Axis

Official Site (English site is still under construction)
Demo (multiplayer only)

Big robots, Korean style

Emerging from the Starcraft obsessed depths of Korea comes Jamie Systems with its offering, Axis. Axis places you in the role of a mech pilot tearing through the skies, and of course, other mech pilots. We're sure there is a rather convoluted plot about what drove humanity to fight in giant robots, as there always is, but as of current, FiringSquad doesn't keep a Korean translator on staff (that doesn't stop us from listening to K-pop anyway). Needless to say, we're sure it's something dastardly and awe inspiring.

Good thing he isn't wearing a dress.

Decisions, decisions.

What we don't need a translator for is the gameplay, which more than transcends the language barrier.

A dash of this, a bit of that

Axis doesn't propound a brand spanking new concept like most of the other games featured in this article. Instead, Axis takes two of the most influential games in the history of the first person shooter, and blends them and adds a bit of its own spin.

Watching a skirmish.

Floatin'.

The influence of both Quake and Tribes can most definitely be seen in Axis. The easiest to identify is Quake. Axis spends a lot of time in deathmatch. You'll find yourself shooting across levels with your railgun-esque weapon, out surveying the scene. The Tribes influence is a bit less pronounced, but still obvious. Axis takes place entirely in the air, save for the rare times when you touch down for ammunition or to zoom over an opponent's corpse.

10 Armor, this is gonna be rough.

Fella in a hallway, post battle.

The feel of Axis initially is that of your standard FPS, you have yourself a few pseudo-rocket launchers, your railgun, your lightning gun, but its Axis's attention to the third dimension in gameplay is really what separates it from the rest of the FPS market. As a mech in Axis you roar across the sky, dodging sniper shots and exchanging fire while zooming past a tower for cover.

You're all mine.

Gorgeous cityscape.

The aerial style - roaring through a cityscape with an enemy while exchanging fire, gives oodles of personality to Axis' gameplay. Fully aerial gameplay isn't anything new, there is a whole genre dedicated to it, but what seperates Axis from flight simulators or standard mech games is the incredibly agility your mechs have. Much like Tribes, you have yourself a bar of energy, it doesn't take energy to fly, but if you engage your energy, you truly rip across the sky, doing easily four times your standard movement rate. The ability to engage a "hyperdrive" lets you travel one direction going incredibly fast, and then rip back the exact opposite direction just as fast. At first, the fast pace of Axis can leave you with a headache, and a sore mouse arm, but eventually one adjusts and can truly appreciate the fast paced aerial combat.

I would frag for a translator.

Woo hoo!

Graphically speaking…

The graphics of Axis are quite impressive for an independent product. Graphics are the area that suffers most in independent games, but Axis puts up a mean fight. The virtual backdrops are truly impressive; colorful and alive, but not a strain on your video card.

Missiles closing in.

Close in.

Conclusion

Simply, there is nothing grander than dancing through skyscrapers while exchanging fire. Passing over your enemy to rip down on him from above, or luring your enemy into a field of skyscrapers to hit him with your area effect weapons when he isn't expecting it is awe inspiring. Combine fast paced gameplay with a varied tactical playbook and you've got yourself a winner.

Battle everywhere.

Extended shields, it's on.

Big ol' bloodbath.