History VideoGame / Axelay

Axelay is a ShootEmUp for the UsefulNotes/{{SNES}}, made by Creator/{{Konami}} and released in the US in 1993. It has also been released onto the UsefulNotes/{{Wii}}'s Virtual Console service. It pushed the limits of what was capable for the SNES's graphics and sound capabilities.

* OneHitPointWonder: Averted. You get four hit points, in theory, unless your ship hits something like the walls or an enemy, in which case you die instantly.

* OneBulletAtATime: The threshold is high and varies per weapon.
* OneHitPointWonder: Averted. You get four hit points, in theory, unless your ship hits something like the walls or an enemy, in which case you die instantly.

%%** Also the last one to an higher extent, for obvious reasons.
* NinjaPirateZombieRobot: The boss for stage 5 is a giant cyborg lava ogre. It was featured on the cover art.

* AllThereInTheManual: While it's renamed to Corliss in the English version, the homeworld you see destroyed in the intro was originally named Mother. Only knowable through the soundtrack, the third level's song is titled "Mother" suggesting it is the same planet being colonized by enemy machines following the holocaust. The credits song that wraps up the conflict is "Return to Mother" implying it will one day recover.

* UltimateEvil: Veinion is made out to be this in the instruction manual.

* DoingItForTheArt: The ''VideoGame/ChronoTrigger'' of shooters, though not nearly as well-known.

* MoreDakka: The boss in stage 3 does this.
** Also the [[ThatOneBoss last one]] to an higher extent, for obvious reasons.

Axelay is a ShootEmUp for the UsefulNotes/{{SNES}}, made by Creator/{{Konami}} and released in the US in 1993. It has also been released onto the UsefulNotes/{{Wii}}'s Virtual Console service. It pushed the limits of what was capable for the SNES's graphics and sound capabilities

%%* FloatingContinent: Stage 1.

%%* SequelHook: Beating the game on its hardest difficulty level gives you this. But [[MemeticMutation the miracle never happen]].

* AllThereInTheManual: While it's renamed to Corliss in the English version, the homeworld you see destroyed in the intro was originally named Mother. Only knowable through the soundtrack, the third level's song is titled "Mother" suggesting it is the same planet being being colonized by enemy machines following the holocaust. The credits song that wraps up the conflict is "Return to Mother" implying it will one day recover.

* OneBulletAtATime: The threshold is high and varies per weapon.
* OneHitPointWonder: Averted. You get four hit points, in theory, unless your ship hits something like the walls or an enemy, in which case you die instantly.

* WallMaster: Stage 4 has a few enemies hiding in a pod, who spring out when you get too close. It's not a good idea to kill them, though, as they'll spawn the amoeba-things (see PersonalSpaceInvader) when destroyed.

* BattleshipRaid: The first part of stage 6.
* BeamSpam: The Needle Cracker weapon.

* DownTheDrain: Stage 4.

* EternalEngine: Last part of stage 6, arguably stage 2.

* FloatingContinent: Stage 1.

* LethalLavaLand: Stage 5.

* SequelHook: Beating the game on its hardest difficulty level gives you this. But [[MemeticMutation the miracle never happen]].
* ShockAndAwe: The boss of Stage 4's primary way of attacking.

* [[WhyDidItHaveToBeSnakes Why Did It Have To Be Spiders?]]: [[AllThereInTheManual According to the manual]], the first boss [[GiantSpider Arachnatron]] was "engineered to intimidate the enemy so much that they freeze up from fear".

* DifficultySpike: The first five stages are a mere harm-up. Just wait until you get to the last one...
** May the game have mercy on you if you're playing on [[HarderThanHard Hardest/Expert]]

* UltimateEvil: Veinion is made out to be this in the instruction manuel.

* NinjaPirateZombieRobot: The boss for stage 5 is a giant cyborg lava ogre. [[CrowningMomentofAwesome AWESOME]]. So awesome, in fact, it was featured on the cover art.

Fourth, the bosses. This game has some awesome bosses.

* AIIsACrapshoot: The FinalBoss scans your ship, then sends out multiple evil clones of them at you. They follow your every vertical movement as well as firing their primary/secondary weapon whenever you fire yours, making it look like a nightmare to avoid. Hint: What happens if you ''don't'' fire?

* BeamSpam: the Needle Cracker weapon
* BossRemix: The boss themes are darker remixes of the stage themes.

* ChickenWalker: The second boss, "Towbar," and the invincible walker inside the final battleship..

* EvilIsVisceral: The final part of the FinalBoss is some freakish organic alien thing.

* LightningCanDoAnything: The boss in stage 4 uses it to change your weapons involuntarily.