10<ref name="VG&CEtlaii">{{cite magazine|last=H. Pappas|first=Lee|author-link=Lee H. Pappas|title=Video-Game Reviews - Legendary Axe II (NEC) For the TurboGrafx-16|magazine=VideoGames & Computer Entertainment|issue=22|publisher=L.F.P., Inc.|date=November 1990}}</ref> }}
''The Legendary Axe II'' was met with mostly positive reception from critics. ''Electronic Gaming Monthly'' was an exception; the magazine's four reviewers all razed it for its near-complete lack of similarity to the original ''The Legendary Axe'', and further said that even judged on its own terms it is a decent but unexceptional game.<ref name=EGMr/> In contrast, ''Computer and Video Games'' called it "a great sequel, and a brilliant hack 'n slash in its own right." The reviewer applauded the atmospheric backdrops, ambient sounds, and strong difficulty curve.<ref name=CVGr/> ''GamePro'' likewise felt it to be a satisfying sequel, concluding, "Remember, you axed for it!" in allusion to the heavy fan outcry for a ''Legendary Axe'' sequel. The reviewer particularly praised the graphics and variety of enemies.<ref>{{cite magazine|last=Winstead|first=David|url=https://retrocdn.net/index.php?title=File:GamePro_US_016.pdf&page=116|title=TurboGrafx-16 ProView: Legendary Axe II|magazine=GamePro|issue=16|publisher=IDG|date=November 1990|page=118}}</ref>
{{Clear}}
== Notes == {{Notelist}}
== References == {{Reflist|30em}}
== External links == * [https://gamefaqs.gamespot.com/tg16/589018-legendary-axe-ii ''The Legendary Axe II''] at GameFAQs * [https://www.giantbomb.com/the-legendary-axe-ii/3030-6441/ ''The Legendary Axe II''] at Giant Bomb * [https://www.mobygames.com/game/turbo-grafx/legendary-axe-ii ''The Legendary Axe II''] at MobyGames
{{Portal bar|1990s|Japan|Video games}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Legendary Axe II, The}} Category:1990 video games Category:Atlus games Category:Fantasy video games Category:Platformers Category:Red Entertainment games Category:Side-scrolling platformers Category:Side-scrolling video games Category:Single-player video games Category:TurboGrafx-16 games Category:TurboGrafx-16-only games Category:Victor Entertainment games Category:Sequel video games Category:Video games developed in Japan Category:Video games scored by Hirotoshi Suzuki