Much like a Master System title Kenseiden, Ax Battler: A Legend Of A Golden Axe for the Game Gear takes influence from another titles (most obviously Zelda) but expands upon it with it's own unique take.
It has three layers, an over world map with random battles, a non action town hub and action/platforming stages.
The success of each varies, the over-world random battles, rather than turn based are real time duels using mechanics similar to the beat em up. However they are simplstic and easy to predict thanks to a repetitive barrage and therefor no challenge - it stands more of an interesting idea than something executed well - these become nothing more a time eater.
The town hubs also fall short, for this time era, interaction was always simplstic. But here, it has no characters of any kind, the town people simple serve as utilities, a training facility, an inn and hints as to the direction to go, which is always obvious. Visits are primarily for power-ups training provide, they are mandatory for some levels.
The action/platforming levels (essenailly dungeons) are probably the most successful aspect. These, while not terrible, are utterly generic of what you would expect from the era. Nothing stands out.
Music are graphics do a nice job, a repetitive but never boring melody repeats on a loop, and as expected, it looks better than it's nes competitor thanks to Game Gears more powerful hardware.
Taken on it's own element by element, it's not a particularly great game, but when the layers pile together, a rhythm forms and begin to enjoy yourself.
Ax Battler: A Legend Of A Golden Axe is interesting direction the series could have went that never quite came together, the series as a whole eventually went flat thanks to bad business management. It's worth seeking out as a curiosity item - as a game, it's mechanically broken.
