With titles such as Crossout (2017) and Dance Magic (2016), JustAxe isn’t Targem Games’ first time at the rodeo. Adding even more diversity to their already eclectic catalog, JustAxe is a 2D platform scroller, adding another notch to the Russian developers’ belts.

JustAxe Storyline

Nestled deep inside the mountainous regions exists a small town, hidden from the day-to-day humdrum of modern civilization. The people of New Soviets live out their lives in peaceful existence in a harmonious attempt to recreate the days of old.

However, one sleepy day their quietude is thrown into abject chaos when a host of benevolent creatures invade the town and kidnap the protagonists sister. Where some would see this as a blessing, our heartbroken heroine was stricken with deep and miserable grief.

After the dust has settled she receives a letter penned by an unknown hand. The correspondence details a way to resolve the situation, save the town and rescue her sister. So, armed with only her grandfather’s prized axe, she sets out on an adventure to restore normality for her and her townsfolk alike.

The Puzzling World of JustAxe

JustAxe is set in a world teeming with hostile creatures and head-scratching puzzles. It calls upon you to pay close attention to your surroundings in order to solve riddles and progress further into the game. These can be as simple as cutting down a single tree or as complicated as finding new and unbeaten paths to reach your destination.

To get the most out of JustAxe, however, you will need to learn how to use the weapons that become available to you in novel ways to reach unexplored areas that often lead to helpful power-ups or riches.

The game takes you through dark and magical forests, perilous mountains and waterfalls, taking you through a diverse range of backdrops. You will need to traverse twisting and winding pathways and mazes and avoid death-dealing traps to emerge victorious and restore tranquillity to your village. Along the way, you will find useful artefacts that have been helpfully crafted by fellow residents. Use them wisely and you may just reach your heroic goal.

JustAxe – Audio and Visual

JustAxe is presented in a beautiful cell-shaded world that offers a certain charm to the whole package. Using a lot of pastel shades, Targem Games have created an aesthetic that conjures up emotions of serenity, while remaining easy on the eye and perfectly on course with the theme.

The subtle artwork is expertly complimented by a melodious soundtrack that carries through the game, adding emotion and drama where needed without being intrusive or annoying.

JustAxe – System Requirements

With JustAxe currently only being available on Steam, you will need to insure your system meets the game’s system requirements. However, these aren’t too demanding and most modern PCs should be able to run it.

Minimum Requirements

• OS *: Windows 7 x64
• Processor: 2.3 Ghz Intel Core 2 Duo / AMD Athlon64 X2 or better
• Memory: 4 GB RAM
• Graphics: 512 MB NVidia GeForce 650 / AMD Radeon HD 5750 / Intel HD 4000 and newer
• Storage: 2 GB available space

Recommended Requirements

• OS *: Windows 7 (64-Bit)
• Processor: Intel Core i3 6100
• Memory: 4 GB RAM
• Graphics: NVIDIA GeForce GTX 650 or higher | AMD R7 360 or higher – Some crashes may occur with Integrated graphics (GPU built into the processor)
• Storage: 2 GB available space

JustAxe Summary

With its relaxing air, JustAxe is a great game to unwind with after a stressful day at the office. It’s fun to play and offers its fair share of challenging puzzles but sadly doesn’t bring anything new to the gaming table.

JustAxe is available now on Steam.