Axelay

STORY / GAMEPLAY
You live in a small but peaceful planet called Axelay. One day (and out of nowhere) an alien squadron of numerous spaceships attacks the planet and tries to destroy everything and extinct your people. But these aliens seem to be unaware of you, the great air-defense pilot who will confront them with his prototype AX-77 battleship.

GRAPHICS / SOUND
The game's perspective is in 3D style (the SNES' Mode 7) and you craft moves (actually everything moves) from bottom to top with a particularly smooth animation. Axelay's graphics are quite good, though the colors look a bit dull (or washed-out maybe) for an SNES game. The sound FX and the in-game music are nicely done and add to the game's intense atmosphere. The enemy sprites vary from small to very large alien ships as well as space rocks and other obstacles. All in all, this game might not be among the best SNES shooters but I think you should give it a try, especially if you're a shoot 'em up fan.