Undoubtedly the most intriguing of the handful of beasts making their way into the final game is the raptor. Modeled after a imaginative cross between a tyrannosaur and scorpion, the massive beast embodies the very primitive, raw essence of Golden Axe. Unlike the other beasts that willing let Tyris mount up, the raptor hardly wants to be ridden; only by thrusting a sword into its back can you mount the creature, holding onto to dear life as it thrashes about. Impaling enemies on its sharp tail and then feeding them to the raptor is the only way of calming it down enough to remain on board.

How you utilize these beasts in combat, as well as how you fight on foot directly corresponds with the amount of loot rewarded. Enhancing Tyris' abilities, unlocking new skills, improving your arsenal of weapons, and gaining access to bonuses all comes as a result of your combat performance. The number of enemies you kill, the level of sophistication used in killing them, and the frequency with which you use beasts all go into calculating the amount of loot awarded to you at a battle's end. Dispatch a group of soldiers on your own, for instance, and you'll receive a loot bonus compared to picking off each enemy off out of the group. Smart tactics like killing the leader before going for the rest of the group also earns you additional loot, not to mention incites the leaderless foes into a frenzy.

For all that the game appears to be doing right with its beastly combat, there are a few elements that could quiet enthusiasm for the reinterpretation. Firstly, cooperative play has been completely removed from the game in favor of a solo experience. It's a disappointing departure from the arcade original. Second, the subtle complexity of the tempo-based combat system could go either way—a nuanced way of pulling off advanced, cinematic moves or a lackluster mechanic that makes button-mashing more attractive. With its ship date schedule for the fall, we'll know soon enough how Golden Axe fares on both counts.

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